Minneapolis Fashion Designer Amanda Christine

Below is a short profile I wrote on Minneapolis fashion designer Amanda Christine for the January issue of METRO magazine. She's the prime example of an indie designer whose determination, business smarts and artistic talent have enabled her to make clothes full time. It isn't easy, of course, and she hasn't become an overnight millionaire, but her work is sold in boutiques around the country (and even a few in Japan and Toronto), and it's only growing.

Figuring out how to mass-produce designs, hire remote sales reps, balance the books, source affordable fabrics, maintain a showroom AND turn out fresh collections each season is challenging, to say the least. Most designers start and stop at making collections, but Amanda has the right amount of business savvy to become a "real" fashion designer. And she's based in Minneapolis! Pretty cool.

Envision: Artopia Spring 2011

Image via CityPages.com

I had so much fun at Envision: Artopia at the Graves 601 Hotel last night. Tons of crazy awesome fashion, gorgeous people everywhere, delicious cocktails, bumpin' music, and only one brief power outage.

Highlighs included Marc-Jacobs-inspired styling by Cliché boutique, Asian-inspired styling by Dawson, super-chic nautical dresses and separates by the ever-evolving Sydney Ilton, breezy long skirts and blouses from Karma boutique, sweet and simple sundresses by Jenny Carle, pretty prints by Amanda Christine, and amazing big, texturized hair by Roco Altobelli Salon.

I ran into quite a few friends last night — Angie Arner, Delayna Sundberg, Nikki English, David Brewer, Stephen Stephens, Jahna Peloquin, Richard Anderson, Samantha Rei and Kristin Berwald — but somehow managed to miss tons of peeps! Judging from Twitter, also in attendance were Hollie Mae Schultz, Marina Maric, Stacy Schwartz and Jen Boyles — not to mention all the designers, boutique owners, and the event organizers themselves, Allison Hamzehpour and Jessica Cunningham.

Next up: Counter Couture / George Moskal on Wednesday at Grain Belt Bottling Co. in Northeast. Don't miss it!

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