PREVIEW: Town Talk: Amy Stephenson — An authentic Northside treasure

By Anna Yoder | Columnist

How many of us remember when Federal Street was bustling with hundreds of businesses and trolley cars from Perrysville all the way to the river (yes, prior to the Allegheny Center Mall)? And how many 100-year-old women do you know who continue to design and sew their own dresses? Well, I became acquainted with one remarkable woman — Miss Amy Bell Stephenson who turned 100 this past March — who not only remembers those Federal Street businesses and trolley cars but owned a popular fashion design business on that busy Federal Street. And she is still sewing!

Born in 1925 on the Northside, Miss Amy is the eldest of 10 children. Her interest in fashion was sparked by sewing and altering clothes for her younger siblings. This task of sewing for her family “spurred a love for sewing for others” and ultimately created a longing for a career in fashion. And a very successful career in fashion is exactly what Miss Amy achieved.

Miss Amy’s formal education in the fashion industry began in 1943 shortly after high school, when an uncle who resided in New York City encouraged her to come to the Big Apple. After arriving in New York City, Miss Amy was accepted to and attended the prestigious Pratt Institute of Fashion, where she perfected her skills as a fashion design sketch artist.

Check out the June issue for the complete story.