Russell Simmons launches clothing for older crowd

Behind the Scenes

By Antracia Merrill-Moorings

Simmons Savvy: Hip-Hop pioneer and designer Russell Simmons is catering to an older crowd with his new fashion line. Simmons introduced his menswear collection at the Argyle Culture Fashion Show in South Beach. The male models donned sporty suits, pinstriped shorts and argyle V-neck sweaters, combining urban aesthetics with traditionally professional and preppy attire. “I want to create a line to reach out to those guys who are not young men anymore but who want to still be part of that urban lifestyle,” Simmons said. Among other pieces in the show were plaid shorts, free-flowing jackets and classic five-pocket pants created in materials like wool and cotton blends. Simmons also has partnered with a new social networking website, Globalgrind.com that provides Internet savvy hiphop aficionados with news and discussion groups. “The great thing about working with Russell on this is that since he only gets behind things that he’s really passionate about, it’s a great feeling to know that we share the same goal and that’s to have the best product out for this demographic and to give them the voice they need,” said Navarrow Wright, chief executive of Globalgrind. com.

A Story of Resilience: NBA star Alonzo Mourning has turned author with the release of his book “Resilience,” a 231-page account of his life story, including his battle with the life-threatening kidney disease, focal segmental glomerular sclerosis. The athlete said he was encouraged to share his life story after following the resilience of cyclist Lance Armstrong, who survived testicular cancer that had metastasized to his brain and lungs. “Lance was one of the people who inspired me to write this book,” Mourning said in an interview with the Associated Press. “He played a big role in my overall approach to coming back and playing the game, reading both of his books, learning more about his life, his experiences and how he dealt with adversity. He motivated millions and millions of people in their lives, and I felt my story could have that same impact.” “Resilience” chronicles Mourning’s years playing college basketball at Georgetown and his NBA stops in Charlotte, New Jersey and Miami, where he spent the bulk of his career and the team he’d like to return to at some point this season. He’s still waiting to determine if he can recover from major injuries to his knee and leg suffered in a fall at Atlanta on Dec. 19, 2007—the fourth anniversary of the kidney transplant that saved his life.

Briefly, Former “Law & Order” star Jesse L. Martin is returning to NBC, with a role in the network’s midseason drama “The Philanthropist.” Martin left “L&O” toward the end of last season, which was his ninth with the show as Detective Ed Green. He’s now in negotiations to star opposite James Purefoy in “The Philanthropist,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.… After just three episodes, FOX has decided to end its freshman sitcom “Do Not Disturb,” which starred Niecy Nash as the head of human resources at a hip New York Hotel. The show averaged slightly over four million viewers in its three airings and a disappointing 1.6 rating among adults 18 through 49.

Finally, Outkast rapper, born Andre Benjamin, is selling his new Benjamin Bixby line of classic menswear exclusively at Harrods in London. As previously reported, the line features 1930s baseball-inspired clothing, including tweeds, plus fours, pleat-fronted trousers, cardigans with bold lettering, flat caps and braces. The rap star says he sketched the entire line himself and has visited Italian clothing factories and textile fairs in Paris for inspiration. He also loves shopping at Hackett on London’s Sloane Street, as well as Portobello market for vintage corduroys and brogues.

This is part of the October 15, 2008 online edition of Frost Illustrated.

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