Karl Davis

Karl Davis (January 17, 1962 – May 2, 1987) was an African-American fashion designer once called one of New York's most promising young designers. Davis had six major collections, the last shown at the Manhattan restaurant Caffe Roma.

Beginnings Davis' designer files at the Fashion Institute of Technology’s research library reveal that a friend's mother taught him how to sew when he was a teenager, and he made pleated slacks for the first time when he was 15. in August 1980. At age 17, he left Brooklyn and began his designing career.

Davis attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York for one semester, where he studied pattern making. He then worked as an assistant to Carol Fertig and a freelance design assistant to Bill Blass. While Davis was working as a design assistant, he sold his first styles to Henri Bendel.

In 1984, Davis established his own collection, initially financed by his mother, Rose.

Fashion designer

From age 17 until shortly before his death at age 25, Davis received high praise as a fashion designer.

Newsweek (August 10, 1987)

Prêt (May 1986) reported to be "real clothes ... good stuff" in her Detroit News (April 29, 1984) "What's New" column.

Fall 1984: Designs shown during fashion presentation at Visage Discotheque [610 W. 56 Street]

January 14, 1985: "Spring/Summer 1985 is Karl Davis" at Parsons School of Design [Seventh Avenue @ 40th Street]

August 5, 1985: "Fall/Holiday '85 Collection" ("Karl Davis Presents Haute Couture R.T.W. ‘85") shown at White Columns [325 Spring Street] which was video-recorded in its entirety along with a post-show interview of Davis by Cable News Network's "Style with Elsa Klensch".

November 6, 1985: [Davis's] designs shown during "Fashion Aid" benefit for Ethiopian famine relief at Palladium Discotheque [126 E. 14th Street] which was video-recorded by Ohlmeyer Communications Companies

May 1, 1986: "Karl Davis Fall 1986 Collection" – his sixth and last formal collection — shown at Caffe Roma, a Manhattan restaurant [3 W. 18th Street]

Personal style

In 1980, Davis was voted "Best Dressed Male" of his George-Wingate-High-School graduating class.

In her December 8, 1987 Wall Street Journal article "Designer Deaths: AIDS Is Decimating The Fashion Business . . .", reporter Carol Hymowitz cites - along with fellow designers Perry Ellis, Chester Weinberg, Willi Smith, Tracy Mills, and Mark Pennywell - ". . . budding talent Karl Davis, who created a line of classic women's clothing . . ." as among the enormous toll of other talents in the fashion business succumbing to an alarming surge in HIV/AIDS-related casualties.

Funeral services for Davis were held on May 7, 1987 at St. Mary’s Church of Christ in Brooklyn, New York, followed by interment at Cypress Hills Cemetery.

Davis was survived by his parents, Rose and Lembert Davis of Brooklyn, and three sisters, Jackie and Robin, both of Brooklyn, and Andora Boyd of Virginia.