Cary Carter "Cup" Mitchell

February 20, 1960 - April 2, 2022

Life & Legacy • 1960-2022 Cary Mitchell, a native of Richmond, Virginia and a 1983 graduate of Johnson C. Smith University an HBCU located in Charlotte, NC. Cary has enjoyed an illustrious career in the fashion industry and has aptly been dubbed Designer to the Stars. After college, Mitchell headed to Paris, France to immerse himself in the fashion industry. He began working for a small American sportswear store Monsieur Basket owned by a few veteran American professional basketball players in France. Within six months Mitchell was designing men’s sportswear for the store. Upon returning to the United States, Mitchell worked for a major airline before putting his designing genius to work full time and forming International Custom Clothing. While the company was still in its infancy, his friend, Stedman Graham, gave him one of the most important tidbits of business advice he has ever received: include his name in the name of the apparel company. Thus, the distinguished Cary Mitchell Designs was formed. As a nationally recognized custom clothier, clothing designer and image consultant. Mitchell has fashioned attire for professional athletes of the NBA, NFL, and MLB. On that client list were golfer Tiger Woods, Scotty Pippen, Dwight Howard, Ray Allen, Gary Payton, Jason Kidd, Yao Ming, Tim Duncan, Vince Carter, Paul Pierce, Alonzo Mourning, Grant Hill, Ken Griffey, Jr. Emmett Smith, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith. Also, ESPN Stuart Scott and Steven A. Smith. Mitchell’s design freshness and creativity, as well as his business accomplishments, has created a storm of media attention from national print and broadcast properties. Mitchell also was chosen by Black billionaire Bob Johnson to design the game uniform for the NBA new basketball team the Charlotte “BOBCATS”. He has appeared numerous times on BET and he was featured on ESPN’s Outside the Lines, FOX’s Best Damn Sports Show...Period and CNN’s Southern Living. He was also featured in Sports Illustrated for his pants design and craftsmanship for Tiger Woods, and in GQ, Ebony, ESPN the Magazine, Sister 2 Sister, Code, Black Voices, Street and Smith’s Sports annuals, Charlotte Business Journal, Charlotte Magazine, The Charlotte Observer, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and others. Cary Carter Mitchell was a devoted husband, brother, godfather, neighbor, and friend. He was born to the late John Thomas and Elizabeth Mitchell on February 20th, 1960, in Richmond, Virginia. On April 2nd, 2022, Cary surrendered to the will of God and made his journey home. Cary’s beloved parents, John Thomas and Elizabeth Mitchell as well as his sister Sheryl Lynn Thomas, preceded him in death. Cary leaves a loving family: His devoted wife of 27 years (Vanessa); maternal grandmother Ida Lee; brother, John Harvey (Shuron); sister, Ida Aleas; uncle, Carl Spencer (Sheila); niece, Mia E Thomas; goddaughter, Zaria Gool; sisters-in-law, Brenda Scales, and Phyllis Roberts; brother-in-law, Garry Scales (Alecia); and a host of other family and friends. Cary was dearly loved and will be sorely missed; may he rest in eternal peace.