My House: A Fashion Designer Adds a Dash of Parisian Flair to Her Charleston Apartment

Attending an all-girls school in Columbus, Ohio, from first to eighth grade made a huge impact on Amanda Greeley, founder of high-end loafer brand Thelma. "I was truly lucky to grow up in an environment where I never questioned the idea that women make great leaders," says Amanda. "Female leaders were everywhere I looked."

Following college, she moved to New York for a job in merchandising. A few years in, she launched Tink + Tiger, a U.S.-made pajama line that taught her about sourcing fabric, pattern-making, and navigating the Garment District. She was young and inspired, soaking up all the facets of what it takes to develop a brand. It was then that she decided to move back home to Charleston, South Carolina, which was experiencing a renaissance in 2013. 

"I craved a little more space and loved the idea of being closer to the ocean," she says. "The Charleston economy is made up of a lot of small businesses, so it was a good place to get some experience doing freelance work for others."

By 2016, Amanda—who also designs for the minimalist underwear line CUUP—was ready for something new. The resulting Thelma loafer, which comes with a wood-block heel and in a variety of candy colors, is what she calls a "power-shoe—the perfect balance of masculine and feminine."