The Evolution

Hey everyone!

The dream of starting Revival began in 2010, and it finally became a reality in 2019. Opening our doors in the fall of that year, we embarked on a journey to offer a unique shopping experience. This happy place is a creative patchwork of my upbringing, where I was exposed to art, antiques, fashion, interior design, and flowers.

My evolution started much earlier on Tuesday, September 28, 1971, when I was welcomed into this world. The past 5 decades have been quite the journey filled love, life, laughter, tears, hardships, and rebuilding a life on my own terms. It has been a journey of reflection to become the best version of myself. Even on the rainy days in life, a glimpse of sunnier days peered through the clouds.

Since the age of 2, I have been drawing and creating. I enter competitions when I was younger. It has always been a wonderful past time. It has now led me to creating a series of animated characters and a line called Delta Roots. These characters are being developed into a series of children’s books that will be published in 2025 and beyond.

At the age of 6, I was already rearranging my room any chance I could. My parents, Ron and Jan, had a great fondness for antiques. My grandmother, Mary Francis, worked in antiques and design. She worked at the Palace in Downtown Monroe before working for an antique shop and the Pillars fine home furnishings. My mom met my day through her when he visited the antique shop. Growing up the love of antiques was naturally in my blood.

By 12, I had sold my first floral arrangement in my parents’ shop, R. Downing Ltd. Flowers, that they owned for 32 years. That was a natural as well because my grandmother, Jean, taught me so much about horticulture and conservation when I was young. We would work for hours in her yard planting flowers, maintaining her flower beds and cultivating her garden. She taught me about composting and never wasting a thing. That knowledge came from her growing up during The Great Depression.

At 17, I secured my first job as a visual merchandiser in fashion. I worked for an iconic women’s clothier, Fields’ which got its start on DeSiard Street in Downtown Monroe. My love of fashion stems back from my childhood as well. I can remember walking the streets of Downtown Monroe and West Monroe as a child admiring the stunning window displays. My great-grandmother, Karline, owned a women’s hat and clothing shop. Growing up in such a beautiful creative realm laid the foundation for Revival Design.

Developing these creative avenues in New Orleans, New York, and Dallas made it possible for Revival Design to become a reality. I was able to work for fashion designers, interior designers, and floral design and event production companies that excelled in their respective fields. It was a great learning experience that no classroom could adequately provide. This combined with God Given Talent, has placed me where in am today.

On November 1, 2019, I opened the doors of Revival Design. It came at the perfect point in my life as I had overcome some obstacles in my life and having my own revival. Now, in 2024, we have just begun our 5th year of this adventure in my 40-year career. We have launched our website to better connect with our clients on this journey and offer a unique shopping and lifestyle experience. We hope you will enjoy navigating through our website and following our journey as we continue to grow.

We also have two locations to serve our clients better. Our flagship store is in Historic Downtown Monroe, LA, and our smaller shop located inside Birds of a Feather and Friends, is now open in St. Francisville, LA.

I am thankful to God for giving me the courage to pursue this adventure, and I believe we are only just beginning. Thank you to my friends and valued clients for your continued support. The best is yet to come.

ALL THE BEST

CLINTON WHITNEY DOWNING