Neglia Tonetto, 1995 California Design College Graduate
Neglia Tonetto has always loved the design industry and credits California Design College for her growth and development as a designer. She particularly enjoyed all the different classes that California Design College offers, from illustration to computer texture mapping. “Due to the small class size, the personal attention I got at California Design College was invaluable, and I will never forget that," Neglia said. She also stressed the importance of attending weekly lab hours to further develop and practice one's skills.
After Neglia graduated in November 1995, she started her career as a freelance pattern maker, while working as a computer pattern maker for Just In Time, a large international apparel manufacturing company owned by a California Design College alumus. After just nine months, she decided to start her own clothing line. She designed her initial collection consisting of only 20 garments and headed to New York for her first trade show. There she met a sales representative who helped her land 700 orders. Today, she is happy to be the owner of her own clothing manufacturing business, “Ticci Tonetto," a contemporary high-end sportswear, dress and leather clothing line. Neglia designs five collections a year and sells to Bloomingdale's, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Henri Bendel, Bergdorf Goodman and many specialty stores. She has showrooms in Los Angeles and New York.
Neglia travels to Europe twice a year to attend fashion shows and shop for luxurious fabrics. She was also involved with several other projects including creating and designing a window display for the 2001 Nicole Kidman movie, Moulin Rouge.
Neglia is making a little empire of her followers starting with Drew Barrymore who wore her designs for the cover of “In Style" magazine, September 2000 issue.