Cotton Creek 9th St.

As a Durham native, I have really enjoyed seeing the transformation and restoration of this amazing city. I love to represent my city in any way I can and was so excited to stumble upon Cotton Creek. Cotton Creek is an apparel store on 9th street specializing in Durham apparel!

The Story Behind Cotton Creek

Recently, I got the chance to talk with Barbara, the owner of Cotton Creek. Barbara, a Durham native, is a former elementary school teacher who enjoys fashion and bringing new culture and diversity to the 9th Street scene. Barbara taught Kindergarten at Easley Elementary school, which is ironically where I attended school as a child. After several years of teaching, Barbara was ready to start a family. She knew that teaching and trying to be the best mom she could be was not going to be an easy task. As a former teacher, I could totally relate to that. So, Barbara took her hand at opening up her own business in the town she loved.

Unique Durham Apparel

Barbara was always looking for shirts to represent the city she loved, but never had much luck.  Wanting to provide those shirts for others, the idea of Cotton Creek was born. As a minor in art, the idea of making her own shirts just made sense! In November of 2015, Cotton Creek opened on 9th street. They are still helping customers find unique Durham apparel in the same location today.

When you walk in, Barbara is there to greet you and help answer any questions and assist you in finding the perfect fit. There are plenty of Durham designs in all the sizes you’ll need to outfit your whole family. I found so many shirts I wanted, but had to tame myself and stick to just two this time! If you are looking for some unique Durham swag, or custom screen printing and t-shirt design, definitely head on over to Cotton Creek. They even have onesies! Check out their inventory here!

          Barbara’s favorite shirt features the old Durham skyline, and reads “Dirty D” below. She explained that the shirt was meaningful to her because she actually grew up in the true “Dirty D” section of Durham in a neighborhood that is no longer standing, Few Gardens. She was adopted when she was 8 years old and moved away from that neighborhood to a loving family in North Durham. She has really enjoyed seeing Durham transform and is proud to call it home!