BEHIND THE BRAND
ABOUT ANGELA JOHNSON
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ARIZONA FASHION INDUSTRY LEADER AND INSIDER, FASHION PHILANTHROPIST, FASHION DESIGNER, FASHION EDUCATOR, AND EMERGING DESIGNER SPECIALIST/CONSULTANT
Angela Johnson is an award winning, eco-friendly clothing designer and champion for the Arizona fashion industry. She is best known for creating tailored ball gowns and other keepsake garments from “thrifted” and recycled T-shirts under Angela Johnson Design and for being the co-founder of AZ’s fashion incubator F.A.B.R.IC. Angela is also founder of Arizona’s fashion industry directory LabelHorde and Co-Founder of the non-profit 501-c3 AZ Apparel Foundation.
Angela got her start in L.A. working in design and production for X-Large Manufacturing, the line owned by Mike Diamond of the Beastie Boys and X-Girl, the line owned by Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth. In the mid 1990’s she co-owned Monkeywench, a board sports inspired collection with Days of our Lives actress Christie Clark.
Angela's upcycled T-shirt designs have been on display at the Tempe Center for the Arts' Gallery. as well as a Tempe Public Art window display. She has been awarded Fashion Group International of Arizona’s Rising Star in 2004, Artist of the Year by the Scottsdale Cultural Council’s Chairman’s Committee in 2005, Best Local Fashion Designer by Arizona Foothills 2010-Present, Chicest Local Designer by 944 Magazine in 2007, Downtown Tempe’s Business Community Impact Award for F.A.B.R.I.C. in 2017, Phoenix Business Journal’s Outstanding Women in Business, the Fashion Humanitarian award by The Garment League in 2018 and the Tempe Arts and Culture Award for Innovation in 2019.
Angela has taught fashion classes at Arizona State University, Mesa Community College, Collins College, Art Institute of Phoenix, New School for the Arts & Academics and LabelHorde and is also a fashion business consultant to hundreds of Arizona designers and students. She has been featured in countless books, magazines and television/internet programs and has been the cover story for both New Times and Front Doors Magazine. She was also the Regional Director of the non-profit Fashion Group International of Arizona for 2014-2017.