Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jul 01, 2025

VI raised Curtis Callwood chases passion to launch Florida based couture store

VI raised Curtis Callwood chases passion to launch Florida based couture store

A desire to chase his dreams and a passion for fashion has led Designer Curtis Callwood aka 'CurtisC' down the path of owning a high-fashion Couture store.

Before starting Callwood Couture LLC in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Callwood recalled that as a young lad at the BVI High School in the early ’90s, he had to petition the school board to allow him to do Home Economics instead of the technical subjects traditionally sorted for men.

Raised on Tortola


‘I grew up in Baughers Bay right there in Tortola, the country area among women especially who loved to dress, and my passion for the design field I wanted to continue to making women especially look and feel their best,” he said.

“The Initial challenge was, attending high school where it was the norm or the tradition for females to do Home Economics and Boys to do technical subject, I had to basically petition the board and prove myself that this is something that I actually want to pursue,” Callwood told Virgin Islands News Online (VINO).

More potential roadblocks he recalled, was a stigma that he as a man was not supposed to go into the design field based on cultural norms of the time.

“I know a lot has changed, but there was always a lot of backlash,” Callwood told VINO.

He said; however, he was inspired by the vibrant Caribbean heritage and culture of the country area, “all I was surrounded by was the splendor of nature, so I decided to incorporate that into my work,” he said.

Teachers planted the seed - CurtisC


Using that inspiration to craft his skills; however, still did not come easy. Callwood recalled said it was the teachers at his high school in the Virgin Islands that were instrumental in helping him develop his design skills.

Teachers such as Judith Vanterpool, Ruth Frazer, Dianne Davies and Eideen Smith he said planted the seeds in his life, “these actually taught the basics there,” he said.

Callwood eventually relocated to the USA and pursued a BSc in Fashion Design and Marketing at the American Intercontinental University where he was able to learn a lot more technical skills and gain outside mentorship from Sir Gregory Brown of Gregory’s Designs who taught him to perfect his craft and work.

“I do believe that we are all individually blessed with unique gifts and talents and there is a space in the industry or home, or wherever you are to showcase this,” he said.

Callwood said while in the VI, for years he was unable to access career resources and a scholarship to pursue his passion of becoming a designer, which also included a dream to make the VI the Couture capital of the entire Caribbean region.

“I think all of those years cultural norms that have been perceived as something that would not benefit the country has slowly begun to shift perceptions,” he said.

Follow your heart - Callwood to young designers


For upcoming male fashion designers, he said, “I would say follow your passion, follow your heart, never allow someone to impose their perception of what should be and what is considered the norm,” Callwood said.

He also spoke of the oppression as being somewhat hindering and has been something that has affected him for years, however, despite this he followed his dreams despite the backlash and obstacles he had to overcome.

“In the end, it's going to be worth it," Callwood said.

Dreams to design for celebrities


‘My desire has also been to design for the red carpet, so that’s one thing I am pushing every day,” he further said as he shared hopes to dress celebrities such as Beyonce Knowles, Rihanna Fenty, and Fantasia Barrino.

In closing, Callwood thanked God for giving him the ability, “for without him we are nothing!” He also thanked parents Dennis and Cherel Callwood of Brewer's Bay, siblings; Debbie, Denise, Derise, and Courtney as well as "my entire Callwood family and friends for their years of ongoing love and support”

More thanks were expressed to close friends Mrs Odette Samuel Todman, also Hon Alvera Maduro Caines (R6), HoA Speaker Hon Jullian Willock, and Umi's ‘Debbie’ for the career support.

He also expressed gratitude to friend/mentor Andrew Cox of CBN Virgin Islands and Kareem Nelson-Hull and Franka Potter for their support over the years and he acknowledged models; Nigeria-American Funmi Okusi (NY), who will be the face of the Callwood brand, and his nieces Ashantae and Ashlee Maduro.

Dress designed for mom to wear at his 2008 highschool graduation.

Curtis and sister Deborah Maduro and Strayer University Graduation in 2018.

Face-masks designed by Callwood Couture LLC.

Dress Designed by Curtis Callwood.




Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
Russian Shadow Payments via Cryptocurrency Reach $9 Billion
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
×