Gilbert Muniz, a former Threads digital ambassador, is a fashion design teacher and designer living in Houston, Texas. He’s been sewing for 30 years and has the fabric stash to prove it. His work focuses on integrating surface design and embellishments into modern cuts and tailoring. He’s never satisfied with the ordinary, and is constantly learning new and innovative techniques to add pizazz to his work. His main philosophy for finishing a garment is: Why buy a button when you can spend triple the amount on the supplies to make your own?

Gilbert has constructed everything from bikinis and wedding dresses to Mardi Gras parade costumes and corsets. You can follow his design journey on his Instagram page, stitching_vulture, or his forever-under-construction website, stitchingvulture.com.