Antthony Mark Hankins

Antthony Mark Hankins is an American fashion designer whose eponymous business developed from a designer-led apparel operation into a multi-label fashion enterprise. Hankins was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and began designing and sewing clothing while still in school. He worked part-time in an administrative role and used a sewing machine borrowed with help from a friend, building an early portfolio that led to further study in New York and Paris. Hankins studied at Pratt Institute's School of Design in Brooklyn from 1986 to 1988 and subsequently attended the École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. He is described as having been the school's second American and first African-American student. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, he apprenticed or worked with several fashion figures and firms, including Yves Saint Laurent, Adrienne Vittadini, Willi Smith, Michael Paris, Homer Layne, and Bob Mackie. His discussions with Mackie helped direct his ambitions toward ready-to-wear and the broader commercial market rather than couture alone. After returning to the United States, Hankins joined JCPenney in California in 1992 as a quality-assurance manager. He was promoted within approximately two months to an in-house design position in the company's Minority Supplier Development Division at its Dallas headquarters. In 1994, he left JCPenney and established Ramone Moya Ltd., the umbrella structure associated with the AMH Group and Antthony Mark Hankins Inc. JCPenney agreed to carry his initial collection, giving the business an early national retail outlet. The brand subsequently expanded beyond its initial JCPenney relationship. After the relevant exclusivity period ended, Hankins marketed collections through Target and Kmart under separate labels, while also obtaining placement or exposure through Nordstrom and Sears. The portfolio included accessible ready-to-wear, department-store collections, social dresses and separates, accessories, sewing patterns, and television-shopping products. A Canadian line called TonyWear was associated with Hudson's Bay Stores, and the company also sold through military exchange channels serving the United States Army and Air Force communities. Television retail became an important part of the business. Following an approach from Black Entertainment Television for a shopping program connected to the Home Shopping Network, Hankins made his first HSN appearance on March 31, 1996. The Antthony Originals and related design-studio collections were subsequently presented through HSN, alongside distribution through department stores and boutiques. A limited accessories line, Band of Artists, was launched in 2010. The business attracted attention as an example of an African-American designer building a commercial fashion company through mainstream retail. Reference material reports that the company reached approximately $40 million in annual sales by 1996; this figure is historical rather than a current valuation or revenue disclosure. Hankins was recognized by Business Week, Newsweek, the Trumpet Awards, the Black Retail Action Group, and other organizations. His work has included both commercial clothing and handcrafted couture designs produced in the United States. The current operating status, ownership structure, and scale of the brand are not established by the available reference material.

Antthony Mark Hankins grew up in Elizabeth, New Jersey, in a large family. His early interest in fashion developed through art and sewing classes at Roosevelt Middle School in Roselle, where he made garments for friends and acquaintances. He worked part-time as an administrative assistant at the Union County courthouse and obtained an early sewing machine with borrowed money. His designs and portfolio eventually helped him secure an interview for Pratt Institute's School of Design in Brooklyn. Hankins attended Pratt from 1986 to 1988. He then continued his education in Paris at the École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, an institution connected with the standards and professional infrastructure of the Paris fashion industry. According to the available biographical material, he was the second American and first African-American student accepted there. A two-part television feature arranged through Today Show fashion correspondent Christy Ferer helped expose his circumstances and work to a national audience. The second segment was filmed in Paris and broadcast on December 9, 1988; an anonymous donation reportedly helped him pay for travel. His early professional experience included apprenticeships or design work connected with Yves Saint Laurent, Adrienne Vittadini, Willi Smith, Michael Paris, Homer Layne, and Bob Mackie. The experience broadened his understanding of both couture construction and commercial fashion. Mackie's advice was particularly important in steering Hankins toward ready-to-wear, a sector capable of reaching a much larger customer base than custom couture. In 1992, after returning to the United States, Hankins joined JCPenney. He initially worked in quality assurance in California, then moved quickly into an in-house design role in the Minority Supplier Development Division at JCPenney's Dallas headquarters. This experience placed him close to national retail operations and helped connect his design work with production, sourcing, merchandising, and distribution. Hankins departed JCPenney in 1994 and created Ramone Moya Ltd. as an umbrella company for the AMH Group and Antthony Mark Hankins Inc. JCPenney carried the first line, providing a significant launch platform. The business later developed additional labels for different retail channels. Authentics was associated with Target, Anjalise with Kmart, and TonyWear with Hudson's Bay Stores in Canada. Collections were also featured at Nordstrom and Sears. The label architecture allowed Hankins to serve department stores, mass merchants, boutiques, and specialized retail programs without relying on a single name or channel. A second major growth path came from television shopping. Black Entertainment Television approached Hankins about a home-shopping program called BET Shop, which had a connection to HSN. His first HSN appearance took place on March 31, 1996. HSN became a long-term channel for Antthony Originals, Shopping with Anthony, and ready-to-wear design-studio products. The available material describes his relationship with HSN as extending for approximately three decades, although the present commercial status of that relationship is not independently established here. The company also maintained a couture-oriented side. Its Couture Collection consisted of social dresses and separates, with designs described as handcrafted in the United States. The broader Antthony Design Studio collection was sold through department stores and boutiques. In 2010, Hankins introduced Band of Artists, a limited accessories series. His designs were also sold internationally through PX stores operated for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service. By 1996, reference material reported annual sales of $40 million. The figure should be read as a historical report about the business at that time, not as a current financial result. Hankins received the Young Star Award from the Trumpet Awards and Turner Broadcasting in 1997, was included in Newsweek's list of people to watch, and was recognized by Business Week as an entrepreneur. His work and personal story appeared in publications including The Wall Street Journal and Business Week. A memoir, Fabric of Dreams: Designing My Own Success, was published in March 1998. The available sources do not establish a current corporate structure, headquarters, financial performance, or whether every historical label remains active.

