A sunflower-blonde girl runs barefoot through the pine trees in the Tar Heel State of North Carolina. It is September and a warm wind blows the long hair from her cheeks. She is wearing denim overalls and a smile. She is going somewhere.

Amy Stephenson grew up in a pastoral world. This world was to be the inspiration for her as a country girl on a mission. Her goal? To design devastatingly sexy, pure and clean denim clothing for the woman who craves understated luxury. She’s still running.

The launch of her eponymous label was in Fall of 2007. The denim collection includes trousers, jeans and various other things for the customer who wants a perfect fit, fine production and refined look. The collection features items with unique detailing employing various techniques such as piped or clean-finished seams, hand stitching, trouser waistband finishing and intricate pocket detailing.

Amy has established a signature of “tom boy chic” silhouettes and fabrics. She is drawn to luxurious Italian and Japanese denims with a look more organic than precious - for jeans that could endure a trip into the woods!

Amy, a former New York designer, now lives in Sydney Australia with her husband Angelo and daughter Ivy. "Motherhood has possibly been the most inspiring event in my life! In my new strange world as a mom, think much more about the every day jean worn with a flat shoe!" 

Stephenson worked in advertising for five years out of her undergraduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington but was drawn to New York to study fashion on the insistence of her friends whom she felt compelled to style and compelled to style.

After graduating from Parsons, Stephenson worked for industry icons such as Diane Beaudry and Christian Francis Roth, JR Morrissey and Jo Ann Langer. Her focus was on woven items and a hard line approach to the fit and construction of garments. After working under the aforementioned perfectionists, she scrutinizes every seam, dart and measurement to achieve fit perfection.

Amy likes to focus on the elements of a wardrobe that are vital, effortless and timeless. Her  jeans are free of unflattering bleaching and embellishment. "My customer doesn't need rhinestones on her bottom to get attention!" Amy laughs, "There are loads of other jeans out there that do that. My goal is to do denim differently and give it a more luxe feel. " Amy's collection utilizes all luxury components: construction, findings, hardware and piece goods; a far cry from the cost constraints and short cuts taken by many larger denim companies.

Many of these influences can be seen in the details and color palette in her collections. Stephenson’s silhouettes are modern yet practical. Her favorite uniform of late is a cropped side size jean that is über flattering. She has created 2 variations for the Fall 2010 stephenson collection.

Aside from her denim trousers and jeans that are perfectly tight, long and lean, she’s perfected her casual skinny jean named: "Flynn Skinny". "It's a super flattering fit for an edgy silhouette, the rise is not too low but not high...it looks great on lots of different body types." remarks Amy. "It started out as a novelty patched jean but after its success, I have reinvented it with loads of fun washes and have even created a bootcut in the same fit."

The Mercer Fisherman Jean, which is the line's best selling style has been reincarnated in Fall 2010. New easier closures and reconfigured back pockets give it a more casual feel.

Amy's strong silhouette when she launched was the “brother jean” that is boyish in form and comfort. The jean looks great by day with flats running around town yet super sexy when paired with a high heel for evening…very “tom-boy chic.” Her version of a "boyfriend" jean. 

"My new crush is on the new high rise jean, High Tide in Ten Year Vintage wash. It's so 80's. I bought this vintage Levi from What comes around Goes Around in New York. I was drawn to the wash initially but then wore it a few times and loved the goofy feeling and attention of wearing a 12 inch front rise! My husband laughs at my "mom butt" in the original but I've fixed that in my version!" remarks Amy.

“I love the freedom of designing my own line. I make every piece in my size and monitor my desire to wear it. If I’m not in LOVE with it after a few wears, it’s edited. But the thing that has surprised me the most about building my own collection is the generosity and support of people in the industry.” Amy says. “ So many folks have rallied behind me to help build my line. To these amazing and generous people, I owe so much."

At heart, Amy remains that little girl running under tall pines and through rows of tobacco. “Making a jean is a lot like farming; it’s a long and involved process that requires water, laborious hand work and constant monitoring. If you’re successful the cotton looks and feels natural.”