Life & Work with Amber Henderson of Mesa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Henderson.

Hi Amber, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have been in the Navy for 12 years. In 2021, I was diagnosed with stage 2 ovarian cancer and was put on a medical leave of absence from work. During that time, I began tie-dyeing for fun and to occupy my mind to stay positive about my situation. A few of my friends liked the shirts I made, so I thought it would be cool to sell them. I started my business with little knowledge of what it takes to run a business, but it was a great outlet for me while undergoing chemo treatment. I could join my love for thrifting and tie dye and make shirts that people loved! Now, I have started learning how to sew and am considering going to fashion school when I leave the Navy.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s been tough because I was sometimes very sick last year after chemo and would still set myself up to vend or make shirts. Also, my small knowledge of business has been a huge learning curve. I’ve learned so much in the past year and a half about myself, the fashion industry, and how to run a business. I am still learning.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in making custom one-of-one clothing. I began by tie-dying and reversed tie-dying thrifted shirts, hoodies, and hats. Now, I’ve added some cut-and-sewn garments and am moving to learn to create full garments from scratch. I am most proud of taking something that someone didn’t want and making it into something people love and value that nobody else has. What sets me apart from others is my style. I believe we are all custom of one person, and many of the clothes I make are things that I would wear, so I approach each piece with my creative eye and vision. I love colors and texture, so I always try to thrift high-quality garments to rework.

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the COVID-19 crisis?
My business began after COVID-19, so I wouldn’t say I learned too many unique lessons.

Pricing:

• T-shirts-$50
• Hoodies- $65
• Flannels – $125
• Custom orders- $100-200

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.hausofhendo.com
• Instagram: @Hausofhendo
• Facebook: Hausofhendo

Image Credits
Steffan Collin’s – Influence Visuals