You can’t talk about contemporary fashion without mentioning Brandon Blackwood. The name alone exudes power, but Blackwood has quite the résumé to back up his reputation. He enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame when his “End Systemic Racism” tote went viral in 2020. Just five years later, the New York-based designer, who is of Jamaican and Chinese descent, is now the CEO of a multimillion-dollar company and a CFDA board member and accessories designer of the year nominee.
Some of today’s biggest stars across various industries have worn Blackwood’s highly coveted bags, including Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Quinta Brunson, and budding rap star Ice Spice. Blackwood has also crafted ensembles for Sheryl Lee Ralph as she celebrated her first Emmy win and Serena Williams as she walked the 2023 NAACP Image Awards red carpet. “The gowns kind of happened by accident the first time, and it just kind of rolled into what it is now,” Blackwood tells POPSUGAR. “It’s a way for us to step away from our norm and really have fun. I think every time we make a gown, it’s like a huge fantasy happening.”
Next up? A collaboration with one of America’s most iconic brands, Starbucks, which Blackwood says “just makes sense.” In tandem with the release of Starbucks’s signature Pink Drink and Paradise Drink, Blackwood will debut accompanying bags in yellow and pink colorways. The designs feature a space to carry the bottle, a crossbody strap, and a compartment for essentials like a phone and cards. “This is a dream collaboration for me,” he says. “I like giving people fun and bold ways to accessorize and individually express themselves, and I like how these drinks were fan-inspired.”
Ahead, Blackwood opens up about the future of his brand, his Met Gala dreams, and his new collaboration with Starbucks. Keep reading for the full interview, and set a reminder for the launch of the Brandon Blackwood + Starbucks Sip & Sling collection, retailing for $75 each and available for presale purchase on Friday, April 28, at 9 a.m. PT/12 p.m. ET.
Related: Brandon Blackwood’s Fall Collection Will Be Worn by Every Hollywood Darling in No Time
Getty / Aaron J. Thornton
Brandon Blackwood on Celebrities Embracing His Designs
POPSUGAR: Tons of celebrities have worn your bags on the go, but how did it feel to have your designs worn on red carpets by the likes of Sheryl Lee Ralph and Serena Williams? Are there any celebrities you’d like to wear designs who haven’t yet?
Brandon Blackwood: I freaked out when we got that call. Sheryl Lee Ralph’s iconic Emmy win. The gowns kind of happened by accident the first time, and it just kind of rolled into what it is now. It’s a way for us to kind of step away from our norm and really have fun. I think every time we make a gown, it’s like a huge fantasy happening. And we really get to have fun with it. We also did a custom performance piece for Latto. We’ve done a lot of cool things.
I’ve always wanted to work with Rihanna and Beyoncé, fingers crossed. Also, dressing a celebrity for the Met Gala would be iconic.
Starbucks / CHELSEA KYLE
Brandon Blackwood on Partnering With Starbucks
PS: Why did you choose to collaborate with Starbucks on these iconic bags?
BB: I feel like if you follow Starbucks or see Starbucks anywhere on social media, they are very much about their community. They’re always expanding and doing new things. I love that these drinks are coming out, the Pink Drink and the Paradise Drink. They’re fan-created and fan-inspired. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll see that I’m always asking people what swatches and colors they like, so it made sense that the two brands come together.
PS: Walk us through the design inspiration behind the collaboration and how the pieces came to life.
BB: The Pink Drink and the Paradise Drink started in a cafe, and this is now a more accessible version that’s going to be available pretty much everywhere, including grocery stores. So I wanted an on-the-go, ready-to-go kind of moment. If you see the bag, it’s a sling that holds either the Pink Drink or the Paradise Drink along with your phone, wallet, and keys. It’s fun. It’s bright. It’s very spring, summertime-ish. But at the same time, it’s also functional, which is super important.
PS: What messages were you trying to convey with the Starbucks Sip & Sling bag?
BB: This is Starbucks’s first kind of bag for a drink that’s going to be just ready to sell. So I just wanted to take that kind of ethos and put it into the bag. I want it to be easy to wear yet look chic. You need a grab-and-go bag that’s just like, take it and conquer the day!
Starbucks
Brandon Blackwood on His Expansion to Womenswear
PS: It’s not every day that you see accessory brands successfully expand into other categories. What made you want to go into womenswear?
BB: It’s kind of backwards. You normally make the clothes first and then make the accessory. Growing up, I loved my mom’s handbag collection and would always just look at them and be like, “Wow, they’re so cool.” So I think that just stayed with me.
I feel like if you wear a T-shirt and jeans, the bag you wear and the shoes you wear really change that whole outfit. Accessories are very, very important, and they’re a huge part of the overall look. So I’ve wanted to focus on that. And I think now that people have that attraction to us, they have that trust going into outerwear, shoes, and potential ready-to-wear. If you trust us with your shoes and your bags, why not a dress?
Getty / Jamie McCarthy
Brandon Blackwood on the Future of His Brand
PS: What’s the future of the Brandon Blackwood brand? What are you hoping to accomplish next?
BB: I feel like every day of my life is kind of just like a pinch-me moment. What we are doing with womenswear is really bringing a kind of more luxurious undertone to accessible items. My price points are anywhere from $100 to almost $1,000. I’ve always meant to make things that the people around me could purchase. So I think that’s when we were revolutionizing just womenswear. Thank God outerwear and shoes took off well, so they’ll continue on. So whatever is happening in the future, I’m just ready. But I just want to see the brand continue to grow and become what I know it can be over time.
