There’s something inspiring about a person who is a study in
contradiction. Part rebellious skater- surfer dude, part animal lover
and family guy, and part visionary fashion designer. Mix in a passion
for solar energy and you’ve got Seth Aaron Henderson, winner of last
season’s Project Runway. Henderson epitomizes the notion that you can be
a unique blend of many things that on the outside one could judge and
say don’t belong together, when in fact they are the very essence of
what makes them beautiful and successful. You would think that this edgy
rocker type designer would be anti-establishment, but on the contrary he
is quick to say “If you think I’m just throwing TV’s out of the windows,
think again.You can still be yourself, true to your roots, but also be a
positive role model. It’s about
focusing that creativity into something you love. You don‘t have to
ditch your edge.”
His ability to appreciate people and opportunities at every level is
what makes him stand out and what also makes him so real. While not
working on his collection, he’s attending his kid’s class parent
meetings, carpooling or
working on homework. Henderson and his wife Tina
love their community in the Pacific Northwest. While Henderson says city
life is what he’s all about, it is his
living in the country that makes his life’s motto exemplary “Balance.
It’s all about Balance. Too much of anything is never good. That’s why
it’s so important to me to have it all. A great fashion career, an edgy
personal style that may be off-putting to some, but a real heart and
dedication to my family. It all makes sense to me.”What also makes sense
is Henderson’s ability to live in the moment, balance and explore
uncharted territory.
His recent
partnership with SolarWorld (a solar technology
company in Portland) is a perfect example of his willingness to try
something that on the surface may look out-of-the-box. In designing the
collection Seth Aaron SolarWorld by Portland Fashion Week, he will draw
on his passion for a domestically manufactured solar solution to energy,
and his interest in exploring the technology’s aesthetic
possibilities. “Growing up in San Diego, solar panels were everywhere.
It’s SolarWorld’s commitment to being a leader in this industry by
keeping innovation always in mind that interests me,” he notes. “There
was inspiration from the moment I stepped foot in the SolarWorld
factory. Innovation and sustainability were overwhelming impressions.
They gave me limitless possibilities for a high-concept fashion
collection. I also love the statement we’re making from right here in my
own back yard.”
