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Teena Marie
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Calvin
Durham
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Designer
Calvin Durham should be in the Fashion Hall of Fame.
Not just because he’s always dressed to the 9’s and
10’s, but because he’s been stitching up one-of-a-kind
creations over the span of 35 years for some of the
entertainment industry’s heavyweight elite.
You see, his foray into the fashion world wasn’t a
premeditated decision, it was more of a challenge that he felt
he could meet and eventually thrive at.
The year was 1969 and Calvin was a
hairdresser and makeup artist living in New York.
On one particular occasion he was searching for a
fringed vest to match his bell bottoms, but he was unsatisfied
with the quality and prices so he enlisted the help of his
friend/fashion designer Steven Burrows.
He watched Steve create a vest for Miles Davis’ wife
and thought to himself “I can do that,” and the rest they
say is fashion history.
Soon after, Calvin began concocting his
own pieces and quickly became a trend-setting fixture in the
nightclub scene for his attention-getting, hip, funked-out
style. Celebrities
were soon clamoring to get their hands on his rare and unique
creations. On any
day he could be found seaming up designs for Diana Ross, Jimi
Hendrix, Cher, Eric Clapton, James Brown, Chaka Kahn, George
Clinton, Bootsie Collins, Peter Frampton, Rick James and
Marvin Gaye, just to name a few.
Yes, Calvin had virtually took something that he knew
nothing about and turned it into a profitable career.
In 2004 Calvin is still going strong with
Durham Designs- an
eclectic, custom made, stylish leather clothing and
accessories line that has literally brought fashion back to
its roots. “The
designers out today just rip stuff up and call it fashion.
What makes my designs so fresh is that I put the funk
in it. Funk is
not unfinished, funk is quality.
From the look of the piece to the leather pockets, funk
means you go that extra mile to make it special…that’s
funk and that’s what I have,” Calvin expresses.
He’s not lying either.
Calvin’s funk has garnered the attention of his most
recent clients Vanessa Bell Calloway, Matchbox 20’s Kyle
Cook, Teena Marie, Spike TVs’ Tee Spence, Phoebe Price,
comedienne Monique, Rick James (yes he is still a client),
recording artist Jennifer Pina, and me (smile).
Seriously though, Calvin is bringing it and after all
these years still manages to stay ahead of the pack with edgy,
innovative styles that reek with individuality.
If withstanding the test of time isn’t enough reason
to give him props what we all can agree on is that sometimes
new jack ideas can’t even begin to compete with old school
flare.
Quality, tradition, and more funk then
one of them Parliment joints, Calvin is taking the fashion
world by storm again… one stitch at a time.
Calvin is being assisted by Creative
Endeavors Consulting Partners in Santa Monica, CA
310.828.9494.
For more information on Durham Designs
contact Rebekah Paul at rp@cecpartners.com
or at log on to:
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