It’s a not-so-well-kept industry secret that fashion brands rarely lend their pieces to reality stars. That rule even applied to Love Island breakout Olandria Carthen, who has since gone on to cement her status as a rising style darling. However, a small roster of independent and Black-owned brands did dress Olandria in her reality TV days—including Brandon Blackwood. Now, in something of a full-circle moment, Olandria has teamed up with Blackwood on her first-ever fashion collection.
“Brandon’s bags have been part of my entire journey starting with Love Island,” Olandria tells ELLE. “For one, I love supporting Black designers as is. And I’m all about supporting those who supported me when no one wanted to.”
The Olandria x Brandon Blackwood collection includes four styles available in “Bama Barbie” pink, hot pink, and jet black: the O-Zip Mini Trunk, O-Top Handle Bag, O-Vanity Case, and O-Lipstick Case Bag Charm. (The “O,” of course, stands for Olandria.) “Olandria wanted small, really cute day-to-day bags that you can also bring into the nighttime,” Blackwood says of the collaboration, which drew on staples like the Kendrick trunk and vanity case but was reimagined with an attached compact mirror and wraparound zippers, a first for the brand.
Ahead of the collection’s launch on May 27, ELLE caught up with Blackwood and Olandria to talk their friendship, designing bags for every version of yourself, and what this full-circle moment means.
How did the collaboration come about?
Brandon Blackwood: We met through Olandria’s stylists Matthew and Reggie [Reisman] and we had a fun post-fashion week dinner. That’s when the idea for the CFDA Awards came. At that point, Olandria was wearing my stuff. So once we had dinner, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, she’s actually really cool.’ It just clicked. Olandria has been on a really amazing, impeccable fashion journey. I just love seeing her star rise. So why not become a part of it?
What can fans expect from the collection?
BB: Obviously, lots of pink. We have some black options too. There’s leather and canvas because we wanted to make sure that within all price points, things were accessible. But we have a mini trunk, which is a staple for the brand. There’s a zipper on it, which we’ve never done before. We’re doing this for the first time with Olandria. Then we have our top handle bag. There are really strong, curved handles that give the silhouette of an “O.” Then the vanity case, which is fun—I thought, “Bama Barbie, she needs a vanity case.” And then we topped it off with a little lipstick case.
Olandria Carthen: The reaction was bigger than I could have ever imagined. I’ve seen so many viral posts [and] videos about fighting over this bag. The AKAs (members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority) got involved; they’re the auntie portion of the fandom that was like, “We got the money. We were buying this for our nieces and nephews, our grandkids,” all this stuff. The younger generation, too, it was absolutely insane. I’m going to be glued to my phone the day that it drops.
What was the inspiration behind the accompanying campaign?
BB: The idea came about naturally. It’s Olandria in a different way than you’ve normally seen her. We kept it editorial, but still fun and fresh. It’s cute. It’s hot.
How would you style the bags for a night out or date night with Nic?
OC: I carry small bags regardless of where I am: when I’m on vacation, day to day. An airport bag is the only big bag that I will ever have. But honestly, as long as I got my lip combo, my pocket mirror, and a card holder, that’s all I need.
What has your experience been like navigating the fashion industry as a reality star?
OC: Transparently, it’s been a constant fight behind the scenes. The fashion industry is very tough, but I’m so blessed and honored to be welcomed with open arms. Yes, there are brands that I continue to have to prove myself to in order to get their pieces. But the ones that allowed me to show up at their shows [and] take up space proved not only something to me, but to them as well to where they’re naturally reaching out to my stylists, like, “Hey, if she goes to this I would love to dress her.”
I never imagined these big houses saying that about me, especially being a reality star. I know it’s so hard to break into the fashion space, but I think being strategic in my moves really helped. I love showing up to the red carpet in a smaller designer and giving them press. It not only proves something to the big dogs, but also showcases the brand in a grander light.
Do you have any advice for the new contestants on Love Island?
OC: You’re going to need thick skin. Don’t go into the show not knowing who you are because when you get out and get that phone back, you’re not going to be liked by everybody, and people will then try to tell you who you are. If you don’t have a strong sense of self, you can lose yourself. It’s a very, very fast lifestyle, and your peace of mind is gone, in a sense—you’re under a spotlight now, and I’m still struggling with that 10 months in. I woke up today and felt like the world was on my shoulders. I’m like, “I don’t like the way I’m feeling today,” and it’s just overwhelming. So just make sure you have a good community around you, stay grounded, have friends and family, because you’re going to need it.
How do you protect your peace?
OC: I was going back and forth in my head this morning: Today just feels so heavy. Maybe because I was sleep deprived. I woke up at 4 A.M. [for] an early glam time, and I have shoots every single day this week. I need to have a dedicated self-care day. I need to get a massage, a facial. I want to find time in my schedule to do those things, since I can’t right now—I’ll just journal in the meantime.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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