1. 2010Introduces Band of Artists

   A limited accessories series called Band of Artists was launched.

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2. 1998Publishes a fashion-business memoir

   Fabric of Dreams: Designing My Own Success, written with Debbie Markley, was published in March 1998.

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3. 1997Receives national business and cultural recognition

   He received the Trumpet Awards Young Star Award and was cited by Newsweek and Business Week for his entrepreneurial and fashion work.

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4. 1996Begins HSN appearances

   Hankins made his first Home Shopping Network appearance on March 31, 1996.

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5. 1995Butterick patterns launch

   Butterick Patterns launched a Hankins-related pattern offering in July 1995.

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6. 1994Founds the eponymous fashion business

   He founded Ramone Moya Ltd. and the associated Antthony Mark Hankins business after leaving JCPenney; JCPenney carried the initial line.

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7. 1992Joins JCPenney

   Hankins joined JCPenney in quality assurance and soon became an in-house designer in its Minority Supplier Development Division.

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8. 1988Moves to Paris for couture training

   He entered the École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne and continued his fashion education in Paris.

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9. 1986Begins study at Pratt Institute

   Hankins studied design at Pratt Institute's School of Design in Brooklyn from 1986 to 1988.

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Accessible American fashion spanning ready-to-wear, department-store collections, television retail, and handcrafted couture.

• Antthony OriginalsReady-to-wear fashion1994

  The core commercial label associated with Hankins's ready-to-wear apparel and Home Shopping Network presentations. It represents the accessible, designer-led side of the business and was distributed through television retail as well as other retail channels.

• Couture CollectionCouture apparel

  A collection of social dresses and separates positioned closer to occasionwear and couture than mass-market basics. The available material describes these designs as handcrafted in the United States.

• The Antthony Design Studio collectionDepartment-store and boutique apparel

  A designer collection sold through department stores and boutiques across the United States. It extended Hankins's work beyond television retail into conventional specialty and department-store distribution.

• Authentics by Anthony Mark HankinsMass-market apparel

  A retail label associated with Target after the expiration of Hankins's initial exclusivity arrangement with JCPenney. It illustrates the brand's use of channel-specific labels for accessible fashion distribution.

• AnjaliseMass-market apparel

  A Hankins-associated line marketed through Kmart. The available reference identifies the retail relationship but does not provide detailed information about its assortment or duration.

• TonyWearApparel

  A label associated with Hudson's Bay Stores in Canada. It formed part of Hankins's broader strategy of adapting labels and distribution to particular retail markets.

• Band of ArtistsAccessories2010

  A limited series of accessories launched in 2010. The available sources do not specify the individual products or the continuing availability of the line.

• Butterick PatternsSewing patterns1995

  A pattern collaboration or branded pattern offering launched in July 1995, extending Hankins's design work into home sewing and pattern retail.

• 1996Expand into television shopping through HSNProduct launch

  Black Entertainment Television approached Hankins about a shopping program connected with the Home Shopping Network.

  What changed. Hankins began presenting ready-to-wear fashion on HSN, with Antthony Originals and related collections becoming part of the television-retail business.

  Aftermath. The HSN relationship became a long-term sales and presentation channel for Hankins's fashion offerings.

  Reported annual sales. $40 million (1996)

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• 1994Build a multi-label retail strategyStrategy

  After leaving JCPenney, Hankins established an umbrella business while retaining JCPenney as the initial retail partner.

  What changed. The business developed separate or channel-specific labels for JCPenney, Target, Kmart, Hudson's Bay Stores, department stores, boutiques, and military exchange retail.

  Aftermath. The approach expanded the brand beyond a single retailer and supported a combination of mass-market, department-store, boutique, and specialized distribution.

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• 2010Band of Artists accessories line launches

  Hankins introduced Band of Artists as a limited series of accessories.

  Product launch
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• 1996Antthony Mark Hankins makes his first Home Shopping Network appearance

  Hankins appeared on HSN for the first time on March 31, 1996, beginning a long-running association with television retail for his ready-to-wear collections.

  Product launchOther
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• 1994Antthony Mark Hankins establishes his fashion company

  Hankins left JCPenney and founded Ramone Moya Ltd., the umbrella company associated with Antthony Mark Hankins Inc. and the AMH Group. JCPenney agreed to carry his first line.

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1. Antthony Mark Hankins
2. Antthony Originals official website