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Designer Biography Marlene Henderson As an athlete, a designer and a scholar, Marlene has practical and managerial experience in both sports and fashion marketing. She has combined her talents to offer the perfect wardrobe for today's tall women with active, professional lifestyles. DesignElevations satisfies those desires and gives tall women the opportunity to look their best in fabulous clothes that flatter their figures.The market for tall women is under represented. There are so many young ladies out there struggling to find fashionable clothes to fit their special and day to day occasions. Marlene recalls traveling long distances out of her way to stores that supposedly catered to tall women, only to become disappointed with boxy and often unflattering merchandise. "I can't wear this anywhere" she thought to herself, and soon ceased from making such unnecessary trips. "I love to shop and I hate to shop. I love to try on beautiful clothes, but I hate it when the waist is too high and the hem lines are too short." I want to look fabulous all the time, but mixing and matching off the rack can be such a nightmare for me. The clothes often just don't fit." At the age of 16 and the statuesque height of 6'3", Marlene began designing and sewing stylish clothes for herself. The tall women in her family admired the style and fit of Marlene's clothes and began commissioning her to create clothes for them as well. Marlene played Division I collegiate basketball and earned degrees in Marketing and Fashion Design & Merchandising. Throughout her college career, she designed clothes for friends, family and a special clientele of female basketball playing associates. Upon graduation, Marlene went to Europe to play professional basketball before returning to the states to earn her MBA. While in grad school, there were five women in her class who were all over six feet tall, not to mention her basketball playing associates around the world, they all shared the same frustrations and concerns when shopping for fashionable, feminine clothes. Women everywhere ask, "Where do you find your clothes?" " I create them, and I can create them for you as well." While in Europe, Marlene frequented boutiques and marveled at the simplicity and elegance of European fashions. "My favorite designers are Emanuel Ungaro, Giorgio Armani, and Donna Karan. I created a line with each of these designers in mind. A line with a sense of comfort, flexibility, sophistication and elegance."
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