Amy Page DeBlasio: Meet The Designer

Hi, everyone! Welcome to APD (Amy Page DeBlasio) World.

I wanted to add a little hangout spot to the website to connect and share experiences with you! This blog allows the APD community to inspire, explore, learn, share, and relate on a deep level. Ever wonder how your clothes are made? Need some styling or traveling tips? New places to eat? You're in the right spot. Whether you're interested in clothing, food, exercise, interior design, travel, beauty, music, or the world of Amy, I want to share the APD lifestyle with you. After all, APD is more than a trend, it's a lifestyle. And it never goes out of style. 

This is the first official blog post of our new series! New posts will be released the first Friday of every month.

Amy Page DeBlasio's Early Years

Let me start off by introducing myself. I’m Amy, founder and creative director of Amy Page DeBlasio, also known as APD. I was born in Providence, RI. Every “designer” always ends up in NYC or LA. Not me! I’ve always felt strongly about staying close to my roots and bringing fashion here to RI! I graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Science degree in Textiles, Fashion Merchandising, and Design. I also received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Italian Language and Literature from URI, in case I ended up in Italy, the fashion capital of the world. There’s only one problem… In true RI fashion, I decided that Italy was too far because you can’t get there in 15 minutes or less by car.

Even though I was making jewelry and wearing it all over campus, my love for art and fashion started long before college. I was always drawn to art in one form or another - from painting, to sketching, to sculpting, I was always creating something. I remember my mom dropping me off for Saturday morning art classes at RISD when I was maybe 8 years old. I also remember sketching Boticelli’s Primavera in our hotel room in Florence when I wasn’t much older. I was so fortunate to be able to travel as a young child with parents who truly appreciate the arts and culture. I am still deeply influenced by Italian designers. They’ll always be my favorite.

 

At 16, I begged my mom for a sewing machine and she gave in. I started taking sewing lessons and designed and sewed my own prom dress and made the matching jewelry, driven by the desire to be truly unique and not show up in an off-the-rack look. Who remembers Caché? I know, I'm aging myself! Everyone had a long gown with silver sequins all over it - as if! It was really during this time that I discovered my niche in fashion and my ability to combine different prints and textiles, viewing a garment as an artistic composition, needing movement and balance. 

Amy Page DeBlasio (APD) is Born

I continued to design and take art classes after college, and officially founded APD in 2017, with each piece being an expression of my artistic aesthetic. I brought some of my samples to the founder of StyleWeek and she told me I could be in the show. I started designing a collection and went for it. There was no turning back. People loved my runway show! Once I saw my models walk down the runway in my designs, and all my hard work come together, I had the boost of confidence I needed. I formed a company, rented a space, and the rest was history. I design what I like and don’t get wrapped up in the trends and what everyone else is doing. I draw inspiration from the world around me. When I see someone wearing a jacket, I think “how can I make this better and add a touch of Amy?” I also love going to a fabric store. Sometimes I’ll see a print and design will pop right into my head. I’ve been designing custom prints as well lately, which has been a lot of fun and very rewarding.

Amy Page DeBlasio: Values

I personally design every single garment and source every fabric, notion, and embellishment, down to the last button. You can often find me dropping off samples to pattern makers or running around New York City's garment district, looking for just the right trim. I pride myself on APD's impeccable attention to quality and detail. The factory that produces most of our pieces in NYC’s Garment District (except for samples and No Waste products made in our RI studio) also produces for Oscar de la Renta. We have the best relationship with that factory and all of our vendors.

Amy Page DeBlasio's Dream Comes True

My spirit is filled when a customer tries on an APD piece and I see them smile. Their joy brings me joy. Look how happy Ronna is in her leopard and camo trench! They’re buying a piece of me with every purchase. That customer will have a statement piece in their closet that they can depend on season after season and be proud to wear, knowing APD's values. I am so lucky to say that I am truly living out my childhood dreams. I get to bring joy to the world through creating art and beauty, and help so many individuals in the process. APD is my passion and mission. 

Amy Page DeBlasio's Personal Life

When I’m not designing or running my business (that never stops), you can find me with my family and friends. I am a proud mom to three boys - Leo (6), Eli (3), and Max (5 months), and partner to my husband, Brandon. You can often find me coaching Leo’s little league team, serving on boards and committees in my local and Jewish communities, attending a family service at our synagogue, trying out new restaurants, working out, wandering around an art museum, playing softball, watching HGTV or a crime series, attending comedy shows, and spending quality time with my loved ones. 

In the meantime, be sure to follow APD on all social platforms - @amypagebeblasio.

🖤 Amy

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