My name Henry Lee Spencer and I recently graduated from the International Academy of Design and Technology with BFA in Fashion Design and Marketing. This is quite an accomplishment for the skinny little kid from the small military town of Jacksonville, NC. I was the only child in a struggling single parent household, so life was not always easy. Despite it all, my mother was a strong woman and we always found a way to get through times. My mother is my biggest inspiration and the reason why I have stayed so committed to my goals in life. She has always supported me in everything I did and embraced the fact I wanted to be an artist.
I always had an appreciation for art. It was my 5th grade art teacher, Mrs. Reiner, who told me to “never say I can’t”, and ever since I have abandoned the word from my vocabulary. I would be involved in art classes in grade school until my junior year of high school. Similar to most students, at the end of my high school career, I did not know what I was going to college for. Once I stepped onto the campus of Winston Salem State University it became clearer, I would relinquish my love for art and further develop my skills as a visual artist. I was then persuaded by a friend of mine to take my artistry into a different direction and pursue fashion design. He was right, I knew that fashion was not only a way to use clothing as a canvas to express my ideas by helping others look good, but a great way to make a living.
So why exactly did I choose fashion as a field of choice? I always had a passion for fashion and loved to look good. I remember when I use to design outfits on smiley face characters during science class to pass the time. I always embraced fashion on a conceptual level, but it was when I decided to attend International Academy of Design and Technology, I maintained a true purpose for fashion, and my motto stands as is, “Be yourself because individuality is everything”. Meaning that my mission is to design clothing for the individual, whether he/she is off to work in the corporate office or out for a nice evening with friends. Fashion should represent the way someone feels at the moment of time, because what you wear should reflect your personality.
Eventually I hope to gain a lot from my experience as both a student and a contestant in the Envy competition. I want to start my career off in a small business setting and later branch out and finance my own clothing line. What this competition means to me is definitely exposure and having the opportunity to network with all sorts of individuals, from graphic designers to photographers. As I have always said, as artists, we can all learn from each other and assist each other in the goals for which we set for ourselves.
Send me an email at h.spencer@envy.artistikmagazine.com or just leave a comment/critique below and I’ll be sure to get back to you!
October 10th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
You did your thing, Looks like i’m gonna have to step my game up. My wife said that she loved the outfit. Congrats on the 1st win in the history of ARTISTIK ENVY.
Walt
October 11th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Grats on making Top 3
October 11th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Excellent design man blown away. I cannot say much about this piece because you definitely deserved Judges Pick and Audiences Pick. Not only was your piece Aesthetically pleasing , you were very accurate between Concept, Execution, and Presentation.
5 Stars to you man I see great things
October 14th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Hey your concept is really amazing i was there last friday and man let me tell you i think you set up your self very high with your Design
October 16th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Hey it’s your cousin, I absolutely love that piece especially the colors.Keep up the good work. Love Ya much Tameika
October 16th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Henry, I read your bio and I`m very much impressed. You definitely will be in the top. I wish you the best of exito and blessings to you.
Mrs Maria -TN
October 24th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Henry you did an excellent job! Great presentation, you sold that outfit and you talked like a true fashion design professional!
October 27th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Hey! I love your design. I think that it is unique and have substance to it. I think it’s a compliment if the judge can see Micheal Jackson wearing it for UPS. I mean, hey…it’s Michael Jackson!!!!!!
November 10th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
woot woot! j-ville!!
you already graduated?
good job on the garment. sexaayy!!
November 11th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Herny, I’m so proud of you, you step it up again, now show every one what you are made of for the next one.
November 12th, 2008 at 12:06 am
I love that design. I’d wear the boots but my legs aren’t as long.Great job!Love your work.Good luck!
November 12th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
What it do Frat!! Good job on the gothic diva!! I really love your drawing and those boots are wicked!!! Congrats for makeing top 6!! Keep it up!!
November 12th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
I absolutely love it!!Keep up the good work.I’m still waiting on my pieces LOL!!Love Ya, Tameika
November 14th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Henry,
I have no doubt in my mind that one day I will be wearing one of your designer suits. You have earned the right to call yourself a Fashion Designer. Your craftsmanship is truly a work of art. I was sad to see you go because I respect and appreciate the level of competition that you bring to this game. Because of you, I have had many sleepless nights. I knew that come Friday night that your work would be exceptional, so I had to make sure that my piece was exceptional as well! You asked in your blog “what does professionalism really mean” well I would have to say, look in the mirror. You remained a true professional through out this entire competition, despite what other people were saying and even despite some of the judges comments.
Keep doing what you do my man, and you will be the next designer to take over the fashion world. Also, if you are interested I would like to collaborate with you and create a piece using my Graphic Design Skills and your Fashion Design skills. Something that we can leave the school to show everyone that two great designers were there. Stay true!
Your friend,
Walt Hamilton