Amanda henman

Grey Sheep

@amanda_henman

Location

savannah / united states

University

SCAD

Graduation year

2019

Contact

Amanda Henman is a Womenswear designer and B.F.A. Fashion Graduate from SCAD- The
Savannah College of Art and Design. She grew up between the Dallas/Ft. Worth and the Savannah area. She credits her grandparents for transforming her passion for art into design. Both were entrepreneurs and craftspeople who earned a living working with their hands. Her grandmother, a fine artist who often made clothing for her five children. Her grandfather, an owner of a drywall company. To this day, her memories of him coming to visit in a white t-shirt and drywall covered denim has subconsciously influenced her aesthetic, drawing her to an abstract expressionistic taste in art, fashion, and textiles.

Amanda designs for the cool, edgy, yet sophisticated city woman. She has found endless inspiration from modern artists, travel, and urban environments like New York City, which she fell in love with during an internship at Proenza Schouler. In fact, It was her move to San Francisco last summer to intern at Banana Republic that ended up
inspiring her collection.

Innovation is what drives her as a designer. She always seeks out creative shapes and ways to incorporate technology and sustainability in textiles. Because of this, Amanda’s creative process always begins with draping. She then takes these shapes and searches for a way to make them wearable for the modern woman; often collaging them with more tailored garments. She turns often to breathable and easy natural fibers, always keeping in mind that her woman is constantly on the go. At the end of the day, she hopes to offer a unique product made that stands out within the designer RTW market.

Latest Collection

division

DIVISION was inspired by the growing income divide in America and the homeless crisis in San Francisco after witnessing it first hand. The collection was designed to help the situation of living in the streets. One piece in every look detaches into another fully wearable garment. The original garment can still be worn with or without the detachment. Pieces can be mixed and matched throughout the collection for unlimited outfit combinations, perfect for the traveling woman on the go.

The textiles in the collection were inspired by the streets of San Francisco. Hand painting is applied by artist Tayler Ayers to represent the paint marks and chips on San Francisco sidewalks. Raffia, cotton rip stop, and water Repellent nylon canvas are used as a reference to the tents lined up and down the city. A wide variety of cottons are used, from organic twill, washed and re-purposed denim, sateen, canvas, French terry, and pima waffle pique. The concept is also translated through screen printed graphics pulled directly from cardboard boxes and “for rent” signs. Clear coated vinyl is applied to mimic industrial and packaging tape. Hardware is a key focus in the collection, using screw inspired rivets as the detachment points and hex bolts to hold together sleeves. Edges are left frayed to reflect the gritty life I was inspired by.