Meet Award-Winning Fashion Designer Alvin Bell

From illustrator to fashion designer, Alvin Bell developed his love of drawing and fashion at a young age. At eight years old he entered and won a Philadelphia citywide drawing contest. Bell attended the Philadelphia Museum College of Art, where he studied illustration and was mentored by Margaret Caravera. While taking advanced courses, He met future fashion designer Willi Smith, who became one of his closest friends.

When Bell graduated from Edward Bok Vocational High School in 1964, he had a portfolio of ad illustrations but no fashion work.

Bell worked as an illustrator and photojournalist before becoming a fashion designer. He was hired as a photojournalist at Alfred Angelo Bridal, where he attended fashion shows and took photos of the designs. While there, he created his own sketches. He sold the sketches of his designs to other fashion designers. Bell created suits for the P.S.I. fashion label and later went on to work for Roy Halston and Anne Klein. After twenty years of experience, Bell began publishing his own fashion industry trade newsletter called Designer Report.

In February of 1997, Bell partnered with Sears Roebuck & Company to design and launch a casual and career wear clothing line for women called Mosaic. Mosaic featured loose-fitting, affordable rayon clothing in abstract African pinstripe and jazz prints.