Get to Know Local Talent Rhonda Priestley of Priestley Garments

Aug 18

By: Bethany Myers

Priestley Garments, founded by Rhonda Priestley, is a wearable art clothing line born out of a passion for art and fashion.

Priestley is a Newport Beach resident, artist, and fashion designer with a degree in Fine Art and Architecture from the University of Southern California School of Architecture and Fine Arts. After many years of showing her work in galleries and pivoting to the advertising world, she decided to fulfill her life-long dream of creating fashion. As both a fine artist and fashion designer, Priestley creates art so it can be enjoyed in everyday life. It is her belief that art has the power to inspire and elevate, which she hopes is the case for her clients.

Her vision for fine art came to life while exploring Rome, where the magical pink hue of the light and centuries of history deliver inspiration at every turn. What she loves is that, when you are there, you are surrounded by one-of-a-kind art. It’s everywhere, it bridges centuries of creative storytelling, and it’s an important part of everyday life. This is where she honed her unique point of view and passion for applying art to fabric. Priestley’s desire was to see her art move on fabric. In her mind, her paintings have always had movement, but incorporating them into fashion became her way of giving them the life they were meant to have. After much research, she found a company that could print her original art on luxurious fabrics. She was fortunate to find two wonderful seamstresses who were able to take her patterns and sew the garments into simple silhouettes. From there, in 2013, Priestley Garments came to life.

Priestley’s mixed-media pieces combine non-silver photo prints, solvent transfers, gel medium image layers, and various paint techniques. In her newest series, she captures the ancient textures and remarkable beauty of the neoclassical era in Italy with acrylic on solvent transfers and giclée prints. Her textile designs are based on her original paintings and designs. They are printed on different types of luxe fabrics, using eco-friendly, water-based pigment inks, and are designed and fabricated in simple silhouettes. With each unique piece, it is Priestley’s hope that the owner of her clothing takes the opportunity to make this art their own and to find inspiration to tell their own beautiful story. Her passion is to share her inspiration as an artist with her clients, so they can bring it to life however they see fit.

Priestley is currently working on her "Arabesque" collection. Bold, vibrant colors such as bright fuchsias, golds, greens, and yellows. Since most of her art and designs are nature-based, she was excited to start creating the Arabesque designs with their helices, vertical and horizontal lines, balance borders, and contexts of ornaments. They create harmony between the whole and the components of the artwork; that is what makes beauty among lines.

As her brand has become more recognized throughout the community, Priestley has been invited to show her collections on runways and at various fashion events to pop-up boutiques and at brick-and-mortar boutiques.

You can find Preistley’s garments RTW for women and men, at local pop-up boutiques, by private appointment, and at runway shows.

Personal Life

Rhonda Priestley was born in Oceanside, CA, in a military hospital. Her father, who she is exceptionally proud of, was an officer in the Marine Corps. Growing up, she spent half of her life on the East Coast and the remainder of her time on the West Coast.

She graduated from USC with a degree in Architecture and Fine Art. She then met her husband, Dr. Kevin Priestley, on the ONLY blind date she ever went on! A client of hers insisted she meet him, and so she did, begrudgingly. They have now been married for 36 years. Dr. Priestley has been a chiropractor in Newport Beach for 40 years (Priestley Family Chiropractic). Together, they have one son, who played football for ACU in Texas and then joined the Marine Corps as an artillery officer. He served our country, protecting our embassy in Baghdad, and also went to Kuwait and Djibouti, Africa. He is now attending Chapman University in the Master's Business program.

Priestley has lived in Newport Beach since 1971. She feels very blessed to live and work in such a beautiful community. While she knows the area is often referred to as the "OC Bubble," she wouldn't live anywhere else in the world.

Message to the Community - “I would like to share my gratitude for the relationships, both new and old, that I have had the absolute pleasure of cultivating over the years. I am blessed to be able to experience the beauty of walking Balboa Island, Crystal Cove, participating in local events, giving back to our community through working at the food pantry at my church, eating at the finest restaurants Newport Beach has to offer, and living the BEST life.”