Esther Amato is an award-winning designer and educator and together with Ernie Olson, professor emeritus, they lead the popular Fashion Academy each summer at Sacramento State. The high school academy covers the life cyle of fashion, from sketching designs to creating clothes and merchandising.

The Fashion Academy has been featured in the local news, including Good Day Sacramento and ABC 10.

Amato has taught at the International Academy of Design and Technology and is an instructor in fashion merchandising at Sacramento State. With over 25 years of experience in fashion design and clothing development, she conveys an enthusiasm, creativity and a passion for fashion.

She has an extensive background in orchestrating all aspects of women’s clothing design and operations. She has been a designer and design director for SELIA Inc. and a head designer for SAUCI  Inc., and her innovative collections have produced top sales season after season.