Darius B. Gibbs
Darius B. Gibbs (born January 7, 1967 in Alcantara, Romblon, Philippines and lives in New York/New Jersey, USA) started his career in the fashion industry at a young age and fashion runs into his DNA. His father Benito is a Master Tailor and his mother Amalia is a dressmaker. He is the 4th among seven (7) siblings and he thought that living together with family would hinder his growth in capturing his dreams. He then decided to move to Manila. working hard and did everything to survive. He worked with several Garment Factories in Manila to strengthen his experience and contacts in the industry. He became an International Merchandiser for both local owned Garment companies, foreign own buying offices and International Trading company in Manila. He decided to move forward so he left the Philippines and moved to Hong Kong and then became a Territorial Director for Lucrecia Apparel a subsidiary of a Japan based company Fashion Force and Nissho Iwai. He left Lucrecia and moved back to Manila, Philippines and started a computer company with offices in Singapore and Taiwan. He then ventured with Music Lounge. Unfortunately none of those businesses went well so he decided to leave and moved to Sri Lanka and works as Divisional Merchandise Manager for Victoria's Secret and CACIQUE brassiere in 1995.
He left Victoria Secret and joined KOCH HIGHTEX an architectural and membrane construction company who built buildings without using gravels, sands and cement. He thought that working with KOCH HIGHTEX was not interesting enough so he decided to leave Sri Lanka and move to USA and met and now his wife Maria Araceli Z. Bernardo the eldest daughter of Dr. Ignacio Bernardo and Dr. Elma Zapanta Bernardo of Charleston, West Virginia. He joined his former boss at Victoria Secret and offered a job as Director of Production and Sourcing for GUESS based in Connecticut. He worked there for a year and decided to move on to the Fashion District of the world which is New York. He struggles in the beginning to find a job but with the help of some friends, he was able to establish his local experience and later on spotted by DAVID'S BRIDAL who offered him a job as Senior Production and Sourcing Manager in-charge for domestic and international production and sourcing.
In 2001 Darius B. Gibbs joined Jones New York Intimates (Madison Maidens) who contributed his full knowledge of the fashion industry from Production/Sourcing, Merchandising, Product Development, Retail & Marketing Strategy, Sales and Cost Accounting. It was very challenging experience but it was overwhelming for him to handle everything. He left Madison Maidens to continue his dream to become a lawyer but job offered came in right in the middle of the process of going back to school. He accepted the job offer with Adrienne Landau Design a furrier company based in New York City. He thought it will be great working on very high end company like Adrienne Landau and it would be a great advantage adding them to his resume.
For Darius being furrier is not very challenging career considering that Fur business is seasonal. He decided to join AKADEMIKS/PRPS and he worked there for a couple of years as Senior Production/Sourcing Manager but thought that challenges are not enough and growth was slow. He joined ICER Brands who owns the license for Apple Bottoms, ECKO RED, Sean John Jr. and CAVI but left the company after 2 1/2 years again due to a slow career growth. Darius B. Gibbs left ICER BRANDS in January 2010 and decided to start his own company called Fusion Apparel, LLC with main purpose of helping other importers and wholesalers with their production and sourcing business.
He is the creator, designer and owner of FUSION APPAREL, LLC www.fusionapparels.com who owns the brand DARK by DARIUS B. GIBBS www.dariusbgibbs.com a Young Men's Contemporary lines and LIGHT by DARIUS B. GIBBS for Women's and DARIUS GIBBS a premium collections. He showcased his first collection at the first ever New Jersey Fashion Week last October 2010. Darius B. Gibbs have done several fashion shows like "The Red Circle" a non for profit event and all proceed went to Red Cross for the benefit of Japan Earthquake and Tsunami victims. He loves to support any charitable institutions and any event with a great cause.
He is also the founder of The Galindez Foundation a non-profit organization that will basically help children and families that cannot afford to send their children to school and have education. The foundation will focus on unfortunate and street children that are ambitious and willing to pursue their studies.
References;
1) http://photos.nj.com/star-ledger/2010/10/new_jersey_fashion_week_10.html
2) http://www.facebook.com/DARRY14
3) http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39635253/ns/today-today_fashion_and_beauty/
4) http://www.fashionoclast.com/2010/10/on-radar-dark-by-fusion.html
5) http://terencesambowrites.blogspot.com/2010/12/dark-by-fusion-menswear-line-is.html
6) http://www.divafashionblog.com/2010/11/diva-fashion-blog-interview-darius.html
7) http://www.attractionsmodels.com/photography/fashion/NJ_Fashion_Week_2010/DariusGibbs/index.html
9) http://urbanfashion.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=333
10) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvDPFU4ka5E&feature=player_embedd
11) https://www.facebook.com/search.php?q=darius+b.+gibbs
12) http://www.fusionapparels.com/
13) http://photos.nj.com/star-ledger/2010/10/new_jersey_fashion_week_10.html
14) http://www.dariusbgibbs.com
15) http://www.dariusgibbs.com