We recently connected with Kelly Henderson and have shared our conversation below.
Kelly , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
Do hard things; they become easier the more you step into them. They are meaningful, and they matter.
The Pile’s all began during the pandemic where I realized I truly missed my connection to fashion designing, and if this is some sort of armageddon, then I’m go out pattern drafting and sewing!”
While brainstorming and creating the last two House of Hendo collections (“The Pile III & most recently The Pile IV”) I made a conscious effort to train myself to emerse fully in the joy of my creative art and my studio space.
We had been separated for a long time, and not being creative was essentially slowly killing me. I was unhappy.
I knew it would be hard but would be so very meaningful to get back to my true love and passion, and what I believe I am here on this earth to do.
This was not easy, and their was both painful release and emmense joy, but it was necessary and I knew I would grow from the discipline.
I listened to hours of music which would build my final playlist.
Emmersed myself in non fiction books about self discipline, self love, conquering challenges, the creative pursuit, finances and fashion.
Phone on focus.
No tv, movies or computer screens in the space.
Many moments of painful release and many a tear, while allowing myself to accept this joy back into my life and release that which no longer served me.
No alcohol in the studio as for me personally, it aims to be my crutch.
Finding time to leave the studio and step away; balance in nourishing deep creativity and rest from creativity, as to come back with a clear head and new prespective.
All of this lead to The Pile IV’s ethereal, romantic, and heart driven concept. I truly hope the audience felt and relished in what I was aiming to convey, and took away also their own intretation of the experience.
I have received some wonderful feedback regarding the show and that has made my heart full, and will keep me driven to delve into my meaningful art.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I got my first sewing machine at age 10, and in turning 40 next year, thats some simple math of 30 years on the thread! started from simple patterns from Fabricland, and later worked there to learn more about fabrics and materials. I made my first sale of purple hand tye dyed pants to my friend Melanie in public school. I knew at that young age I would go to Fashion School, and I went to Ryerson (now TMU) from 2004-2008.
During university, I also took on an internship at Berman & Co Costume Warehouse, which led me having a full time job their and then led me into my continued career into costume in TV & Film.
I am grateful to have learned, for me personally, the necessary balance of working in both the fashion and tv/film worlds, as they both have very different aspects involved but also can cross over and I can combine the two in unique ways.
In 2012-13 I had started renting a studio with my close friend/roommate Cat and after client growth and inquiry and the need for financial income, we ended up starting a production sewing studio called Pigeons & Thread, which did smalls runs of production for new and emerging designers. As we continued to grow and gain more clientele we learned much about business relations, industrial sewing machines, wholesale ordering of fabrics and supplies, and employee management. I am grateful for all this avenue taught me, but after 6.5 years, in spring of 2019 I knew I needed to return to the film/tv world as I had missed that energy and creative realm.
Pigeons & Thread continues to thrive and they will always be my teammates.
During my years at P&T, we would have fabric sales to sell off the left over and deadstock fabrics from the designers previous collections, or other materials and notions we had acquired
We donated clean scrap fabrics to Mellah, a rug store who fills their big pillow “poofs” with the scraps.
While running a sewing production company, and even at a small scale, this was where I noticed the potential waste “Pile” that could end up in a landfill if not disposed of with an environmental state of mind.
It made me become really aware of the amount of fabric that continously exists.
I myself already had boxes and boxes at home of fabrics and notions, ready to be used, but still sitting idle, as all my time was invested at P&T.
Then, after leaving in April 2019, having some time off, a fun summer, and some move life changes, the pandemic hit.
So thus, with unknown time on my hands, House of Hendo grew out of the pandemic. During lockdown, I now had time to look through my own “Pile” of fabrics and supplies, and returned back to the sewing machine and fashion designing for my sanity and my soul during the unknown lockdown period.
It was not easy and felt both extrememly necessary to create, and also at times completely pointless, as I did not know what was in store. But through this experience, I now truly believe creativity is an innate part of my soul, joy, self care, and mandatory for my mental health and well being.
After months of sewing and once the world started reopening, I showcased House of Hendo’s debut “The Pile I” at the Oct 2020 Fashion Art Toronto outdoor and online interactive Fashion week; location was at The Bentway in Toronto.
FUN FACT: It had been 11 years since my last showcase at FAT, where I was under the label HARSH DESIGNS.
Now, here we are, just having released “The Pile IV” on November 17th, and already making plans for the next moves.
Through creativity we have built stellar teams, partnerships and relationships and I have met some of the most amazing being to bless this earth.
House of Hendo creates all designs with approximately 80-90% of thrifted, second hand, deadstock, donated and sustainable materials, lovingly converted into demi-couture and streetwear RTW pieces.
With only so many yards of each fabric, the goal is to make a garment which maximizes the yardge, and also is versatile in its sizing and unisex in its outreach to clients.
With all if these concepts in mind, HOH is minimizing waste, and versatile in its clientele reach.
I’m grateful for the response HOH has had thus far, and very much look forward to our continued collaborations and collections. The Pile V is already brewing… and its gonna be magic.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect is definitely two parts.
Personally: The growth I have gained from continually pushing my boundaries and also surrendering to the creative process and the state of flow has been the biggest reward. It isn’t easy, and it does not happen every day and every time your in the studio, but when it happends its a huge gamechanger.
Learning to release from controlling my design process has been a major breakthrough.
Sometimes it isn’t going to be one vision, because the materials your working with and the creative process are leading you in another direction, and at this moment you can either aim to control/resist the flow, or you can trust the flow and the process. You always have a choice.
Socially: The connections I have made through allowing myself to release and showcase my creativity into the world have led me to meet some of the most amazing, inspiring magical creatives on this earth. Spanning from fashion, activism, film, tv, envionmental design, athletes, architects, naturopaths, writers, the list goes on and on. The connections I’ve had the pleasure of makings so far is breathtaking. I am grateful and in awe of all their creative spirits.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Non Fiction Audiobooks have become a staple in my studio creative process. Some of those which have helped grow my personal growth and creative experience include:
Angela Duckworth – GRIT
Charles Duhigg – The Power of Habit
Tiffany Aliche – Get Good With Money
The Naked Mind – Annie Grace
Steven Pressfield – The War of Art / Do The Work
Jen Sincero – You Are A Badass at Making Money & other works
Elizabeth Gilbert – Big Magic
Jerry Saltz – How to Be an Artist
Rick Rubin – The Creative Act
Morgan Housel – The Psychology of Money
Contact Info:
- Website: www.houseofhendo.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/house.of.hendo
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/ouz42443uXE?si=jCiRfliLCkzIRVdL
Image Credits
Photos 1-6 – Max Power @thisismaxpower Photos 7-8 – @keleopatro