Forty Under 40: Brooke Benham

Brooke Benham, 34, has taught herself everything she knows about designing clothing. She wasn’t formally trained in design and never worked in a clothing store but always dreamed of being a fashion designer in New York City.

She married young, had a daughter and let her dream fall to the wayside. That is until about six or seven years ago, when she started going to Native American art shows with her father, where she would show her jewelry.

Inspired by her Native American ancestry and the art she saw at shows, Benham eventually began designing women’s clothing.

In 2008, she opened Ultra Studios in Fayetteville, where she designs couture pieces. The pieces are then made by a pattern maker and seamstress, and sold in a boutique on-site.

Ultra Studios also has a gallery, where a local artist is featured each month. Showcasing the work of other artists in the region was one of the goals of opening the studio, she said.

Once Benham realized part of her dream of becoming a fashion designer, she started working toward another dream, which was to give back to the community.

She held her first fashion show in April and all proceeds went to the Children’s House.
In five years, Benham said she hopes to be able to manufacture enough of her own clothing to put it in stores across the U.S.