Latest news with #Ruffin
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Connecticut designer behind unique jackets spotted on high-profile athletes
NEW YORK (WTNH) — A Connecticut designer is behind a unique jacket getting a lot of attention recently after two high-profile athletes sported his designs. Alex Ruffin, 32, has been making jackets and selling them online, but his business got a lot more attention when Jazz Chisholm Jr. wore a specially-made 'Hometown Hero' series jacket, featuring the Knicks on one sleeve and the Rangers on the other. New York Mets hire Lew Sherr from the US Open tennis tournament as president of business operations The jacket was captured on the jumbotron at Madison Square Garden. 'I'm sitting over here, and I'm like, watching his story,' Ruffin told WABC-TV/Eyewitness News. 'So, I see him on his way to the game and with the jacket because I can tell by the collar, and I'm like, oh my god, he has my jacket on.' Ruffin also gifted one to Knicks' star guard Jalen Brunson, who wore a 'Madison Square Guardian' jacket before a game. 'I got the photos back, and I was just like, wow, this is crazy,' Ruffin said. 'This is all happening in the same season, by the way, so guys, Chisholm being a big component of the Yankees right now, and Jalen Brunson obviously being the starting point guard for the Knicks. Like, this is something right here that has been, like, beyond humbling. It's an amazing feat,' he continued. Ruffin told Eyewitness News the accomplishment is one his father, who passed away, would be proud of. 'My dad was big on New York teams and whatnot,' Ruffin said. 'And it kind of rubs off on you, so you grow up and you're like, I'm seeing all of this stuff right here, and it literally just, it's something that sits with you forever.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
I created the Madison Square Guardian jacket so NY sports fans can support multiple teams at once
New York sports fans are known to loudly wear their hearts on their sleeves, and this jacket does the talking for them — on the court, the rink and on the field. It's all about the New York Knicks right now, with the team on a stunning and historic winning streak, but Madison Square Garden regulars — both on and off the court — don't want to forget their other hometown heroes. To the rescue comes Alex Ruffin, a 31-year-old Connecticut designer who created the 'Madison Square Guardian,' a $1,400 bespoke jacket — one half repping the Rangers, the other the Knicks — so fans could celebrate the beating heart of Big Apple sports, win or lose. 'MSG — that's the mecca right there,' he told The Post. 'Babies are born every day into a fandom… Sports unify a lot of people.' The coat of many colors is part of the 'Hometown Hero' series, from Ruffin's A Thrifted Temple label — a fun fusion of two vintage team jackets from the same city or state, chopped up and sewn together to create an even bolder statement. 7 No two jackets are ever the same — 'they all have their own stories,' Ruffin said. The humble designer works out of his living room. Samuel Corum for 'People resonate with my jackets to the degree that they do because sports is the one thing on this planet that transcends,' said Ruffin, who created the concept three years ago in his Stamford home. 'I thought it was a brilliant idea, because who doesn't like to represent where they're from?' he added. Even Jalen Brunson, the Knicks' star guard, is on board. 'Jalen's jacket that I made for him is very special for me,' Ruffin said of the $1,400 sold-out style worn by Brunson last month. 'It made a lot of sense, just knowing the history of the team and the owners, then knowing that Jalen Brunson's father played for the Knicks back in the day as well, so it was a really cool full-circle moment.' And it's a full-circle moment indeed, considering the Knicks are in the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000 — when Brunson's dad Rick was on the team. A winning combo Ruffin's rad rags start at $800, with the most popular designs spotlighting New York teams — but they've been seen sported all over the country, by the likes of Davion Mitchell, who currently plays for the Miami Heat, and the Milwaukee Bucks' Andre Jackson Jr. as well as rappers Westside Gunn, Anderson .Paak, Lil Yachty and Big Sean. The craze kicked off when Yankees player Jazz Chisholm Jr. wore a specially-made Hometown Hero jacket (Knicks-Yankees) at MSG — a surreal moment for Ruffin, who played baseball for 10 years growing up. 'They had him on the Jumbotron, and he's showing both sides of the jacket off,' Ruffin said. 'I was just like, it's happening. It's finally happening. Everything since has been crazy.' The ultimate slam dunk came after Brunson's big reveal, however — leading to fans from all over reaching out with requests for their own personal pairings. 7 'He wore [the jacket] to Madison Square Garden, and I think that was the first time that I was put in the world and noticed, this is my work and this is who I am,' Ruffin said of Jazz Chisholm Jr., seen here with Spike Lee. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST 'It's a hot commodity right now, and it's almost overwhelming to a degree, but in a good way. A lot of people want my work,' Ruffin said. 'It's crazy because I don't just view my jackets as jackets, I view them as art pieces.' Court couture 7 Ruffin is a self-taught sewer, having bought a machine in 2018. 'It was just sitting there for years catching dust — and then I felt a huge shift in myself, creatively speaking.' Samuel Corum for Ruffin can make up to four jackets in a day and most have a base price of $500 to $600 — though New York designs, which are in high demand, have a higher price tag. Sourcing the originals to Frankenstein together is tricky — he relies on Mercari, eBay, Depop or local thrift stores, though clients can supply two jackets to fuse together — and so is keeping up with the influx of orders, especially since the Knicks' streak. But for the in-demand creator, it's all in a day's work. 