This luxury streetwear brand out of Bristol is more than fashion. It’s a movement. – Hartford Courant

Bristol — BRISTOL — From motivational speaking to motivational messages displayed on their luxury streetwear, a Bristol couple is using their pandemic idea to create change within their community.

DK Movement, a luxury streetwear brand made from sustainable and recycled materials, came into fruition because of two things that had become important to Derek Jones and Kelly Houston: fashion and fitness.

After seeing his mother struggle with drug addiction and his father with alcoholism, growing up in foster care and eventually fighting his own battle with alcohol, Jones, a Bristol native, decided to change his life around. He quit drinking, started exercising and began dating Houston, now his fiancée, who he met online.

Houston is originally from New York. After traveling back and forth to see one another, Houston moved to Connecticut five years ago.

“I’ve been into fashion and was in the fashion industry for 15 plus years modeling, the red carpet hostess, array of things,” Houston said. “So that’s where the clothing line comes into play so we decided to do the clothing line.”

The couple created a YouTube Channel to share their stories. In 2020 during the pandemic, the trademark clothing line started with an online store at dkmovementbrand.com.

However, Houston says that selling primarily online during the pandemic was hard. Customers wanted to feel and see the products they were purchasing.

That is when a friend walked into Avril’s Boutique and thought DK Movement would be a great addition to the Bristol clothing store. After their friend showed Brenda Jules, the owner Avril’s Boutique, some of their work, Jules wanted to meet with the couple. Jules was in the process of rebranding her casual-wear line to luxury sneakers and thought DK Movement would be a great addition to the store.

Houston thought that working with Jules would be a different, yet positive, experience.

“I never recall [a time] where I could go into a boutique and get luxury streetwear and get a pair of Balenciagas, a Louis Vuitton bag and get a whole outfit in one shop.” Houston said.

Now, the collaboration is working to bring fashion to the Bristol community — and beyond.

“[Brenda is] big on helping, like we are. She gave us a chance in her store — she housed us in her store,” Houston said. “The collaboration is going to be great because we have so many things that we want to do together within the community.”

Although Houston loves that they are giving back to the community, Jones wants to highlight one important aspect that the two brands have in common.

“There [are] not too many collaborations with African American business owners,” Jones said. “We thought that would also be another spotlight just to help to show the community that we’re also working together.”

Recognized by the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council, Connecticut Chamber of Commerce and ShopBlackCT, DK Movement often donates a portion of their profits and time to the Agapé House, a Christian church in Bristol dedicated to helping the homeless.

After participating in career day at the Boys and Girls Club in Bristol, the couple wanted to share the stories about their tough upbringing to give motivation to the younger generation.

“Part of our speech [was] letting each individual kid know they can do anything they want in their life,” Jones said. ”Once you change your mindset, you can just do anything with positive thinking, goal setting and having a great vision.”

Houston believes that young children should have people that are in their community as an example for success. Being a model during Fashion Week has taught her not everything that glitters is gold, a message she shares with her two daughters.

“Don’t live up to what you see on social media,” Houston said. “Look up to the people that you see within your community.”

DK Movement shares that they do not give advice just for show. The couple are business partners, lovers and each other’s biggest motivators. Houston says meeting Jones was one of the best things that has happened to her. Before meeting Jones, Houston also was an alcoholic.

“I haven’t drank in five years since I met Derek. He was already changing, he helped me change my life,” Houston said.

Together the couple plans to do more outreach to community members and plans to continue to share the brand’s slogan “become your better self.”

DK Movement will have a booth at the House of Fire Ministries Small Business Expo located on 136 Riverside Ave in Bristol on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. They will also be at the Bridgeport Community Festival at McLevy Green Park on July 23 from noon to 8 p.m. and the Rockwell Summer Festival at 238 Jacobs Street in Bristol on Aug. 20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Avril’s Boutique is located on 912 Terryville Avenue Ave. in Bristol and is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. The store’s grand opening is on Aug. 19 from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Ahjane Forbes can be reached at aforbes@courant.com