We were lucky to catch up with Whitney Manney recently and have shared our conversation below.

Whitney, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I always thought of myself as a full-time artist, even though I was working other part-time jobs to support myself and my studio practice. I knew that if I had some kind of structure with my studio practice, it would be easier to hold myself accountable and experience tangible growth. Working part-time jobs, freelancing, and community teaching gave me the flexibility I needed to be able to clock in at least 30 hours a week at studio. I knew my dreams required time invested. My transition to earning a full-time living as an artist happened because I had no other choice. It was the beginning of the lockdown and at that point, I was mainly supporting myself by teaching and doing pop-up shops with my clothing and accessories. Lockdown started and every in-person event/job for me stopped abruptly. Thankfully, I was able to quickly move that motion to my website and online shop without skipping a beat. Next thing I knew, it was a few months later in the year and I realized that I was only going to studio. There was no more splitting my time and energy between multiple places. I was officially full-time at WM. As unfortunate as that time was for the world, I’m kinda glad I was forced into full-time creative living because I was too nervous to take that step on my own without creating unnecessary plans.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Whitney Manney, I am a fashion and textile designer based in Kansas City, Missouri. I create ready-to-wear clothing and accessories for my independent label WHITNEYMANNEY.

Translating the aesthetics of street art and the effects of cultural movements on the current urban landscape into ready-to-wear wearable art and textile design is the main focus of the WHITNEYMANNEY label. Our textiles are hand-created and digitally manipulated in the studio by experimenting with various traditional fiber techniques. From sample to finished product: we conceptualize, drape, draft, grade, and construct all of our silhouettes and accessories. Through each ready-to-wear garment and accessory, WM challenges you to wear your statement.

All of my textile designs start as some type of analog process: painting, photography, collage, airbrushing, dyeing, etc. I then document the artwork and digitally manipulate it into digital print fabric yardage giving my collections a unique and fresh perspective that can’t be replicated.

I went to art school to start an independent arts-based business which was such a foreign concept among peers and instructors. I was labeled headstrong and was not seen as a real contender in the art space. I created a fashion label that designs garments and textiles that inspire the wearer to wear their statement. I set the intention of combining fine art techniques with streetwear-infused garments inspired by the aesthetics of street art and cultural phenomena that have shaped our urban landscape. My process of designing garments and textiles mimics that of a fine artist. I still create concepts, narratives, hand design motifs, etc. but instead of hanging my art on the wall, you can wear, wash, and repeat. With each stitch, embellishment, and surface technique, I am empowering others to wear their statement whether that’s unapologetic, fearless, revolutionary, proud, or iconic. WHITNEYMANNEY is wearable culture that is museum-worthy but for the people.

As a fashion label and independent artist, WM has been positioned to be a sought-after force defying the odds of finding success as a Midwest-based creative. Often once artists find success, they leave for one of the big cities on the coast but the landscape is quickly changing, and living in New York or Los Angeles is no longer needed. This reputation capital has brought national opportunities and high-profile clients to my studio’s doorstep. I have leveraged this momentum into our clothing being featured on TV shows including Bel-Air and RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars, collaborations with other successful independent brands, and have combined my unique aesthetic with the powerhouses of the business world through brand partnerships with companies like The Kansas City Royals, Intel, JOANN, VELCRO, and ConvertKit.

WHITNEYMANNEY fills the gap for fashion & art enthusiasts who want to use fashion & textiles as communicative tools in an accessible manner. They want a look that speaks for them before they tell you anything about themselves. They want statement-making wearable art that easily integrates into their existing wardrobe and is wearable yet daring for everyday life. WHITNEYMANNEY is for the fashion enthusiast who finds beauty in function and self-discovery.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I get such a rush when I can see an idea all the way through! It is such a wild process to literally envision something in your mind, scribble it down on a piece of paper, and then bring it into a 3D format. Sometimes the creative process to the final piece can teach you a lot about yourself. It makes you challenge yourself, question yourself, and test your determination. It doesn’t feel fun while in the moment, but that finished look is always worth it

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

The Artist’s Way is at the top of my mind right now. A few artist friends and I restarted the book at the beginning of the year and recently finished it. It’s like everytime I open that book, I learn something new about myself and get a hard truth. It’s on of those books that will tell you about yourself real quick!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.whitneymanney.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whitneymanney/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhitneyManney.WM
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitneymanney/
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@whitneymanney

Image Credits
Images by: Ari Bonner Slivi Abisaab Lauren Pusateri