Honorary Membership

Honorary membership in SiW is a rare distinction that is presented solely at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Honorary members do not have voting priviliges, and are not members of the ICG. The first honorary membership was presented in 2011.

2026

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Bjo Trimble is internationally recognized for her close relationship with the Start Trek franchise, which significantly contributed to promoting costuming at science fiction conventions. But her impact on the costuming community goes much further back. In 1958, she put together the "Worldcon Futuristic Fashion Show" at Solacon, the 16th World Science Fiction Convention, and ran it once again in 1966 at Tricon, the 24th Worldcon, where she gave fandom a glimpse of three early Star Trek costumes. Bjo has also made significant contributions to historical costuming through her work with the Society for Creative Anachronism, and brought the art and teaching of historical dyeing techniques to a high level through her founding of the the Griffin Dyeworks & Fiber Arts. Bjo has been an inspiration for generations of costumers for over a half a century through her outstanding work in the costuming community. In 1992, she and her husband John were recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Costumers' Guild. SiW is pleased to congratulate Bjo and to present her with an Honorary Membership in SiW as a token of our high esteem and affection, and in recognition of her long association with the chapter. (See interview in The Virtual Costumer Vol. 19, Issue 2, 2021, p. 32).

2011

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Gunther Berger is the creation of cartoonist Greg Evans. Gunther is a high school student who became interested in sewing through his mother, and plans to have a career in costume design. He makes up costumes for the title character, Luann, to wear when she reads stories to the young kids at the public library, where they both volunteer. His costumes have included princesses, bumble bees, and even a furry. Gunther also costumed his school's production of West Side Story. Gunther has shown consistent creativity and technique with the costumes that he creates, and the ability to fit costumes well, but he is often under-appreciated for his costuming achievements within the comic strip. SiW feels that Gunther is a positive role model for costuming and costumers, and is pleased to congratulate Greg Evans and present Gunther Berger an Honorary Membership in SiW. (See article in The Virtual Costumer Vol. 9, Issue 1, 2011, p. 36).