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Tatum returns to area to promote clothing line

By Brent Stewart, The Southern

Friday, April 18, 2008 1:49 PM CDT

CARBONDALE - Jamaal Tatum has been busy since graduating from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 2007, and not necessarily in the ways you might think.

The former Saluki shooting guard is in town this weekend for his annual basketball camp and to promote his new line of clothing, One Couture.

Although the idea was officially put into motion four years ago, Jamaal has been interested in fashion all his life.

Since leaving the area, Jamaal's "other" career, basketball, has taken many twists and turns. After being passed over in the NBA draft, he was picked up as a free agent by the Atlanta Hawks. Jamaal was injured, missed most of the preseason and was eventually released. He was then drafted by the Idaho Stampede D-League team and was hurt again.

While recovering from the second injury, Jamaal began focusing most of his energy on One Couture.

"I know throughout all that, that I still have other things I love to do," he said. "Basketball is always my first love, but I found out that I like a lot of other stuff while being hurt."

For the clothing line, Jamaal is working with four designers, one of which is Attitude Designs in Carbondale, with whom he first developed a relationship while in Southern Illinois.

"I definitely wanted to be loyal to the people who have helped me out," he said.

Josh Plemon, general manager of Attitude Designs, said the experience of working on One Couture has been exciting.

"It's a challenge, but we enjoy trying to take Jamaal's vision and make something he's proud of," he said.

The concept of One Couture, Jamaal explained, is a combination of many things.

"It's jazz music, it's peace, it's anti-violence," he said. "It's something that's for everybody; hence, the word 'One.' The clothing line is not for this specific person or that specific person."

It's also a family operation. Jamaal's partner is his cousin, T.J., who has a master's degree in business administration. Jamaal's brother and another cousin are also involved.

When T.J. and Jamaal began wearing their designs in public, they were surprised at the response.

"We didn't really think other people thought our ideas were as good as we thought they were," T.J. said. "People actually started coming up to us, saying, 'We like your shirt.'"

The clothing line has already picked up endorsements from Lorenzen Wright of the Sacramento Kings, MTV's Andy Milonakis and "The Hills" actors Brian Drolet and Jordan Eubanks.

Jamaal described himself as a "day-by-day guy." Now living in Sacramento, Calif., he wants to continue working on his clothing line and expand his interests into acting and modeling.

And although he is still a free agent in basketball, Jamaal hopes to be signed after playing in an NBA summer league. But the future looks bright, no matter which endeavor he decides to pursue.

"I got so many dreams," he said. "And people laugh at them, but at least I'm dreaming. That's the way I see it."

brent.stewart@thsouthern.com

351-5074