Brian McKinney reveres traditionalism, but tends to cast his net into more vivid waters.

Echoes of Miles Davis, Rama Krishna, Joseph Mobutu, Yves St. Laurent, Sun Ra, Balinese princesses, Willie Smith, T'ang Dynasty poetry, Audrey Hepburn, Marcus Garvey, Savile Row and Nina Simone resonate in Brian's head.

Frisky with these influences, Brian has managed to keep his head in the clouds and his feet on the ground by insisting on excellent materials--first quality silks, woolens, linen, cotton and rayon--as well as the occasional polyester double-knit.

Brian McKinney is a fashion survivor; he understands the notion and importance of reincarnation. A trip down memory lane of Brian's output will find a star-studded roster of private clients and wholesale accounts.

His celebrity clients have included: Montel Williams, Charleton Heston, Michael Keaton,
His wholesale clients have included: Neiman-Marcus, Nordstroms, International Male,

Not born to the trade but drawn to it, Brian grew up in the Bronx .He attend college at UMASS, Massachusetts College of Art and at tiny Boston School of Design, where he says he got his best apparel education. Moving west, Brian studied at UCLA, USC and Los Angeles Trade Tech.

In 1985 Brian also opened Brian McKinney Designer Collection and sold a line of Women's Contemporary Dresses to Nordstrom's "Savvy" boutique division. A men's shirt line for Neiman's followed, [as did various others?????]
In late 1990 Brian left the employ of others to focus exclusively on his Designer Collection enterprise.

In 1997 Brian was gifted with the birth of his daughter Jordyn Brianna. He responded by opening his present studio on South La Brea.
Also in 1997 the International Wool Council honored Brian McKinney with its Secretariat Award for menswear design. The Secretariat is traditionally given to those doing work in woolens at the very top of the craft; previous winners include Yves St. Laurent and Giorgio Armani.

The Secretariat led to providing Nordstrom's with a line of men's woolen suits.

Since then Brian's studio has specialized in custom-designed pieces for celebrity and private clients.

For the last several years Brian has been honored to teach design and digital design at Los Angeles' Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising.
NOW
Brian McKinney and Designer Collection have resolved to push the creative tensions of his "substance versus daring" dialogue by developing a line of tie-dyed, batik and shabori women's tops and men's shirts. Executed in splashy "popscicle" chroma-keys, these pieces point Designer Collection towards a "California Art Apparel" aesthetic. Some of the men's pieces have an ironic reference to classicism by tie-dyeing oversized French-cuffed shirts. Some of the tie-dyes are on ultra-cool, super-lightweight 100% cotton Indian muslins from extra-fine quality materials. Brian is also experimenting with silks and polyester double-knits.

In a more refined mode, Brian has acquired folded, rousched silk crepe, with gray printed over a claybank/red sienna ground, resulting in a sort of snakeskin pattern. This beautifully delicate-but-bold treatment will result in both blouses and shirts.

Designer Collection continues to offer its services as a top-drawer provider of custom men's suits, slacks and shirts, as well as women's wear, for his celebrity and elite clients. Brian also does custom apparel for bride, groom and wedding party.