{"id":2426637,"date":"2026-05-21T16:16:26","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T16:16:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2426637"},"modified":"2026-05-21T16:16:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T16:16:26","slug":"olandrias-brandon-blackwood-collab-is-here","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/olandrias-brandon-blackwood-collab-is-here\/","title":{"rendered":"Olandria’s Brandon Blackwood Collab Is Here"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

It\u2019s a not-so-well-kept industry secret that fashion brands rarely lend their pieces to reality stars. That rule even applied to Love Island<\/em> 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\u2014including Brandon Blackwood. Now, in something of a full-circle moment, Olandria has teamed up with Blackwood on her first-ever fashion collection.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrandon\u2019s bags have been part of my entire journey starting with Love Island,<\/em>\u201d Olandria tells ELLE. \u201cFor one, I love supporting Black designers as is. And I\u2019m all about supporting those who supported me when no one wanted to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/p>\n

Nico Daniels<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

The Olandria x Brandon Blackwood collection includes four styles available in \u201cBama Barbie\u201d 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 \u201cO,\u201d of course, stands for Olandria.) \u201cOlandria wanted small, really cute day-to-day bags that you can also bring into the nighttime,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

\n

Ahead of the collection\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

How did the collaboration come about?<\/h2>\n

Brandon Blackwood: <\/strong>We met through Olandria\u2019s stylists Matthew and Reggie [Reisman]<\/a> and we had a fun post-fashion week dinner. That\u2019s when the idea for the CFDA Awards came. At that point, Olandria was wearing my stuff. So once we had dinner, I was like, \u2018Oh my gosh, she\u2019s actually really cool.\u2019 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?<\/p>\n

What can fans expect from the collection?<\/h2>\n

BB:<\/strong> Obviously, lots of pink. We have some black options too. There\u2019s 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\u2019s a zipper on it, which we\u2019ve never done before. We\u2019re 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 \u201cO.\u201d Then the vanity case, which is fun\u2014I thought, \u201cBama Barbie, she needs a vanity case.\u201d And then we topped it off with a little lipstick case.<\/p>\n

Olandria Carthen:<\/strong> The reaction was bigger than I could have ever imagined. I\u2019ve seen so many viral posts [and] videos about fighting over this bag. The AKAs (members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority) got involved; they\u2019re the auntie portion of the fandom that was like, \u201cWe got the money. We were buying this for our nieces and nephews, our grandkids,\u201d all this stuff. The younger generation, too, it was absolutely insane. I\u2019m going to be glued to my phone the day that it drops.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"Display<\/p>\n

Nico Daniels<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

What was the inspiration behind the accompanying campaign?<\/h2>\n

BB:<\/strong> The idea came about naturally. It\u2019s Olandria in a different way than you\u2019ve normally seen her. We kept it editorial, but still fun and fresh. It\u2019s cute. It\u2019s hot.<\/p>\n

How would you style the bags for a night out or date night with Nic?<\/h2>\n

OC:<\/strong> I carry small bags regardless of where I am: when I\u2019m 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\u2019s all I need.<\/p>\n

What has your experience been like navigating the fashion industry as a reality star?<\/h2>\n

OC: <\/strong>Transparently, it\u2019s been a constant fight behind the scenes. The fashion industry is very tough, but I\u2019m 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\u2019re naturally reaching out to my stylists, like, \u201cHey, if she goes to this I would love to dress her.\u201d<\/p>\n

I never imagined these big houses saying that about me, especially being a reality star. I know it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"Fashion<\/p>\n

Nico Daniels<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

Do you have any advice for the new contestants on Love Island<\/em>?<\/h2>\n

OC:<\/strong> You\u2019re going to need thick skin. Don\u2019t go into the show not knowing who you are because when you get out and get that phone back, you\u2019re not going to be liked by everybody, and people will then try to tell you who you are. If you don\u2019t have a strong sense of self, you can lose yourself. It\u2019s a very, very fast lifestyle, and your peace of mind is gone, in a sense\u2014you\u2019re under a spotlight now, and I\u2019m still struggling with that 10 months in. I woke up today and felt like the world was on my shoulders. I\u2019m like, \u201cI don\u2019t like the way I\u2019m feeling today,\u201d and it\u2019s just overwhelming. So just make sure you have a good community around you, stay grounded, have friends and family, because you\u2019re going to need it.<\/p>\n

How do you protect your peace?<\/h2>\n

OC: <\/strong>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\u2019t right now\u2014I\u2019ll just journal in the meantime.<\/p>\n

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n