HOUSTON, Oct. 10, 2011 -- Award-winning fashion designer Tina Knowles made history on Monday, October 3, as her life story became the fifteenth addition to the University of Houston's "Living Archives." The Living Archives are the oral history arm of the Shuart Women's Archive and Research Collection.

Lauded for her work as a fashion designer and stylist, businesswoman and philanthropist, the Texas native told her story in an interview with journalist Joy Sewing of the Houston Chronicle. The enthusiastic crowd, including her lifelong friends and family members; three brothers, one sister, her niece and nephew and daughter, Beyonce, listened as Miss Tina (as she is affectionately known) told her story about growing up in Galveston, Texas, the youngest of seven children and recounted early lessons she learnt from her parents, particularly her seamstress mother, the late Agnez Dereon Beyonce, that would set her on her path. She also talked about her deep bond with her two daughters, Beyonce and Solange, and what it was like designing for and travelling with Destiny's Child.

Tina Knowles started making clothes in the early days for Destiny's Child because of small budgets and denial from major fashion houses to loan clothes to the still-budding group that would go on to become one of the most successful recording groups of all time.

Today she is the founder and creative director of three successful fashion collections, House of Dereon, the contemporary line which launched internationally at Selfridges & Co. in London last month, Dereon, the casual lifestyle brand and Miss Tina byTina Knowles, which is sold exclusively at Walmart.

Seven Tina Knowles' designs, all worn famously by Beyonce including the dress she wore to the 2009 Oscars and one she wore to the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, were on display at the entrance of the University of Houston's MD Anderson Library.

Throughout the interview, Miss Tina credited her beloved mother for her foundation and said she still marvels at her own success. She reminded the audience that rewards come with hard work and that no job is ever too small for her to do.

A major part of the oral history was about giving back and her dedication to making a difference in the lives of others. She talked about the Survivor foundation and its partnership with St. John's Church, The Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth and the Knowles-Temenos Place Apartments, all with a focus to bring aid to Houston's needy and displaced citizens.  

Asked what she wants her legacy to be Miss Tina answered through tears simply, "that I was a good person."  

Deeply connected to her faith she said her message to her mom would be that her prayers were answered.

About The Living Archives:

The Living Archives Interviews are the oral history arm of the UH Shuart Women's Archive and Research Collection. The Archive, founded in 1996 by the Friends of Women's Studies, and housed in University Archives in the MD Anderson Library, collects the papers and oral histories of Houston area women's organizations and of women who've made history here.  

The archive currently contains more than 50 collections documenting all aspects of women's lives in our community, including the papers of both of Houston's women mayors, Kathy Whitmire and Annise Parker, and suffragist Minnie Fisher Cunningham, as well as those of organizations like the Houston Area Women's Center, Hispanic Women in Leadership, the Top Ladies of Distinction, Houston NOW, Church Women United, Federation of Houston Professional Women, the Houston Women's Caucus for Art, and many more. 

Over the past 15+ years, both mayors have been the subject of Living Archives interviews, along with leaders like Dr. Ruth Simmons, Houston native and president of Brown University, and former Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia, representatives from Houston's many faith traditions, women sports figures, doctors, activists, novelists, astronauts, journalists, and women from many other life paths.   These interviews are videotaped and transcribed, and become part of the archive, where they are accessible to students, scholars and the community.

About Tina Knowles:

Designer Tina Knowles is the creative director and founder of the House of Dereon, Dereon, and Miss Tina by Tina Knowles fashion collections produced by Beyond Productions, which was founded in 2004 and is now a division of LF USA – a subsidiary of Li & Fung Limited. A native Texan, Tina began her career owning and operating one of the most successful beauty salons in the southwest. She is also an accomplished writer with the debut of her first book, Destiny's Style, published by HarperCollins in 2002.  Experienced in nearly every aspect of what has come to be known as 'the lifestyle industry,' Tina is a renown fashion stylist, interior designer and has served as fashion consultant and costume designer on various film projects that include The Pink Panther, Austin Powers Goldmember, Dreamgirls, a, Cadillac Records, and box office hit Obsessed released in April 2009. She is the recipient of ACE Award from the Accessories Council of America for Excellence in Accessory Design, the VH1/Vogue Fashion Award for Best Costumes, and the Golden Hanger Award – E! Entertainment for Best Fashion. Her philanthropic endeavors include "The Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth located in Houston, Texas, theHouse of Dereon Media Center, The Survivor Foundation and Knowles -Temenos Place Apartments as community resource assisting those displaced and in need. 

SOURCE Beyond Productions