Vests, doll clothes and more vests.

That’s what Atlantan Amanda Williamson learned to make at age 7. Her mother had enrolled her in a sewing class just to keep her busy, and she excelled at churning out sleeveless, collarless garments.

Crafty as she was, though, she never dreamed of becoming a fashion designer, owning a clothing line called Ennyluap or being featured in the July and September 2013 issues of British Vogue. She didn’t think she would watch models strut down catwalks in her designs at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York starting Saturday.

But there they come.

With no investors and very little to start, Williamson has made the leap to high fashion through grit and go-get-‘em attitude.

In just two years, she has gone from hand-crafting small-scale runs with discounted materials to creating custom designs for celebrities, such as singer Elle Varner.

Read more about Williamson’s rise in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution or at myajc.com

About the Author

Featured

Ceudy Gutierrez reads a book to her 2-year-old son, Matias, at their home in Buford, GA, on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. Ceudy Gutierrez is struggling to make ends meet for herself and her three young kids following her husband’s ICE arrest earlier this fall. (Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez