photo by SCAD
Cleveland native and Emmy-Award-winning costume designer Janie Bryant was presented with an honorary degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) during its 2023 commencement in Savannah last weekend.
After receiving her honorary degree, Ms. Bryant addressed the thousands of graduates, sharing a prescription for happiness: four golden nuggets of wisdom she has learned along the way. These include the power of "I am ...", the power of meditation, the power of forgiveness and the power of gratitude.
About Janie Bryant:
Janie Bryant is an Emmy-Award-winning costume designer well known for her designs on AMC TV’s Mad Men and HBO’s Deadwood, for which she earned the prestigious award. Janie most recently completed the costume design on two Paramount+ original series, 1923 and 1883, the prequels to the hit show Yellowstone. Both series have become fan favorites for their breathtaking scenery and gritty, authentic, costume design telling the early story of the Dutton family. Janie recently completed designing for Ann Rice’s: Mayfair Witches, an AMC series, based on Rice’s trilogy of books starring Harry Hamlin, Jack Huston, and Alexandra Daddario. Janie is currently in production for Bad Boys 4: Ride or Die starring Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, and Vanessa Hudgens.
Janie was the costume designer for seasons one and two of the Marc Cherry production Why Women Kill on Paramount+. The first season of this comedic drama is set in three different decades and stars Lucy Liu, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Alexandra Daddario; the second season starring Lana Parrilla and Allison Tolman, is set in 1949. Previously, Janie costume designed The Romanoffs on HBO, The Last Tycoon on Amazon Prime, and the remake of Stephen King’s iconic movie, IT.
Janie’s costume design has been cited as influential by designers like Michael Kors, Vera Wang, Prada, Marc Jacobs, and more. After studying fashion design, she moved to Paris and then New York, where she got involved in the TV and film industry. Bryant then moved to Los Angeles to follow her passion to continue her career as a Hollywood costume designer.
Along with her prestigiously awarded costumes and her own ready to wear line for extended sizes (JXB), Janie had also designed the successful Mad Men collections in collaboration with AMC TV and Banana Republic. She has worked with many brands including Hamilton Watches, Inherent Clothier, Brooks Brothers, Shoes of Prey, Hearts on Fire Diamonds, Downy, SONY, NIKE, Maidenform Intimate Apparel, and more. Janie designed the uniforms for the relaunch of the Watergate hotel in Washington D.C. In 2011, Janie released her first book called “The Fashion File” with style tips and inspiration to help every woman become her own “leading lady.” Janie recently launched a collaboration of western inspired looks with classic outerwear brand, Tom Beckbe.