The Colorful Years
Some stories are written in chapters.
Ours has been painted, stitched, packed into suitcases, sent down runways, occasionally turned completely upside down, and worn by some extraordinary women.
Since 2012, we've been building a House full of art, imagination, unexpected adventures and more memories than we could ever fit into one scrapbook.
But we're certainly going to try.
Before the House
Before there was a House of Perna, there was a young designer with a rolling suitcase and very big plans. Amanda's first job was in New York City, designing dresses at Calvin Klein, after interning at Oscar de la Renta.
Those years taught her construction, fit, fabric and discipline. They also taught her what she wanted to do differently.
The first sketch
Before there is a dress, there is an idea. Sometimes it's a flower. A place. A memory. A combination of colors that has no business looking so beautiful together, until suddenly it does.
Amanda still creates the original artwork behind every House of Perna print.
I started House of Perna because I wanted to create things that made people happy.
Amanda
The launch
In 2012, House of Perna made its debut at Miami Swim Week, with silk, ombré and color that walked straight out of Amanda's sketchbook and onto the runway.
It was the beginning of a House that has never once been shy about color.
The first trade show
Our first trade show was MAGIC in Las Vegas, where House of Perna was selected for the WWD Emerging Designer Showcase.
One booth, a lot of color and the start of conversations with buyers across the country.
The first studio
In 2014, the House opened its first studio in Delray Beach, Florida. A painted table, ghost chairs, a polka dot rug, cloud lamps and a wall of dresses in progress.
Small, a little chaotic and absolutely full of ideas.
Bloomingdale's
House of Perna brought its handbag collection to Bloomingdale's for a trunk show: straw bags piled with pom-poms, tassels and "Ciao Bella" embroidery, with our Delray Magazine cover right on the table.
It was proof that a little color goes a very long way.
Fashion is art
The Cornell Museum gave Amanda's work its own exhibition. Gowns, ombré silks, florals and her original sketches filled the gallery under three words we've always believed: fashion is art.
For many years, Amanda also designed the Cornell Museum's house inside downtown Delray Beach's 100-foot Christmas tree.
On the runway
Amanda brought her point of view to two seasons of Project Runway, and House of Perna went on to show at New York Fashion Week and LA Fashion Week, with collections that had absolutely no intention of being overlooked.
In print & in person
More than 500 press features later, House of Perna has appeared in Vogue, ELLE, Harper's Bazaar, Forbes, Cosmopolitan and Good Housekeeping.
Amanda wrote and illustrated F Is for Fashion, including a special edition for Neiman Marcus, and co-authored the Amazon bestseller Pivot with Purpose.
When the world needed masks
When the pandemic changed everything, House of Perna launched a Buy One, Donate One mask initiative. Thousands of masks were donated, and production helped keep skilled manufacturing teams working.
Amanda also partnered with Hearst to share free sewing tutorials and patterns, including one of the most-watched mask videos of the time.
Showing up
From chairing the YMCA's 25th Anniversary Gala and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer to co-chairing Laugh with the Library and supporting Habitat for Humanity ReStore, giving back has been part of the story from the beginning.
Living in color
For four years, Amanda has emceed and shown House of Perna on the runway at PCMA Convening Leaders, in a show built around her keynote on living authentically in color, with real people as the models.
Along the way, one of her gowns appeared at the Orlando Museum of Art's Met Gala viewing party.
Today
Today the House lives at 253 NE 2nd Ave in Delray Beach, where we design, make, host Camp Perna workshops and throw a few very good parties.
Fourteen years in, we still believe in the value of an original idea.
The press scrapbook
Tap a clipping to take a closer look.
The collection archive
The community wall
Making something wonderful at a Camp Perna creative table.
Out and about, in very good company.
Getting dressed up, just because.
A Saturday in the boutique.
From the early lookbooks: a printed maxi on the beach.
The palm print trapeze dress, mid-twirl.
Pom-poms, tassels and not one ounce of restraint.
you're invited
Dress code: whatever makes you happiest. Plus-ones encouraged.
