Patti Carpenter

Fashion and housewares designer Patti Yvonne Carpenter was born on May 2, 1955 in Washington, D.C. to Vivian and Horace Carpenter. She graduated with honors from McKinley Technical Senior High School in 1973. She then continued her education at Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, receiving her B.A. degree in fashion design and fashion illustration in 1975 and 1976, respectively.

In the fashion industry, Carpenter worked with Scott Barrie, Bill Blass, Oscar De La Renta, Gloria Vanderbilt, Adrienne Vittadini, Cynthia Rowley, Peter Max, The Limited Corporation, Timberland, and Ralph Lauren.

Carpenter became disillusioned with the garment industry after twenty-five years, and turned her interests to home furnishings. She is a principal and creative director of Continuum Home, Inc. and Carpenter & Company. As a design, color and trend consultant and merchandiser, Carpenter works with clients such as the Worth Collection, the Exploris Museum, and Agexpront of Guatemala country originals.

Carpenter’s product line, the Phillips Collection, can be found in numerous retailers including Donna Karen, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s, J.C. Penney, and Macy’s.

Through her extensive work with Aid for Artisans, she has worked with the International Executive Service Corps and was awarded the Presidents Volunteer Service Award by President George W. Bush in 2005. Carpenter sits on the executive board of the High School of Fashion Industries and is a guest lecturer for the Fashion Institute of Technology, the Parson School of Design and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Carpenter currently lives in New York City.

Carpenter was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on January 10, 2007.