Brandon Blackwood

Blackwood is born and raised in Brooklyn as a first-generation American with Jamaican and Chinese heritage, and while studying neuroscience at Bard College, secretly pursued a career in fashion, interning at magazines such as Elle and Nylon. In 2015, while working at a consignment shop, he created a bag for himself that garnered the attention of an editor at Essence and led to the creation of his designer clothing and accessories brand. In 2020, wanting to take a stance in support of the Black Lives Matter protests, he created a mini-tote with the words "End Systemic Racism" engraved on the front, which went viral and catapulted the brand to international recognition. The brand has since expanded into over thirty designs including eyewear, swimwear, outerwear, and footwear, and has created custom looks for Beyonce, Serena Williams, and Megan Thee Stallion.