First…

Brandon Blackwood is one Rock-blooded designer we’ll always stan for — and his unapologetic ode to his heritage is just one of the many reasons why.

The New York-raised designer, who proudly celebrates his Jamaican and Chinese roots, is back with the Heritage Collection capsule, a stylish love letter to the cultures that shaped him. The drop features the Nia and Luna bags, alongside the Heritage T-shirt and Tank — because heritage, darling, is always in style.

Another reason we stan? Blackwood’s engagement with his community. After the collection teaser had followers questioning why their island wasn’t represented, BB took to
Instagram Live to clear things up.

Heritage Luna Bag in Black Oiled Leather with Caribbean Flag Details and Gunmetal Finish Hardware (Photo courtesy of Brandon Blackwood)

And while Blackwood took the time to apologise, he also made one thing clear: The Heritage Collection is just the beginning. Honestly? We’ll be watching.

From the designer

(Photo courtesy of Brandon Blackwood)

For the campaign, I asked my grandmother Christeen and uncle Noel to tell me about life back home in Jamaica. No script. Just memories.

This one feels especially personal to me. A love letter to Jamaica, the Caribbean, and all of us who carry a little piece of the islands wherever we go.

From the islands to Brooklyn.”

[USE WITH First…] The Heritage Medium Nia Bag in Black Oiled Leather celebrates the heritage, pride, and traditions that connect Caribbean communities across islands and generations. C(Photo courtesy of Brandon Blackwood)

And…

American department store giant Macy’s is bringing some of fashion’s biggest names together for an exclusive, limited-edition capsule, with Tommy Hilfiger, Donna Karan, Michael Kors, Jonathan Cohen, LAPOINTE and Theophilio joining forces for the occasion.

Brandon Blackwood’s Heritage Luna (top) and Medium Nia Bags (Photo courtesy of Brandon Blackwood)

Dropping September 8, 2026, the collection is the centrepiece of Macy’s ‘Celebrate American Designers’ fall campaign, spotlighting creativity, heritage and the ever-evolving spirit of American fashion. Among the line-up is Jamaican-born designer Edvin Thompson, founder of New York-based label Theophilio — bringing a distinctly Caribbean perspective to the celebration of American design.

For Thompson, that Jamaican influence is anything but incidental. He spoke to
people.com exclusively about what he’s bringing to the table:

“Shoppers can expect a collection that feels joyful, confident and full of life… I wanted to bring the energy of THEOPHILIO — colour, movement and a sense of freedom into pieces that people can really make their own. My Jamaican heritage and my experience living and creating in New York are always part of my design language, and this collection brings those worlds together in a way that feels expressive, wearable, and accessible.”

Next…

Brandon Blackwood CEO and founder Brandon Blackwood New York

From actress Lupita Nyong’o to tennis superstars Serena and Venus Williams, Vernon François has built a career braiding, styling and sculpting some of the world’s most recognisable tresses. Now, the celebrity hairstylist is taking his decades of black hair expertise into the tech space, joining hair technology company Halo as its first creative engineer.

For years, my hands have been my primary language — questioning, shaping, problem-solving, and creating across every hair pattern. I have always recognized a space where my artistry, critical thinking, and craft could shape something beyond just the finished look; I never could have imagined the form it would take.

Now, applying the knowledge within my hands to engineering and innovation — and influencing not only aesthetics but also functionality, impact, and possibility — is beyond anything I envisioned.

Designers (from left) Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger, Donna Karan, Edvin Thompson, Sally LaPointe and Jonathan Cohen team up with Macy’s for fall campaign. (Photo: Macy’s via people.com)

I am proud to announce that I have joined Halo as a creative engineer.

This milestone is the result of unwavering consistency, relentless curiosity, and the understanding that artistry is a form of intelligence. Decades of experience working with hair, people, and potential, now empower me to shape the future.

There is a significant difference between being invited to the room and searching for a seat at the table — and walking in to find your place already recognised.

But this goes even further.

Hair technology company Halo names celebrity hairstylist Vernon François as creative engineer. (Photo: IG/@vernonfrancois)

I haven’t been invited just to sit at the table. I’ve been invited to question its structure, influence its design, and define who it serves next. My perspective is an essential part of the process, not an addition.

This is a truly meaningful collaboration.

I am exactly where I am supposed to be. Not by coincidence, but through consistency, artistry, and a steadfast conviction that the knowledge we hold belongs in shaping the future.

In a People exclusive, Macy’s has announced a star-studded line-up of American designers joining forces for an exclusive, limited-edition capsule collection. Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Kors, Donna Karan, Jonathan Cohen, LAPOINTE and Theophilio’s Edvin Thompson are among the names set to put their spin on the collaboration. (Photo: people.com)

Halo Braid supports professional stylists by completing hand-started braids up to five times faster while matching their technique.

Thank you to the Halo team for recognising not only my work but the potential of what we will create together.

The Art of Afro Hair isn’t standing outside the future asking to be included — it’s helping to engineer it.

— Vernon François