Following family’s footsteps
Malvern native opens business featuring custom designs
After creating clothing and jewelry from her home, Crystal Purifoy, owner of Crystal P. Designs now has her own space in Malvern. She recently opened the new shop located at 1004 Henry St.
Purifoy, who is a Malvern native, said she has been sewing since she was 10 years old after learning how to make quilts from a neighbor. Her aunt, Mary Katherine Murphy also taught her how to make clothes when Purifoy was only 12 years old.
After graduating from high school, Purifoy would go on to attend the Los Angeles Trade Technical College where she earned an associate’s degree in fashion design. She has also participated in Atlanta Fashion Week.
For years, Purifoy sewed various items for people in the community.
Word of mouth spread and slowly her business has grown.
Along with her clothing designs and alterations,
Purifoy is known for her jewelry pieces. She has been a vendor at various events for about 12 years,
she said.
She would also host pop up events near her home on the weekends, she added.
Purifoy said that her style is a mix of classic and
hipster. Her favorite items to create are custom evening gowns.
One dress even became famous, she said.
After Purifoy created the “flying red dress,” a local model showcased the dress during a photo shoot in Mexico. After the pictures were posted online, a woman in New Jersey contacted Purifoy about creating a dress for her.
The two women never met, but after learning her measurements, Purifoy created another red dress for the woman.
The woman who was a cancer survivor took the dress to Greece for a photo shoot.
When asked why she decided to open her new store now, Purifoy said that she had been holding off on opening a space for a long time, but “God told me now.”
“It ( opening a business) took a lot of praying and support,” Purifoy said. “It was a dream that I’ve had
for years.”
“I was always kind of been afraid to step out of the shadows and just go ahead and do it…. I had been encouraging people for years to do things and
it was time to actually do it myself.”
She also felt this type of businesses was needed in Malvern.
During the COVID- 19 pandemic, she has had the opportunity to plan for how she would open the business.
Purifoy, who is the daughter of Verna Ray Purifoy and Loretta Mitchell, said her family has been extremely supportive of her business.
Purifoy feels that by opening her shop, she is following in her family’s footsteps. Both her aunt, Mary Katherine Murphy, and grandmother, Willie Mae Jones, sewed clothes for residents of Malvern for many years.
“I feel like this was an honor for them,” she said.
By opening this business, Purifoy hopes to encourage others to getting into crafting.
For the time being Purifoy is available at the business by appointment only. She can be reached at 501672- 5632.
Individuals can view items for sale on her Facebook page and on Instagram at Crystal P Designs.
Her website is crystalpdesigns.com.