Ebony Short

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Ebony Short is an American sewing manager and former costume designer​. She leads the Baltimore Ravens' sewing department, where she oversees the customization and maintenance of uniforms for the team's players​.

Contents

Early life and education

Short grew up in Northeast Baltimore​. [1] Her father, Brian Short Sr., a Pop Warner football coach, taught her how to use a sewing machine, introducing her to basic techniques he had learned in a home economics class​​. [1] [2] Her mother, Tracey, later supported her as she began working on more complex sewing projects​. [1]

Short was a cheerleader during her youth and attended her brothers' football games​. [1] She was also a fan of the Baltimore Ravens, particularly safety Ed Reed​. [1] Her interest in sewing started at around the age of 10, after receiving a sewing machine as a Christmas gift​. [2] She initially made clothes for her dolls and later designed her own prom dress​. [2]

Short studied fashion design at Parsons School of Design, where she explored various artistic mediums and focused on creative problem-solving. [1] [2]

Career

Short began her career at Parson-Meares, a New York-based costume shop that worked on Broadway productions such as The Lion King , Cinderella , and Pippin ​. [3] She constructed costumes for these productions, including the hyena suits for The Lion King and the transformative dress for Cinderella​​. [1] [3] Her work also involved developing costumes with functional features, such as wings and light-up elements​. [3] She undertook side projects, including cruise ship show installations. [3] She spent approximately a decade in the costume design industry before leaving New York​. [3]

In 2019, Short considered moving to California to work on costumes for Cher's tour and for film projects​​. [1] [3] During a visit to her family in Maryland, her sister brought a job posting for the Baltimore Ravens to her attention​. [1] Short applied for the role of sewing manager and accepted the position after the interview, deciding to remain in Maryland​​. [1] [2]

As sewing manager, Short leads a team responsible for customizing and maintaining uniforms for Ravens players​. [1] The department handles tasks such as sewing pads into pants, altering jerseys for better fit, and customizing cleats​​. [1] [3] It also ensures uniforms are prepared and repaired promptly during the National Football League (NFL) season​. [3] Short addresses challenges related to tailoring football uniforms, such as integrating microphones and managing fabric alterations​​. [1] [3]

When Short joined the Ravens, the sewing operations were focused on basic alterations​. [3] Under her direction, the department expanded its scope to include a wider range of customizations, such as creating fitted uniforms and specialized equipment adjustments​. [3] Her team also developed modifications to address specific player needs, including adding hand warmers to jerseys and tailoring uniforms to reduce interference during play​​. [2] [3]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Han, Giana (2024-10-23). "She left Broadway to take the gig as the Ravens' in-house sewing manager". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Crawford, Jan; Novak, Analisa (2025-01-10). "How a former Broadway designer helps stitch together the Baltimore Ravens' success in the NFL playoffs". CBS News. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Cersosimo, Brooke (January 19, 2024). "Next Woman Up: Ebony Short, Sewing Manager for the Baltimore Ravens". National Football League. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
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