Three proud Tuskegee sons bring bold design, core values to life through taliaferro Union, HBCU Excellencees [Exclusive]

asrar_kash October 25, 2025

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Three proud Tuskegee sons bring bold design, core values to life through taliaferro Union, HBCU Excellencees [Exclusive]

The proud sons of Tukkegee are shaped by their preserved history, Alvin and Alarie Percival and David Banks they are respected by the bookie T. Washington with all their streets Taliaferro Union a clothing line.

Source: Taliaferro Union

The brand takes its name from Washington’s middle name, “Taliafero,” derived from the Italian “Tagliaferro,” meaning Iron Cutter or Blacksmith. The Percivals and Banks drew on this kind of energy and expertise to guide their work, equipping their plans with Washington’s teachings through practice, skills and determination.

“We are the three sons of Tusugee, not only in the university but,” said David Banks, who was born on the campus like its founders, who has a wealthy councilor named Taliafero and has a rich family history with the school. “We grew up in the shadow of the school, we spend the summer at camps, we go to all the football games and you’re kind of ready just because of your opportunity because it’s another department.”

Similarly, the Percival twins have a deep tie to Alabama’s historic center. Their parents graduated from Tutskegee, and the brothers spent much of their childhood immersed in the rhythms of campus and end-of-town life. Alarie Percival explained how weeds work the land, showing the basis of agriculture in Washington.

“We’re from the country, so we all basically grew up on farms,” he told Bossip. “My dad was also a Tuskegee University Alum, majoring in agriculture. So we grew up working all over Washington state, and now we think we have a similar background in agriculture and our interest in clothes and beautiful things. We felt like [Taliaferro Union] it was the right thing to do. “

“It’s like that full-cycle moment,” added his brother Alvin Percival.

Taliaferro Union’s collections draw directly from Tuskegee’s archives and history. This page Preservation of Fruits Rejuvenates Revamping century-old campus uniforms and alevel sports, including knitted cardigans, chenille-letter trainiovers and yellow tracksuits once worn by the Tuskegee swim team.

“One of Booker T. Washington’s famous quotes was, ‘Spin your bucket down where you are,’ said David. “And that’s kind of done here. We didn’t have to look far for inspiration. Tuskegee is just modestly beneath our feet.”

This page Singing Windows shirt stands out as the center of the cluster.

Inspired by the stained glass in the Tuskegee University Chapel, the windows depict the emancipation of the Israelites and the African American journey from slavery to freedom.

“This is a piece of fame that sometimes gets burned out, because a lot of people are very familiar with Book T raising a velis memorial in college, but not a lot of people admit it inside the tupel,” said Alvin. “So that was the grace in the decision, which was well put together. We were able to replicate that with the shirt in a good way.”

The designers see their brand as a showcase of Tuskegee’s unique culture and the energy that emerges among students and alumni. Tuskegee is known as “the shed,” a section where enthusiastic undergrads pull on the crimson and old gold and break out the “ball parlay” chant. The pride is contagious, filled with East-Central Alabama town spirit and lively spirit, and often transcends, that of another HBCUS.

“My theory on that, Tukkegee is a small town in Alabama, there’s no real big city nearby, so the most you have to do is entertain your peers,” Alvin said. “So I think we don’t add too much to other things, I think that gives us that camaraderie and school spirit that other school rivals don’t have.”

The same pride extends beyond the college gates as the Taliafero Union channels their school spirit into action, donating a portion of each sale back to Tuskegee University.

David said: “I also think it’s a big part of our duty, not just to tell the story, but to do something that has an impact as well,” said David. “So all the support we get, we give it back to the school.

Alarie also emphasized that the brand fills a gap in the market with a well-made, long-lasting garment.

“If you look at the back of some of these vintage pieces, you’re learning about a school with a matching program,” Alarie said. “They learned to sew their own clothes and do all these jobs and we’re starting from that because in today’s times, we’re full of fast fashion.”

He continued,

“The biggest driver for me personally with this project is during undergrad, I didn’t really buy a lot of school parpaphernalia. Switch the creative bug in all of us.”

“We want to create the appirlooms of the future,” added David Banks.

Finally, the founders see the union of Taliaferro as a continuous connection between the past and present that respect praises with respect, he is proud of the growth of the South.

“It’s about storytelling and the keepers and tellers of our story from our point of view,” David said. “It just goes to show that you can do what you set your mind to.”

“Our apparel speaks volume to all of Tuskegee University and us and how we help bridge the gap to share this vision of something we love,” said Alvin. Hopefully, people will like that. “

Find the taliaferro Union online and on social media @taliaferrounionionioun, where it comes to piece all the pieces with the pride of tu.