"From Couture to Da' Streets"

Fashion designer Thomas “TJ” Walker called Toomsuba, Mississippi his home before he moved to Los Angeles in 1985. He went to California to pursue his dream of becoming a well-known name in the fashion industry.

Thomas "TJ" Walker , Co-founder of "Cross Colours"

Four years later, Walker co-founded the urban clothing line called “Cross Colours." It's a brand that has a major influence today.

“The brand came out of the research of the minds of myself, TJ Walker, and my business partner Carl Jones”, explained Walker. “When we sought out to do this collection and brand. We always had in mind that it was more than just a brand. It had to be something that was going to solve problems, something that was going to address issues that were relevant.”

A new exhibit at The MAX museum in Meridian, MS features the brand ‘Cross Colours”, along with the work of another designer from Mississippi, Patrick Kelly, who was an inspiration to Walker.

Patrick Kelly

“For both designers to be featured here is outstanding. I think about this show and Patrick Kelly and how much inspiration and empowerment he gave me when I was in school because I wanted to follow in his footsteps. I wanted to go off to Paris, I wanted to follow in his footsteps of coming from Mississippi and making it big,” said Thomas.

The exhibition called “From Couture to Da’ Street” is a celebration of both Walker and Kelly as designers who used their adversities to channel their creativity.

“Coming from Mississippi, for me to have to have a product that people all around the world admire and aspire to have is very very rewarding and gratifying to me as a designer.”

You can get a chance to meet designer TJ Walker this Saturday, October 2nd, when he will lead a t-shirt design class called “Speck Yo Mind” at The Max from 1 until 3 pm.