On the day of their photoshoot, “the vibes were up” Carthen says. The two laughed and danced to Megan Thee Stallion, Rihanna and Beyonce all day and the whole team moved in sync, feeding each other’s creativity. “I was super excited because I do want to have a breakthrough in an editorial space and I thank goodness for Brandon coming up with this amazing concept,” Carthen says. Blackwood’s vision for the campaign imagery was inspired by “hyper-feminine, polished and almost doll-like” aesthetics. “The bags are intentionally small and sculptural, so we leaned into exaggeration and contrast in the visuals,” he explains. He wanted this bag to read as an extension of identity rather than just an accessory. Behind the scenes, Carthen’s makeup artist, Ngozi Esther Edeme, aka Painted by Esther topped off the vision with her signature rosy blush — perfectly mirroring the ultra-feminine palette of the collection itself.

Photos by Tone Woolfe. Courtesy of Brandon Blackwood.

Photos by Tone Woolfe. Courtesy of Brandon Blackwood.

The products include the O-Zip Mini Trunk, O-Top Handle Bag, O-Vantity Case and the O-Lipstick Case Bag Charm, which all come with matching pink dustbags that feel like a love letter to Carthen’s sweet spot between bold glam and statement fashion. For Blackwood, the design and collaborative process felt refreshingly effortless. “We did a round of prototypes and Olandria’s ideas were very straightforward, which I love when co-designing, with someone, that is like your dream situation,” he says.

Photos by Tone Woolfe. Courtesy of Brandon Blackwood.