T-Shirt Ruffle Dress (Photo: davidhsmith.com, Hair/Makeup: Chevelynn Baker, makeupuniversity.com, Model: Jillian Rahm)
A ballgown fashioned from deconstructed thrift and vintage t-shirts in vibrant colors like crimson red, electric blue, canary yellow with logos and text emblazoned on them is what you can expect from eco-friendly fashion designer Angela Johnson. When most designers look for luxurious textiles to create their collections, Johnson scours second-hand stores and vintage boutiques to find her fabrics, which come entirely from t-shirts.
Like many designers, Johnson found inspiration from the works of well-known designers including Hussein Chalayan, Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, and Betsey Johnson. But, Johnson gained appreciation for fashion as a young child when she would rifle through her grandmother’s closet filled with vintage fashions. Although she says her grandmother’s style was not always interesting in a good way, she liked its originality. “She had a sweater that had roads knitted into it with actual toy cars sewn onto the roads, but, she also had amazing sequined gowns and classic pieces too,” she explains.
The Arizona native attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles where she received a degree in fashion design. When Johnson first attended FIDM, she could not sketch or sew. After attending the school for a year, she says that she learned enough to begin working in the industry and launch her own line.
Blue T-Shirt Mini Dress (Photo: Tracy Rasinsky, Model: Nicole West, Styling: Heather Wilson)
Johnson has worked since 1995 fine-tuning her skills as a fashion designer. Before launching her eponymous line, Johnson created a line called Monkeywench that she co-owned with actress Christie Clark, who played Carrie Brady on the soap opera “Days of Our Lives.” She describes the line as street-wear inspired by the surf, skate and snow boarding industries. The line was developed in the ‘90s when Johnson says this type of clothing for women was not readily available, giving Monkeywench a niche in the industry. “It was an amazing experience that enabled me to learn even more about the industry which led to the ability to operate my own line today,” she says of starting her first label.
The line sold internationally for five years and was sported by celebs such as Pam Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio. Monkeywench was featured in magazines such as “Seventeen,” “Girl’s Life,” and “Sportswear International,” as well as on television including “Beverly Hills 90210” and “Days of our Lives.”
Today, Johnson focuses her attention on her company Angela Johnson Designs. The Scottsdale-based designer creates her collection in a cotton-candy pink studio in the back of her home, which is a converted pool house. Upon entering the small design studio, you are easily bowled over by the retro décor featuring a vintage pink sofa. Hanging on rolling racks are rows of custom patterns that Johnson uses to create her signature t-shirt designs.
T-Shirt Mini Dress (Photo: davidhsmith.com, Hair/Makeup: Chevelynn Baker, makeupuniversity.com, Model: Jillian Rahm)
Johnson developed a penchant for quirky designs with a philosophy inspired by popular culture, music, and t-shirts. Although she scavenges for vintage t-shirts to create her collections, her designs maintain a modern silhouette and style. Her current designs are a far cry from the first garment she created for herself, which was a quilted silver lame, low rise, full-length skirt. “It looked like I was dressing for a night on the town at the moon,” she says of the way the skirt looked. “But, I loved it and it really expressed my style at that time.”
Looking back, she describes the design as ridiculous and poorly made, “It didn’t even have side seams, but it was my first attempt and I was proud of it.” She has since honed her designing skills and considerable time and effort is taken to construct one of her garments, especially the ballgown, which she says takes the most time. It takes 20 t-shirts to make the ballgown and the corseted bodice has 10 sections, which extends to a full, floor-length skirt that is a collaged patchwork of t-shirts.
Each year Johnson’s collection includes four staple garments — a ballgown, party dress, mini dress, and corset. The only design element that changes is the t-shirts that she uses. For custom orders, the customer can supply the t-shirts or request a particular theme. In addition to the staple pieces she also offers new designs each year to coincide with current trends. This year she created high-waist pencil skirts with peplums and blousy caftans. When Johnson creates a new design, she makes a few samples and shows them at Scottsdale Fashion Week and then creates them to order.
Black T-Shirt Ballgown (Photo: Tracy Rasinsky, Model: Nicole West, Styling: Heather Wilson)
Although Johnson has a burgeoning career as a designer, she admits to challenges along the way. Her biggest challenge currently is running a design business in a city without a fashion industry. “There are no wholesale fabric vendors, manufacturers, contractors, or sales reps so it is nearly impossible to mass produce from here,” she says. “That is what led to my decision to make one-of-a-kind clothing out of thrifted t-shirts.”
Johnson’s contributions to the fashion industry have not gone without recognition. She was awarded with Fashion Group International of Arizona 2004 Rising Star Award, Scottsdale Cultural Council Artist of the Year Award, and Scottsdale Fashion Week Designer of the Year Finalist. She was also recognized in 944 magazine as “Chicest Local Designer” and AZ Foothills magazine as “1 of 20 Influential Women.”
After more than a decade in the fashion industry, what matters most to Johnson as a fashion designer is integrity. “I won’t make something that I don’t like even if I think it will sell because it’s what’s currently in style,” she says.
(Photo credits: angelajohnsondesigns.com)
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