Erika McGriff-Parrish, a UC Davis senior in the design program, is proof that, with hard work and determination, dreams do come true. McGriff-Parrish has founded Urban Undies, the result of her lifelong ambition to create her own line of clothing and have her own business.
The clothes -- cute, sexy, comfortable T-shirts, all with matching panties -- respond to today's urban style of low-slung, hip-hugging jeans by becoming part of the ensemble. The Urban Undies collection is inspired by hip-hop culture and is made from high-quality materials, she said.
McGriff-Parrish's love for fashion was evident early on. Growing up in San Francisco, she designed prom dresses for herself, friends and family and staged high school fashion shows. After graduating, she started her own fashion styling business, Signature Styles, and worked as a free-lance stylist for magazines and department store fashion shows.
In 2000, McGriff-Parrish decided she wanted to get a degree in fashion design and began taking classes at Skyline Community College. Three semesters later, she graduated with recognition as an Outstanding Scholar, a member of Phi Theta Kappa (the junior college counterpart to Phi Beta Kappa) and member of the national dean's list due to her 4.0 GPA, all while working full time and being a single parent to her son, Doug Jr., now 10.
In fall of 2001, McGriff-Parrish transferred to UC Davis and will graduate this spring with a bachelor's degree in textile and costume design.
Her current schedule includes a four-hour commute to Davis several days a week to attend classes, in addition to working full time at a San Francsico advertising agency, raising her son and running Urban Undies.
As for the future, McGriff-Parrish intends to get her master's degree and launch a new line called UU, an upscale counterpart to the street style of Urban Undies. The line will feature blouses made of fabrics like silk and velvet, accompanied by matching underwear.
When McGriff-Parrish is asked how she manages to do it all, she talks about trying to be a model of strength in her son's life. "Everything I do is about setting an example for my son. And that example is to believe in your dreams and work toward making them happen."
-- Megan Gwynne
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