Troy Gathers is the designer behind Sixteen Seventy Historic Collection - and with wisdom and insight well beyond his years, this former industrial technology engineering student from South Carolina University is suddenly taking the fashion world by storm.

How did an industrial technology student find his way to a career of fashion design?

“My fashion knowledge is solely independent studies. I research those that have created a legacy in the industry.”

Troy is a man who believes in having wildly imaginative dreams; he also believes they're possible. And he seems to be living proof. "In life we must use our imagination everyday because logic just doesn't comprehend dreams." Troy formed his fashion line inside his own freshmen dormitory, and has watched it transform into a successful collection of designs.

Troy credits his love of America's historic past for much of his drive and inspiration in designing fashions. “Sixteen Seventy is a fashion celebration of the historic significance of America.” When speaking about the English settlers that came to America in 1670 and established colonies in what is now the southeastern U.S., he says, “The settlers had a dream in mind, an ultimate goal, and they reached it.” When Troy had free time during his college years he would travel to historic sites and often use the settings in his advertising ideas and fashion concepts.

“In the beginning, I would only travel on weekends. My schedule was pretty full in school so I actually sold the clothing to my schoolmates and teachers.  I can't stop thinking about times my teachers wore a Sixteen Seventy polo and conducted lectures.  The support I received from my college will last a lifetime. They motivated me so much"

 He also mentions that since golf in America began in South Carolina he found it fitting to cater several of his menswear designs towards golf attire. “Many of my designs are universal, but the main idea was golf.”

In 2006, Troy was able to see some of his hard work pay off. Sixteen Seventy was given the opportunity to wardrobe an episode of a popular television show, BET’s “106 and Park.”  "This was big for fashion ... I mean, no one thought of South Carolina and fashion in the same paragraph.”

With profound wisdom and insight, Troy shares some advice with aspiring designers. “The life of a fashion designer can seem glamorous and easy on television, but that’s scripted. If you want to be a designer you will have to write your own script and live out all the scenes. There are no shortcuts to any place in life worth going.”

And, coming from someone who has taken a college campus endeavor and made it into a fashion brand, he may just be on to something.

“My philosophy in life is simple. Life is like Christmas. God gives everyone a present under the tree. Now some people take their gifts and open them to find great talents and wisdom. Others never open their present because they're too busy looking at everyone else. Sixteen Seventy is my gift and I plan on opening it for the world to see.”

You can see Sixteen Seventy Historic Collection at

http://ustrendy.com/sixteenseventy/portfolio/566/sweaterpolo-style/