Hip-Hop Fashion Designer/Entrepreneur
One act of kindness can change an entire lifetime, even if it occurs at the tender age of two. That is what happened to Tony Shellman when a Seattle couple came forward to adopt the little boy from foster care.
As he looks back, this successful entrepreneur realizes the greatest fortune of his life came out of very unfortunate circumstances. As an infant, Tony was left in the care of Catholic Charities because his parents felt they could not adequately provide for a second child. On Christmas Eve 1968, he went home with Lenzie and Betty Shellman, who would later adopt him. Tony recalls:
"I guess it turned out to be my lucky break. I knew I was adopted, but it didn't matter because I was with a loving family in a safe place I could always call home. Not every child in foster care gets that happy ending."
With caring support from his adoptive family, the charismatic boy enjoyed a full and active childhood. Later, he pursued a modeling career and ultimately moved to New York to study fashion at the renowned Parson's School of Design. From there, Tony worked long hours making his way up from the showroom to the boardroom. His vision and drive propelled him to the upper echelons of urban fashion as the co-founder of the popular Mecca and ENYCE clothing lines.
Today, this masterful marketing executive is regarded as an influential hip-hop trendsetter and fashion innovator. Tony has a flair for developing lifestyle brands that engender a loyal following. In 2004, Black Enterprise magazine chronicled Tony's motivational story as one of their profiles in courage. In 2005, Liz Claiborne, Inc. purchased ENYCE for $114 million. In 2007, Tony launched Parish Clothing, a contemporary menswear line that reflects trends and the happenings of the retro 80's hip hop era with flashy bold colors and unique patterns.
As a spokesperson for National Foster Care Month and Casey Family Programs, Tony is a tireless advocate for youth in foster care. He is especially focused on providing career mentoring, job skills training and employment opportunities for older youth who are preparing to leave the system.
Amid all the glamour and professional accolades, Tony still considers his family to be his greatest treasure. He says:
"I'm not sure where I would be today without their encouragement. I beat the odds, but there are thousands of young people in foster care right now who don't have that kind of support."