Lily Lombardi's journey into costume design began in Charleston, South Carolina, where she first got involved with Center Stage, a student-run organization at the College of Charleston.  Her early work included co-designing costumes for Firebringer, a musical by StarKid, which sparked her growing interest in costume design. From there, she dove deeper into the world of theater, gaining invaluable experience. One of her notable roles was serving as an assistant costume designer to Janine McCabe for Daniel and the Kings at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center (NCPAC), a production that featured one of the largest casts she had ever worked with. She further honed her skills as an assistant costume designer for the College of Charleston's opera production of Die Fledermaus. Lily capped off her college career by serving as the lead costume designer for Kate Hamill's adaptation of Dracula, a fitting finale to her academic journey and a testament to her growth and talent in the field.