'They say this all the time, if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere.' 7 'I knew once I figured the concept out, I'd be able to make a lot of these at my own free will, and that's what happened — and it's just been catching on everywhere since,' he said. Samuel Corum for Often, buyers snatch up the jackets almost immediately after he posts about restocks on social media. So far, he's sold about 100 Hometown Hero jackets. 'With these jackets that I make, I feel I'm like knighting people. Like, this is like a battle armor for you that I feel is yours and belongs to you solely,' Ruffin said. But it was a little less than three years ago that he started sewing seriously and bringing his designs to life to begin with — and he's completely self-taught. 'It's almost like trying to learn a new language,' he said. Comeback story Ruffin's big win comes a little over a decade after he was forced to drop out of college at age 18 to take care of his mom when she was diagnosed with cancer. 'I remember clear as day, having that weight at such a young age, it does something to you,' Ruffin said. 'To see somebody that you have such a bond with disintegrate right in front of you and lose all aspects of themselves.' 7 Although he was painting on canvases and clothing since he was a kid, he didn't take his passion seriously until after his parents passed away in his 20s. Samuel Corum for She died in 2013, a few weeks after his 20th birthday, and Ruffin's father passed away a few years later at the age of 51. Experiencing immense loss at such a young age could've broken him, but he learned to turn his pain into art. He reintroduced himself to drawing and started painting his designs on clothes, which he found therapeutic. 'It would ease my mind from the loss,' he said. 7 'Having all these different forms and mediums of art has helped me cope with a lot of the loss that I've experienced in my life,' Ruffin said. Samuel Corum for He sold his first painted jacket for $80 and, in the years since, he has been able to quit his day job at Sprint and 'throw caution to the wind' to focus solely on A Thrifted Temple. 'It's really humbling to me because I made these jackets in my apartment. It's just me, my living room space and my sewing machine,' he said. He's now making more than any previous gig — and his life is a lot richer, too. 7 Ruffin has been able to quit his day job at Sprint to focus on his business full-time. Samuel Corum for Though he might not be here to see it, Ruffin said he's sure he made his father, a 'die-hard' New York sports fan, proud. 'I know my mom, my dad and my grandma are all with me in spirit on this journey.'
Miami Herald
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
HBCU AD lays out path for potential Division I move
As Tuskegee University continues to modernize its athletic infrastructure and celebrate record-setting achievements, the conversation around a potential move to NCAA Division I competition continues to linger around the HBCU. While the university has not made any formal declaration, Director of Athletics Reginald Ruffin acknowledged that the decision ultimately lies in the hands of President Dr. Mark Brown and the university's board of trustees. "That will not be a decision alone by me," Ruffin told HBCU Gameday's Steven J. Gaither. "It's going to be President Mark Brown… what he wants to see in the next… three-year plan, his five-year plan-what he sees in athletics." The buzz surrounding Tuskegee's future comes at a time when the university is seeing measurable success across multiple sports. Ruffin noted that during the 2024–25 academic year alone, Tuskegee played for seven conference championships and came away with three titles while finishing as runner-up in four others. "That's a lot of championships," he emphasized. There are currently 23 Division I HBCUs. Twelve of them are in the SWAC, with eight residing in the MEAC and three others in non-HBCU leagues. For Tuskegee, a move up would mean not only meeting NCAA requirements in sports sponsorship and scholarships but also sustaining success and funding at a higher level. Ruffin emphasized that the university's top priority is maintaining full support for its current programs. "You have to also make sure you're maintaining your sports, and not only maintaining sports-you gotta be supporting your sports," he said. According to Ruffin, both President Brown and former interim president Dr. Charlotte Morris made full athletic funding a priority-setting the foundation for what could be a long-term trajectory toward Division I. That administrative support has paid dividends according to Ruffin. However, Ruffin made clear that for now, Tuskegee remains focused on building where it is-with one eye on the future. "For now we're just going to continue to sell out the crowd, and we have to go play FCS schools and be your largest attendance when we play those schools - until the president and the administration, decide, hey, it's time to to make that next step,' Ruffin said. 'But right now, Steven, I think we're grounded where we're planted and we're planted where we grounded. And we are just going to do what we can to continue building the legacy of Tuskegee University, With a revitalized campus, major facility upgrades, and growing support from alumni and the community, the foundation is being laid for the university to make a serious evaluation. But Ruffin reiterated that such a move must align with the university's strategic vision-not just athletic ambition. For now, Tuskegee University remains one of the most successful and tradition-rich programs in HBCU athletics. Whether that legacy will one day extend to the Division I level remains to be seen, but the infrastructure, leadership, and success metrics are increasingly pointing toward the possibility. The post HBCU AD lays out path for potential Division I move appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Miami Herald
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
HBCU football's winningest program set to make history
