Anne Fanganello is one of those people who grew up knowing what they wanted to do with their life. If someone had said to her when she was 10 years old, “You think you’re going to move to New York City and live a fancy life as a fashion designer?” She would have looked them dead in the eye and said, “Yep.”
If you’ve ever met Fanganello, you know she is fierce, confident, and wildly talented.
By the age of 15 she was working at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) making costumes.
“My mom had to drive me to work. Or I had to take the number fifteen bus down Colfax down to DCPA. I knew I had the ability to sew. I had the ability to alter things to fit people. So I really had a sense of confidence,” she recalls.
Fangenello moved to New York in 1988. She says, “I went there with two suitcases and a dream. I didn’t know anybody.”
Her first job as an intern was unpaid, but she gained valuable experience as a costume designer. “We did The Freshman with Matthew Broderick and Marlon Brando so I met both of them and fit them. We did Phantom of the Opera.”
Her time in New York included 11 years working for internationally-renowned designer Nanette Lepore.
“At the age of thirty three I was working at Nanette Lepore, I’d been there for maybe nine years at that time. I just was taking a shower one day and found a lump. It was very obvious to me that that was not normal.”
That began an eight year journey of chemo therapy, surgery, reconstructive surgery, and a 90 pound weight gain caused by medications.
During and after her battle with breast cancer, Fanganello continued to work. After leaving Nanette Lepore she worked with Zac Posen. Remembering that time Fanganello says, “We were instantly into runway shows, movie stars, even higher luxury level. Working crazy hours and loving it.”
But, whether it was the cancer battle or the effects of the continued required medication, Fanganello realized she needed a change and she decided to return to Colorado.
Always an avid skier, she says, “When they talk in your meditation, ‘Go to your favorite place.’ It is always the top of the mountain at Mary Jane. Sitting on a bench with a Coors Light in my hand looking out at the mountains with my ski boots propped up.”
Eventually, Fanganello started designing again. She started AnnaFesta with the intent of providing sportswear for plus size, or as Fanganello likes to say “curvy girls.”
In 2013, Fanganello and AnnaFesta won a Fashion Group International "Rising Star" award as the first Plus Size collection to show in the Women’s Ready to Wear category. This recognition showed that Plus Size should be shown side by side with all Women’s Ready to Wear. Fanganello is passionate that all shapes and sizes belong in the Women’s Ready to Wear fashion group.
Fanganello never seems to be able to not be going 100 miles an hour, and has also created an additional line, Festa Sports, with a focus of creating activewear that fits well, looks fabulous, and functions even better!
“My specialty is fit. I fit the garments. I make sure they fit beautifully. My goal in life is whether you’re a size two or whether you’re a size twelve or a size twenty two, I make clothing that fits a body and looks good.”
It has been a journey. Fanganello has followed her dreams, faced adversity, and succeeded in staying true to her goals of providing exceptional design and styling for every single client.
She has now turned her focus to creating activewear that fits well, looks fabulous and functions even better!