Most designers work for years or even decades before seeing their originals walk down the runways during NY Fashion Week, a prestigious, week-long fashion event. So imagine getting the opportunity to show a five-look collection a mere two years after graduating from Stephens College in Columbia.
“I was nannying when I got the call,” says Alexandra Henry-Allen. “I jumped up and down and screamed, ‘I’m going to New York Fashion Week!’ off and on all day surrounded by these little boys who had no idea what I was talking about.”
Alexandra’s dream—to show an original collection of her designs at NY Fashion Week—started early. When she and her best friend, Abigail Schatschneider, were in the first grade, they spent time writing down their future plans. Both wrote fashion designer as their profession. Alexandra even specifically wanted to attend Paris Fashion Week.
“This has been my dream for as long as I can remember, and Abigail was always a part of those dreams and goals. As soon as I knew I was showing in New York Fashion Week, I knew she had to go with me.”
Henry-Allen graduated from Stephens College in 2023 with a fashion design and product development degree. There, she met Brock Seals, a well-known artist from St. Louis who would help her open her first door.
“Brock Seals came and spoke to us while I was a student at Stephens,” said Henry-Allen. “When he finished, he said if anyone wanted to connect after his talk, they should reach out, so I did. I showed him some of my work and told him I’d love to collaborate sometime.”
“Sometime” came at lightning speed. Not long after she reached out, Henry-Allen found herself designing a couture puffer coat custom-painted by Brock Seals. The coat was so well-received that Seals reached out to Henry-Allen for their next collaboration—a couture gown with an elaborate and custom-painted train they showed at Alt-Ball, a creative fashion showcase held each year in St. Louis.
On her journey, Henry-Allen connected with fellow designers and models, who inspired her to apply to show her collection at New York Fashion Week. After some research, she confirmed the opportunity was real. Submitting her portfolio of senior project designs and collaborations with Brock Seals, she received the call that changed everything while working as a nanny. Her dedication and passion led her to seize the moment—an inspiring reminder that dreams can become reality with hard work and belief.
“I could have shown my looks from my senior fashion show, which were all-white wedding looks, but I really wanted to do something different. Brock and I worked with a lot of color, which I discovered fit my aesthetic really well. So I decided to take a whole different direction,” said Henry-Allen.
Henry-Allen needed to produce five looks for her runway collection. She decided she’d show the dress she and Seals created and base her other looks around it. That meant she had months to create and produce four brand new looks.
“I found I loved working with color. I pulled colors for my other looks from the color palette in the train of that first dress,” said Henry-Allen.
She created the design, made the pattern, and sewed each look herself, all while making travel plans, finding sponsors, and working full-time as a nanny. Finally, the time came, and she was off to the Big Apple with her collection, her grandfather, and her best friend, Abigail. Her childhood friend and their shared dream inspired the collection’s name.
“I named my collection Amity because when I considered my journey and how I got here, it made perfect sense. Amity means friendship.”
After a successful New York Fashion Week show, her star continues to rise. Next on her agenda is another fashion show, this time in Milan. It’s clear that her meteoric rise in the industry continues to move at light speed.
If you want to follow Alexandra Henry-Allen’s career, you can find her on Instagram at @alexandramarie_official.