Bard News

Designer Brandon Blackwood ’13 Inducted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America and Profiled in Harper’s Bazaar

Brandon Blackwood ’13. Courtesy of Brandon Blackwood NYC

Fashion designer and Bard alumnus Brandon Blackwood ’13 was one of 10 new members inducted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) this year. Thom Browne, chairman of the CFDA, said, “Our newest members represent everything America has to offer . . . diversity . . . creativity . . . and true individual talent.” Blackwood's eponymous accessories brand first made its mark in the fashion world with a tote embellished with the words: “End Systemic Racism.” Now, Blackwood’s fashion label has expanded to include statement shoes, outerwear, and soon swimwear.

In a recent designer profile published in Harper’s Bazaar, Blackwood says, “These last two years for me have been really about finding the brand’s aesthetic and really beginning to mold itself. We built the foundation in the last few years, but—I know it sounds corny—we’re trying to really find our voice.”