Brandon Maxwell Reacts to His CFDA Nomination with an Inspiring Message to Creatives

Bravo’s Project Runway judge Brandon Maxwell has some fabulous news to share! 

Brandon has been nominated for the American Womenswear Designer of the Year award by the Council of Fashion Designers of America. In a touching Instagram post, Brandon shared what the recognition means for him. 

“After endless months of rolling over in the mornings and grabbing my phone to find discouraging news, this was certainly a very kind and bizarre surprise to find this morning,” he said. “To say I’m grateful and absolutely shocked would be a gross understatement.” 

Brandon then went on to describe how working remotely throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted his work. 

“Today is the 127th consecutive day that I’ve worked from home, away from the office and people that I love. I’ve learned a lot in my silence. I’ve learned how lucky we really were to have had the opportunity to exist in physical spaces that on the best day championed the idea that our most important job was to make people feel good, or just something at all,” he wrote. “But mostly, I’ve learned that for me this experience is so much more than the clothes, because when it’s all stripped away it has had to be, and that’s a great thing.” 

“Whether you’re a name in the room or you’re just working hard to be, it’s not about the awards that you receive, but the reward of belonging to a group working towards a shared common goal that really matters. Belonging somewhere in truth can be transformative, and it’s been in the depths of the dark of my life that I have seen that idea resonate so loudly, not in the public moments,” Brandon shared. 

Brandon continued by explaining how difficult it has been for creatives to design at the moment. 

“The CFDA is made up of more than 500 American designers, and for every member there are innumerable others waiting for the opportunity. If you are a designer working in America today, if you are a student or an aspiring creative, then you’ll know that these last months have been hard. Particularly during this time, to wake up and present an image to the world that you don’t necessarily feel, to present joy in the midst of fear has certainly been challenging, but still a privilege that few are afforded. And most importantly, it’s a privilege that we as a community most afford to more. Because ideas matter, stories are important, and there’s a plethora of them waiting to be seen and told beyond the glass walls.”

Despite recognizing how tough it has been for creatives, lately, Brandon shared a message of inspiration to remind them all to keep going. 

“To everyone waking up every morning and walking towards that dream, keep going. To see you here, there, and everywhere in between, will be when we know we have succeeded in doing that which is truly fashionable,” Brandon wrote. “To my team, fellow designers, and each of you that follow us here, thank you.”