Amanda Perna

Background

About Amanda Perna

I’m a Creative Director, Fashion Designer, and Entrepreneur with 15+ years of experience building, designing, and scaling fashion and lifestyle brands — and a sought-after speaker on creativity, resilience, and building bold, authentic businesses.I’ve worked in both high-level corporate fashion (including Calvin Klein and Oscar de la Renta) and as a founder leading multiple brands, overseeing everything from concept, print design, and collection development to production, brand strategy, and go-to-market.I’m best known as a Project Runway alum and the founder of The House of Perna, where I’ve led the design and development of dozens of collections across apparel, accessories, and lifestyle categories, working with domestic and international partners to bring ideas from sketch to customer.My work sits at the intersection of creative vision and rigorous execution. I don’t just design beautiful things — I build real, manufacturable, scalable products, brands, and systems.In addition to my design work, I’m a speaker and mentor who has taught, spoken, and advised on topics including creativity, entrepreneurship, branding, resilience, and building businesses with heart and purpose. My story includes building a brand from a tiny NYC apartment, surviving a catastrophic warehouse fire that wiped out a year of work, and rebuilding stronger — lessons I now share on stages, in workshops, and through content.I’m especially strong in:Fashion & apparel design systemsCreative direction & collection architectureProduct development & productionPrint & concept developmentBrand building & storytellingTranslating abstract ideas into clear strategy and executionI’m open to select opportunities in:Fashion & product design (including research-driven and AI-collaborative roles)Creative direction & brand leadershipAdvisory, consulting, and partnershipsSpeaking engagements and workshopsIf you’re building something bold, creative, and meaningful — or need a seasoned operator who can bridge vision and execution — let’s talk.