Mark Hughes, Designer

Mark Hughes has been sewing all his life, starting at the tender age of 9 making dresses for his Barbie dolls. He was a costume designer in professional Regional Theatre for 25 years before quitting theatre cold-turkey and moving to Northwest Arkansas where he knew there was no theatre to tempt him back in.

Once there, he met the owner of a women’s clothing boutique who persuaded him to develop a line of comfortable, natural-fiber clothing. Twenty years later, “Regalia Handmade Clothing” is still operating in lovely Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Aside from his line of linen designs, he also uses specialty fabrics suitcased back from distant locations for a series of one-and-only garments.  “Bing Bang Boomerang” sprang up as a side-line to Regalia out of Mark’s love for vintage fabrics and clothing styles of the 1950’s and 60’s. In this line, Mark strives to create one-of-a-kind items that look as if they have just stepped out of the period without being too kitschy. Fitted bodices, flared full skirts and precise detailing are the hallmarks of BBB, and each garment is lovingly stitched one garment at a time, often by the designer himself.

Mark’s history of theatre and his love of the sewing craft is obvious in his work. If you are anywhere near Northwest Arkansas anytime, you are invited to drop in to the studio and meet him personally and examine the garments before you buy.