Arturo Duran is originally from West Texas and is heavily influenced by the Native American and Aztec indigenous people, respectively. The Millennial is the youngest of three siblings to whom was born into a first generation Mexican-American family. His mother immigrated to the United States of America from Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila De Zaragoza, Mexico in 1980 where she met Arturos father. He grew up in a very rigorous and strict Jehovah Witness family until his parents divorced when he was 8. He was not allowed to watch TV, watch movies, have friends, celebrate holidays or birthdays, participate in school events, attend social activities, praise the flag, give blood, read publications (other then Jehovah Witness ones), participate in sports, among many other restrictions.
In the fall of 1998, Duran’s parents separated and it became apparent to him that a whole WORLD excised.
After graduating from Del Rio High School with honors, he devised a plan and moved himself to the biggest metropolitan city that was the closest in proximity. In 2009 he was admitted to the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX where he studied Fashion Design and Family Consumer Sciences defying his father wishes as he suggested a more formal profession in the medical field. During his brief tenure as an educator, he found himself in a lackluster career and after only a semester he decided to focus his energy into the artistic void that ensued. He resigned and landed his first fashion gig sho ... view more »
Arturo Duran is originally from West Texas and is heavily influenced by the Native American and Aztec indigenous people, respectively. The Millennial is the youngest of three siblings to whom was born into a first generation Mexican-American family. His mother immigrated to the United States of America from Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila De Zaragoza, Mexico in 1980 where she met Arturos father. He grew up in a very rigorous and strict Jehovah Witness family until his parents divorced when he was 8. He was not allowed to watch TV, watch movies, have friends, celebrate holidays or birthdays, participate in school events, attend social activities, praise the flag, give blood, read publications (other then Jehovah Witness ones), participate in sports, among many other restrictions.
In the fall of 1998, Duran’s parents separated and it became apparent to him that a whole WORLD excised.
After graduating from Del Rio High School with honors, he devised a plan and moved himself to the biggest metropolitan city that was the closest in proximity. In 2009 he was admitted to the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX where he studied Fashion Design and Family Consumer Sciences defying his father wishes as he suggested a more formal profession in the medical field. During his brief tenure as an educator, he found himself in a lackluster career and after only a semester he decided to focus his energy into the artistic void that ensued. He resigned and landed his first fashion gig shortly after as an analyst and buyer for the struggling Sears Holding Corporation.
He designed and created his first piece in 2014 and continued producing a collection for a painstaking 3 years. For the runway show he rented a venue, enlisted models and MUA, and ultimately pulled off a short 15 minute impromptu fashion show which ended with the designer bowing down in a outfit that his native traditional tribe would have used in special spiritual ceremonies. He created the head pieces and jewelry last as they were created days before the actual show during the model fittings in his home. All the pieces were hand embroidered by him and his mother using sequins, beads and embroidery supplies that were purchased in his mothers indigenous village back in Mexico. The fashion show took place at the Aztec Theater in downtown San Antonio,TX in 2017 and pivoted the Designer into the next phase of his career.
He established his eponymous atelier ‘A R T U R O D U R A N S T U D I O S’ and built a reputation for himself as a local socialite who offered styling services to clients, custom costumes for Drag Performers and capsule collections for prominent figures in the LGBTQA+ community for events and galas. He has work professionally for H&M, Windsor Fashions, Zara, Giorgio Armani, Carolina Herrera New York, Kenzo Paris (special collection), Balmain Paris (special collection), Aldo Shoes, Forever 21, Justice, Free Assembly, QVC, Walmart, and Sears Holdings Corp. Articles of Organization are currently being written to make the eponymous house an official company in the State of Texas.
During the Global Pandemic, Arturo picked up painting in quarantine to express himself through the hardship of all the death that occurred within his family and community. He ultimately perfected his Abstract Expressionism technique which you can see represented in his work. He has no formal training in the subject however he continues to learn more about different mediums and techniques from the ioT, other artiste and doing extensive research. His paintings are a direct reflection of his emotions and serve as a placeholder and reminder that we “must move on”. His work has been featured at the Blue Star Arts Complex, The Contemporary and other art shows in San Antonio, TX.
Duran is openly gay, considers himself a feminist and an activist for woman’s rights. Hes an avid reader, loves donating his time to the less fortunate in the community and dedicates his work full-time to achieving his life’s goal:
“Making spaces and people feel worthy and beautiful through my work” -Arturo O. Duran
Duran is an independent contractor in the fields listed below:
Haute Couture
Pret-A-Porter
Personal Styling
Photography
Photoshoot Production
Interior Decorating
Window Dressing
Merchandising
Tailoring
Fine Art
Store Resets
Plan-O-Gram implementation
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