He earned an MFA in costume production in theater arts from Boston University, where he surveyed numerous historical costumes while serving as a teaching fellow. He has worked in the fashion industry for many years as an expert in prototype development for such companies as DKNY Coat, PHI Susan Dell, BCBG MAX AZARIA, Herve Leger, and Alice + Olivia. Tamanaha has also designed and produced costumes for a number of theater and opera productions in New York and Boston for McLeod Summer playhouse,Huntington Theater Company, and Glimmerglass Opera. He is an advisor to the FIT’s Costume DesignClub.