Born to Dutch immigrant parents in Michigan, Susan Hengst learned to sew from her grandmother, an expert seamstress.

In 2003, with just seven patterns she launched her flagship, House of Hengst (Dutch for “stallion”) in San Francisco’s Mission District. Taking an independent approach, she developed a fit and style based on her loyal neighborhood following before taking the collection to New York in TK.

Her signature style is a modern interpretation of classic femininity with a healthy dose of fantasy. Forward-thinking with timeless appeal, her designs are meant to be cherished and worn forever.

While a new story and new patterns emerge every season, each collection is an extension of the last, allowing clients to continuously integrate new pieces into their wardrobes.

Dividing her time between New York and San Francisco, Hengst maintains a broad testing ground through direct contact with her clients, design room, and production house. With meticulous attention to detail reminiscent of eras past, each piece is draped, molded, and test-driven for comfort, versatility, and durability.