Former Wilmington resident becomes leader in the luxury jean pool

Denim designer Amy Stephenson may live in Los Angeles and have a studio in New York City, but she claims she lived "in the two best spots on Earth" - Columbia Street in Wrightsville Beach and Third and Ann streets in downtown Wilmington.

A Southern girl at heart, Amy grew up in McGee's Crossroads in rural Johnston County before moving to Wilmington in 1989 to study communications at UNCW. Besides acting in community theater and playing college volleyball, Amy remembers relaxing at the beach, grabbing lunch at The Trolley Stop and hanging out downtown at Caffe Phoenix, her "go-to spot with a great vibe."

In the mid '90s, Amy attended the prestigious Parsons School of Design in New York. After graduation, she climbed the ranks at Garfield & Marks, a sportswear brand that sells through Nordstrom. She expressed her interest in specializing in denim to the company's CEO; eventually, she became head of the denim division.

"I started traveling to L.A. to visit denim mills and wash houses. It's sort of like farming," she said. "I like the idea of growing something. All the jeans start off the same before they're washed, but then it gets super complex. There are so many variables - the quality of the weave, texture, the number of times they're dipped in indigo, etc. There's a lot of trial and error in creating beautiful jeans."

In 2005, Amy launched her Stephenson Denim Finery, a luxury denim line ranging from $170 to $250. She describes the Stephenson look as "tomboy chic" but also "super sophisticated at the same time. The jeans have an organic quality with an edge, no bling or embellishments. They're pure but playful, sort of androgynous Chloe meets Rogan."

Shopbop.com was the first to buy her line and luxury retailers like Bergdorf Goodman, Henri Bendel and Nordstrom followed. Anthropologie expressed interest but found her price point to be too high. "I hated turning them down so I said, 'Pick a pair. Let me knock 'em off!' and my secondary line with a lower price point, Enson (derived from her last name) was born." (Line launches at www.anthropologie.com this month.)

Amy's favorite silhouette for fall is her "Brother jean," similar to "what everyone in Europe is wearing." They are looser in the thigh, straight legged and - the clincher for Amy - "tough, rough and ready." She also likes the high waisted, full-blown Woodstock wide-leg jeans straight out of her mom's hope chest. (Stephenson's mom lives in Wrightsville Beach.)

Look for offerings from Wilmywood's favorite denim darling - such as the "Mercer," the high-rise "Delta Dawn" and "Brother" - in the pages of your favorite magazines, DailyCandy and select styles locally at Oliver.

Freelance columnist Jess James welcomes questions and comments from readers.