BALTIMORE IS MORE THAN BLINGIN' WITH ENTREPRENEURS
DION & BRION
By Simone McDowell
Coming from a financial background and knowing he wanted more, Dion's entrepreneurial spirit inspires us all to at least think about having our own business. He and his partner Brion (who happens to be his twin brother) are making moves in Baltimore and beyond.
Dion (known in the urban clothing world as Don Bling) and Brion started their first business in 2001. Now this dynamic duo oversees five businesses-- a DNA Service, a medical billing company, a recording studio, a lounge (that can be rented for meetings and social gatherings) and Word Wide Custom Clothing.
Word Wide Custom Clothing is a company that produces custom-made apparel such as hats, t-shirts and jeans and has a client list ranging from the local Baltimore brother to Ghostface of the Wu-Tang Clan. The gear can be "blinged out" with glitter and features urban, hip-hop and gospel references. Dion and his brother meet daily to brainstorm ideas that help them enhance this multi-faceted business dynasty.
Their vision is to stimulate the economy in the black community and with goal-orientated comments like "I'm trying to be the next Coca-Cola ("known nationally and internationally") and comparing themselves to BGE ("Everybody needs gas and electric&everyone needs Word Wide") you know these entrepreneurs are going far.
But with the alarming number of new businesses failing within five years, you have to wonder what keeps Dion motivated and so sure that his businesses will be successful?
Perhaps it is his diverse list of role models that include Reginald F. Lewis, Russell Simmons, Bill Gates and Hugh Hefner that give him the right motivational mix. Maybe it's the hunter instinct, the hustler in him that makes him keep pushing. Or possibly the strong work ethic--one of strength and the passion to give at least 120%.
Whatever the motivation, Dion has always aspired to be on this path. "Ten to twelve years ago, I wrote up a blueprint. I didn't know exactly how it would formulate", he said, "but when it did (formulate) I was like Ben Franklin." Dion stayed in his house for one-week straight, creating concepts and unique designs. To date, his most popular pieces are his Rest in Peace t-shirts, his Aaliyah t-shirt and a Thug Life t-shirt inspired by the late Tupac Shakur. At least 2,000 of each of these t-shirts were sold to the public.
Three years later with all businesses thriving including two clothing stores in Baltimore and apparel being sold in Mondawmin Mall, Security Mall, Reisterstown Road Plaza and four malls in Washington, DC, the future of Word Wide Custom Clothing looks well, bling-bling.
Word Wide Custom Clothing stores are located on 3103 Garrison Boulevard and 1323 N. Calvert Street. The stores are open Monday through Saturday, 11-7pm and 12-8pm, respectively. For more information on Word Wide Custom Clothing at Calvert Street or any other businesses by Dion and Brion call 410-727-4883. For information on Word Wide Custom Clothing at Garrison Boulevard, call 410-466-4200.
