Amy Hopkins Memorial

Amy Hopkins was a designer and artist, entrepreneur and college professor. Her warm and kind soul, vibrant spirit, wise intelligence, strength and fervent passion for her creative and vocational endeavors and personal and social interests shall live on in a cherished place in the hearts and memories of all that knew and loved her.

Amy’s core creative ardor for art, design, apparel and fashion that became her avocation blossomed early as she avidly sewed, crafted and created from childhood on. In high school she enjoyed and excelled at basketball, aided by her height, as well as playing other sports, and also took up the saxophone, an outgrowth of her deep love for music.

After graduating high school, Amy moved to New York City to attend Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree before embarking on her career in the fashion industry, beginning as an intern while still in school. During her college years she began to establish her design style and began developing handbags, apparel and various accessories that served her well working for such firms as Liz Claiborne, Olivet International and Pyramid Accessories. Amy not only designed but would also oversee the production process for products to ensure best results, and was proud that her work could be found in such mass-market retail stores as Target, EF Corp, Kohls, Macy’s and J.C. Penney, to name just some.

Despite thriving in her chosen profession, she actively broadened her work pursuits, taking courses in 2005 at Texas A&M University to become a licensed florist, and then providing beautiful arrangements for weddings, special occasions and retail on South Congress in Austin. Amy eventually launched her own company, Mode Cast Design & Marketing. Working as an instructor at Austin Community College awoke a love of teaching in her (even during her illness, Amy was able to return to teaching and it nourished her). She eventually joined the school’s staff as an adjunct professor and was a pivotal force in expanding and enhancing ACC’s Fashion department. Amy was also an active volunteer at Austin Pets Alive! working with the most troubled animals, always in search of home for them, exemplifying her giving spirit. She was a devoted dog mom to her and Mark’s canines Zoli, Iggy and Pee-wee.