Did you notice the fashions at last week’s inaugural Kamala Harris and Michelle Obama wore? They were designed by Sergio Hudson, a native of my hometown Ridgeway, SC.

His is a story of “fame and fortune.”

Hudson, 34, says, “I was a normal Ridgeway country boy. My granddaddy had a farm. We ate from the farm. I didn’t even know how much vegetables cost because I never had to buy any.”

His interest in fashion started at age 4.

Hudson’s mother, Sheldon, founder and senior pastor of Across All Boundaries Christian Church in Columbia, had a tailoring boutique when he was young.

“He would sit underneath the machine and pick up the scrap pieces off the floor and match different pieces,” she said.

“A child of this age should not know what fabrics should go with what. The eye he had, he was destined for greatness.”

Because Hudson’s older sister was a runway model, the family traveled.

“The rural area did not provide a cultural experience. Traveling exposed him to a culture he would later walk in,” she said.

Hudson’s mother knew he was gifted, but because she wasn’t professionally trained in design, she decided it would be better for him to go to design school.

Hudson didn’t start making his own clothes until he attended Barter College, once the oldest design school in the Southeast. He started working professionally after he graduated in 2005, making a name for himself through custom designing and dressing specific people.

One of his first breakthroughs was in 2009 when he started dressing Lisa Wu for Real Housewives of Atlanta. Then came Kendall Jenner’s black jumpsuit designed for her 20th birthday.

His designs can be seen on celebrities Khloe Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Janelle Monae, Miley Cyrus and Regina King.

He now lives in Los Angeles where he hopes to expand to many other design pieces. He admits “I love anything beautiful.”

MANY OF US have enjoyed the classes, speakers and programs at The Shepherd’s Center in Lexington. It is a place to make new friends, learn skills, exercise and expand our interests. Due to covid-19, the center has not been able to hold sessions.

With vaccinations underway, they hope to hold a fall session. Sessions are held at the Lexington United Methodist Church. If you are interested in being a board member, teaching a class or volunteering, please send a resume to chair@sclex.org or shepherd@ lexumcsc.com. The board thanks you for your interest and your participation.

MARY LOUISE RESCH, MSEd, SCGS, Director of Philanthropy, Central South Carolina Habitat for Humanity reports, “We are getting ready to partner once again with Mt. Horeb UMC to build at least 2 homes off of Hendrix Street in Lexington this spring. We will also be working on the Community Center on Allen Street, if anyone would like to volunteer or donate to that project.

“We are working on 2 homes in Cayce and finished one before the holidays. The homeowner closed Dec. 23, so that family was truly “home for the holidays.”

ANNE BULL REPORTS the Lexington Chili Cookoff will be Sunday, Feb. 21, noon – 5 pm at the Icehouse Amphitheatre, 107 West Main St., sponsored by the town and Blowfish Baseball. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children at www.lexington-countyblowfish.square.site/product/2021-chili-cookoff-ticket/451?cs=true.

MISSION LEXINGTON ANNOUNCED a collaboration with Good Samaritan Clinic for free medical services for the uninsured.

Please email lexingtonclinic@goodsamaritansc.org or call 803-358-8339 ext. 6 to set up a free appointment.

GIRL SCOUT COOKIE season kicked off Tuesday with a new flavor and covid-friendly ways to buy boxes. The Girl Scouts have set up online ordering during the pandemic. You can order boxes straight from the bakery for $12 shipping on 1 - 5 boxes. Money will go to the scout troop in your zip code.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO Wiggie Wessinger on Feb. 1! Beckham Pontoon, Britton Pontoon, Reed Wingard, Lily Bishop, Jeff Longway, Angela MacFawn, Lauren McCaskill, Shawn Graham, Lauren Jackson, Jessica Miles, Van Skipper, Catherine Flitter, Katie Griffin, Amy Taylor, Griffin Wheeler, Jonathan Jezowski, Jesse Ray, Trent Goodman, Steve Sherman, Doris Frye and our daughter, Charlotte Stormer.