Tuskegee University, the winningest program in HBCU football history, will host its first-ever home night game on September 6, 2025-a milestone decades in the making. The historic moment comes as part of a larger transformation underway within the athletic department, led by Director of Athletics Reginald Ruffin. The addition of lights at Cleve L. Abbott Memorial Alumni Stadium are more than a game-day upgrade-it's a strategic investment in the future of Tuskegee's athletes and the university's broader goals."We have lights to practice with. We have lights for our first upcoming night football game in the history of a home football game for Tuskegee University," Ruffin said during an interview with HBCU Gameday's Steven J. Gaither. That game, set against Central State University, will be nationally televised and billed as a "mini homecoming." It represents more than just a scheduling novelty; it's a signal of modernization and institutional alignment."We have a president that's at every game. We have a president that's showing up. We have a presidents that has us at the table, has athletics at the table - which we are the front porch to any man university," Ruffin said, emphasizing the critical support he receives from university leadership, including President Mark Brown. Ruffin explained that the decision to install lights wasn't primarily about adding a primetime feel to football games. "Everybody thought we were trying to get lights for to be able to play games. Night games. That wasn't the problem… The purpose was to be able to just align our students to opportunity, to be able to set their schedule according to the availability of practice time."In essence, the lights provide scheduling flexibility so student-athletes can prioritize academics-something that remains central to the HBCU mission. Beyond athletics, the new infrastructure also benefits the broader student body. "We have movie nights for our regular students, our students, to be able to come to the field, to use the jumbotron at night," Ruffin noted. "We had classroom presentations out there on the field, at night." The lights have quickly become a tool for both academic enrichment and student engagement. Ruffin pointed out that the issue of extreme heat was also a major factor in the push for change as he had personally witnessed emergency services having to go into the stands to help people suffering from heat exhaustion."The lights was more than me thinking about a football game. But it was more than thinking about the health and safety, the well-being of our student-athletes, our student body, our fans, our parents and alums. As one of the winningest programs in HBCU football history, Tuskegee's commitment to modernizing while honoring its legacy speaks volumes. Ruffin added historical context by noting that legendary coach Cleve Abbott proposed the idea of stadium lighting back in 1926. Nearly a century later, his vision has come to life. For Ruffin and Tuskegee University, this moment is about more than football-it's about evolving the HBCU experience while keeping its values intact. The post HBCU football's winningest program set to make history appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Amber Ruffin, Sarah Jessica Parker Advocate for Free Speech at 2025 PEN America Gala
Amber Ruffin, Sarah Jessica Parker and more called for free speech at the 2025 PEN America Literary Gala on May 15 in New York City The annual ceremony, hosted by the literary nonprofit, honored 'the freedoms to write, read and speak," as well as the "defenders of these rights at a perilous moment" Ruffin hosted the event, and Parker was one of multiple honorees recognized for their work in service of readers, literature and freedom of expressionLiterary supporters, including Amber Ruffin and Sarah Jessica Parker, called for the right to free speech at the 2025 PEN America Literary non-profit organization, which advocates for writers and free speech, hosted their annual gala on May 15 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Per a statement shared with PEOPLE, the ceremony celebrates 'the freedoms to write, read and speak' and honors "defenders of these rights at a perilous moment.'Ruffin, who hosted the event, spoke about the importance of freedom of expression in her opening monologue.'Free speech is something we have to fight for. We can joke about it — until we can't,' she said. 'That's the reality of where we're at right now.' The writer and comedian recently made headlines when her invitation to perform at the White House Correspondents' dinner was rescinded in March. The event, hosted by the White House Correspondents' Association, typically invites a featured comedian, but decided to forgo the tradition for their 2025 an email sent to WHCA members on March 29, as obtained by NPR, association president Eugene Daniels stated the organization wanted to 'ensure the focus is not on the politics of division,' but on awarding colleagues for 'their outstanding work.' 'I am officially a banned book,' Ruffin said. 'They booked me and then they banned me.'The Gala's 2025 honorees included Parker, who accepted the PEN/Audible Literary Service Award. In addition to her role as founder of the book imprint SJP Lit, Parker was recognized as an executive producer on the 2025 documentary film The Librarians, about the nationwide book censorship crisis. 'To censor a book is to limit imagination, curiosity, connection, empathy and inspiration,' Parker said. 'Libraries aren't just buildings with shelves, they are sanctuaries of possibility.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest America also awarded Wesleyan University President Michael Roth with the PEN/Berenson Courage Award, for his advocacy in support of higher education and 'commitment to academic freedom.' Macmillan Publishers CEO Jon Yaged received the Business Visionary Award for his dedication to publishing diverse authors and 'igniting a lifelong love of reading in young people' throughout his foundation also recognized the poet and activist Galal El-Behairy with the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award. The writer has been imprisoned in Egypt for seven years for his work, which was critical of the country's government. El-Behairy's sister accepted the award on his behalf.'We see fear spreading — not just among those under direct attack, but among so many who hear the message loud and clear: Stay quiet, or YOU could be next,' PEN America Interim Co-CEO Summer Lopez said in her remarks.'At PEN America, we refuse to stay quiet. We know what happens when people and institutions obey in advance. So we do not flinch — we do the work.' Read the original article on People
