It doesn’t matter where you come from. All that matters is where you’re going. This couldn’t be truer for Daniel Mofor, a Dallas designer and founder of the fashion label, Don Morphy. Mofor has always had a passion for creating and designing beautiful pieces of clothing. That passion and dedication for fashion led him to start Don Morphy in 2014. Five years later his brand is not only very successful but also the first ever Dallas-based label to win the “Rising Star” award in the Menswear category by Fashion Group International in New York City. You heard that right, this is the first time ever that a Dallas-based label has won such a prestigious award. This is not only a testament to how great Mofor is as a designer, but also a testament that anything is possible. No matter who you are, where you come from, what obstacles are in your way, with enough hard work and dedication anything is possible. Don Morphy blends the gentleman’s need for classy clothing and shoes that fit perfectly in a very contemporary manner. The brand strives to deliver Italian quality and flair to customers in the United States and abroad. Based in Texas, its designers travel worldwide to find the best tailors and fabrics to bring the highest quality to its customers. All of the suits and shoes are designed in the United States and then handmade in Florence, Italy. Don Morphy designers attend the top male fashion shows in the world such as London Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, and New York Fashion Week, to find inspiration and stay ahead of fashion trends. The Don Morphy brand is globally renowned and has received recognition from GQ, The New York Times, Vogue, Huffington Post, and many more. The Fashion Group International Rising Star awards is an annual event celebrating the “extraordinary accomplishments of emerging talents whose creativity and vision” are transmitted through the categories of fashion and design. The 22nd annual Rising Star Awards took place on January 24th, 2019 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. A true fashion icon, Tommy Hilfiger, served as the keynote speaker for this year’s awards ceremony. The award was presented to Don Morphy by former Rising Star menswear winner; Kerby Jean-Raymond. The event was also filled with tons of icons and established designers in the fashion world such as Andy Hilfiger, Philip Lim, Jennifer Bandier, and many more. This isn’t the first time that Mofor’s brand has won a prestigious award. In 2018 and 2019 Don Morphy was nominated by Fashion Group International of Dallas for a Rising Star award in Men’s Fashion. Mofor himself was almost named as one of Dallas's top designers to watch for in 2018. During his acceptance speech for his Rising Star award in New York City Mofor mentioned “Tommy Hilfiger said earlier to always follow your passion and your dreams...Almost two years ago on January 31, 2017, I was a full-time computer engineer at Walmart - so I quit my job to focus on this full-time.” He continued by saying “It is a great honor and a dream come true to win the FGI Rising Star Award in menswear… It’s great to see that the passion and hard work is definitely paying off. This award has honored those who have been in business long before me, and I hope that it will not only boost the morale of my business, but also make Don Morphy a household name.” It won’t be long until Don Morphy becomes a household name considering the fact that celebrities already wear the brand. Celebrities like Emmitt Smith, Bishop T.D Jakes, and Dwight Howard all wear and love the Dallas-based label. We are so extremely proud of Daniel Mofor and the entire team at Don Morphy. It is so incredible that a Dallas-based brand has been able to receive such a tremendous honor. We sincerely hope that Don Morphy continues to prosper as a brand and that success continues to bless them. The 2019 Fashion Group International Rising Star Awards was sponsored by Hearst Magazines, Hilldun Corp. and Tory Burch. Images courtesy of Don Morphy and Thomas Garza Photography.