I am Autumn Warner, founder of Autumn Teneyl Designs. My company manifested in the summer of 2001 as an outlet for my deep desire to wear comfortable and original feminine clothing. Completely self-taught, I create every piece of clothing starting with an inspiration, a sketch, bolts of fabric and spools of thread, to the finished garment and beyond. Before I even knew how to construct the clothing properly women were in line to buy them. In one swift moment I realized my gift for design and my desire to be a business owner.
Within the first year it was clear I was on a path to fulfilling my passion. I was showing the clothing at juried fine art festivals and music venues, where I shared the most important element of the design process: using fabrics and shapes that feature the charisma of a woman, enhancing her personality and her beauty. I believe women deserve clothing that makes them feel attractive, viable and alive. With this in mind, I spend a lot of time creating shapes for all body styles and employing the color and texture in each piece to give women confidence and presence. I believe this is what sets my designs apart from the conventions of the modern department store and brings forth clothing as art. By my second year on tour, women would approach me regularly, some moved to tears, telling me how the clothing had changed the way they see and feel about themselves. This continues to inspire each of my new collections and challenge my efforts to create real clothes for real women.
While growing my business and creating new designs, my personal values surfaced, setting the standard for the goals in my company. It became clear that I wanted to produce my designs locally and ethically. In the beginning I made every garment myself, sewing up to thirty pieces a day. With little time for me to develop new designs, my entrepreneur side surfaced and I hired my first sewer locally. This extra time allowed my designs, as well as my company, to grow.
Each garment speaks to the design process. In viewing the images and samples, please take a moment to consider my process: each piece is trimmed in a Wooly Nylon thread, or straight stitched with soft, natural Modal binding carefully selected in compliment to its fabric. The combination of color and texture can pull out the radiance of an eye color or the hue of a skin tone. This is intentional and premeditated. Many hours go into the process of choosing fabric. Fabric is chosen for its integrity, vibrancy and feel, and then again to accompany it with other fabrics and thread and to create a complete story within my collection. I enjoy the radiance, grace and magnetism that the play of light can establish on sheer fabrics and laces, and use it to give my clothing sensuality and distinction.
Sourcing the fabric is a big part of my design process; one of the founding principals of my company and my brand is to repurpose designer-end fabrics, reducing the environmental impact of textile production. I have also sourced a line of domestic organic fabrics that are the foundation for my Fall line. As a company, Autumn Teneyl Designs is committed to a positive social and environmental impact.
The Autumn Teneyl Design Studio is located in Pagosa Springs, Colorado at the base of Wolf Creek Pass in the San Juan Mountains. My first passion is skiing and I spend a great deal of time in the mountains; this is where my creativity lives. It gives me a chance to slow down the day-to-day, and focus on what is real and beautiful to me. I let these creative juices store up until it is their time to surface. When I create a new design, it is with real women in mind. I believe my gift is to take real women and bring out what is special and beautiful about them. I work in bold prints, vivid color and extremely soft, supple fabrics. When I put on a new garment and it feels like walking through my favorite sheets, I know it is right.
In conclusion, I believe I would be a great asset to your show. My self-taught nature has given me a unique twist to feminine, comfort-driven clothing. Autumn Teneyl stands apart from conventional fashion design, showcasing eco-conscious values and a desire for beauty packaged in alluring yet comfortable garments with a chic and timeless fit.
