Beyond gardening.

Besides his green fingers, Ron Finley is also a fashion designer and African-American film poster fan. He started his clothing company, The DROPDEAD Collexion, in his family garage. The line was a top seller with high-end retailers such as Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. His design ingenuity attracted the attention of many celebrities, and he was the go-to designer for several NBA and Hollywood stars, including basketball All-Star Robert Horry.

A man of many interests, Ron started collection Black entertainment memorabilia many years ago, and owns one of the best collections of Blaxploitation posters in the nation. His collection depicts the progression of Black experience in show business, and is so comprehensive that it got picked up and exhibited. Ron Finley’s Travels Through Blackness: International Movie Poster Design 1920′s to 1970′s is a treasure trove and a mini film archive.