FNAA Launch of the Year Winner Brandon Blackwood on His Breakout in Footwear and the Moments That Made It Magic
Renan Botelho
Senior Digital Editor
On Nov. 29, Brandon Blackwood will be honored with the Launch of the Year award at the 37th annual FN Achievement Awards. Below is an article from the magazine’s Nov. 27 print issue about Blackwood’s first shoe collection and viral moments in 2023.
Hard work is paying off for Brandon Blackwood.
Since releasing his namesake brand in 2015, the designer has seen his luxury handbags go viral on social media and worn by prominent celebrities, from Michelle Obama to Taylor Swift. And in March, he made his footwear debut with six shoe styles handmade in Italy and Portugal. “It was tricky,” he said, recalling the many delays the collection suffered prior to its launch. But Blackwood’s clients — or cousins, as he likes to refer to them — proved to be loyal to his craft, making the release a success. “It was great to see people buying things that were other than the handbags and being really responsive to it.”
Blackwood’s first footwear line reinterpreted classic silhouettes with a statement-making approach that became a signature of his brand. Flirting with surrealism and the abstract, the designer created a campy joint heel sandal and doll-like platforms that made his customers “super excited and a little scared.” “Everyone was terrified of the platforms because they were so high,” said the Launch of the Year winner, whose 5.75-inch heels generated attention on social media. On TikTok, videos under the umbrella “Brandon Blackwood shoes” have garnered over 40 million views. “People would tag us, and you see people trying them on. It was really interesting.”
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Blackwood, who was also recently nominated for a CFDA award, is aiming to take his shoe craft a step further. “That first line gave us confidence and you’re going see that translate into our next seasons,” he said, while also promising “higher heels” and “cooler styles” for spring ’24, with “a lot more texture, a lot more fun.” Now, the designer feels prepared to offer his next footwear collection to retailers. “I didn’t want to do wholesale in the beginning, just because I wanted to see firsthand how the shoes sold and what people gravitated to. I wanted to mold out our future,” Blackwood explained.
He also wants to create a full clothing collection. “It’s getting to the point now that it’s kind of ridiculous that we don’t make clothes,” said the designer, who has created custom pieces for Beyoncé, Megan Thee Stallion, Serena Williams and other A-listers. The goal is to release the first clothing pieces in 2024. “But don’t hold me to it,” he said.
Selling the First Pairs of Shoes
“I was just looking at my phone, looking at the sales and smiling. It’s good to know that people love your brand so much that they trust a whole new category. It’s hard for brands, in general, to branch into new categories and have them be even somewhat successful.”
Beyoncé Wearing His Heels on Her Renaissance World Tour
“We were just supposed to make the dress, but I made shoes and we threw them in extra. I was like, ‘You know what? That might be like a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Why not?’ It was a liquid silk organza high heel. And looking at the videos now, when she’s walking, the fabrics are matching, everything was great. To this day, I can’t believe she really performed and sang so beautifully, wearing close to 5-inch heels.”
Taylor Swift Carrying His Kendrick Trunk Bag in New York
“We were just freaking out like, there’s no way. I was happy because it showed me that someone who basically has access to anything is wearing a Brandon Blackwood bag, so that made me feel really good.”
Creating a Custom Outfit for Megan Thee Stallion at the MTV VMAs 2023
“I love a corset — I love it. So we toyed around with the idea of doing an exaggerated corset that basically goes all the way to the ground. The minute we tried it on, I was like, ‘OK, this is going to be bold,’ and she looked amazing in it.”
Ice Spice Wearing His Sali Platforms in the “Princess Diana” Remix Video
“We have a great relationship with Ice Spice. We’ve done custom for her, and bags. And when she did the shoes, I loved it. She walked so effortlessly.”
Kim Petras Wearing His Blair Thigh-High Boots in the Music Video for “Alone” with Nicki Minaj
“It was cool to see our shoes and our boots in a pop element. It’s a very sexy shoe. I couldn’t imagine a thigh-high boot with a black belt having such a fun moment in a pop video. She pulled it off and she was great.”
For 37 years, the annual FN Achievement Awards — often called the “Shoe Oscars” — have celebrated the style stars, best brand stories, ardent philanthropists, emerging talents and industry veterans. The 2023 event is supported by sponsors Authentic Brands Group, Birdies, Caleres, Crocs, FDRA, Nordstrom, Saucony and Vibram.
