Today we’d like to introduce you to Blake Blair
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born and raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles. I grew up in a pretty eccentric household—my dad was a well-known landscape designer to the stars and a television host. Growing up in a creative environment helped me have a clear vision of my path from a young age. At 7 years old, I fully decided I wanted to be a fashion designer, specifically focusing on women’s handbags and footwear. Majority of my life has been spent fostering this goal, consistently drawing and prototyping throughout my adolescence. When it came time for college, I was accepted by the Savannah College of Art and Design, graduating in 2019 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Accessories Design.
I was recruited by UGG for my first job out of school as an assistant designer and developer, working on many collaborations with designers and artists such as Telfar and Claire Tabouret. In 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, I saw a market opportunity to start my own brand named CURRUS, which was influenced by 1990s car culture in Los Angeles. It was my first experience running all aspects of a brand. I was a bit naive, starting with such a limited network and funds, but I achieved many great things, such as partnering with the Petersen Automotive Museum and dressing custom work on NBA players. I learned valuable lessons about building a Los Angeles-based supply chain, marketing, and selling myself. Although my brand eventually closed, I am incredibly grateful for the immense experience and exposure to the industry I gained at such a young age. It’s so important to bet on yourself and push through your fears. I grew so much during that time, and it led me to my current opportunity.
I now work for HONOR THE GIFT, a brand founded by Russell Westbrook. Him and his team hired me to collaboratively build out the brand’s first fully comprehensive line of accessories. Being part of this brand is truly special. I am given an incredible amount of creative freedom, and working personally with a sports and business icon is a “pinch me” moment. I love how much life has surprised me with the opportunities I’ve received, and I am very grateful.
I have many future goals for myself personally and professionally. My lifelong intention is to be a creative director of a major luxury house and juggle owning a namesake brand. I am also creating more emphasis in my life to help guide and lift young talent with similar stories along the way. I am grateful to share my story for this reason, to inspire and help others follow there passions.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In many ways, it has been smooth, and I feel appreciative for the privileges I’ve had in my life. But I work hard every day to continually be my best self and to think forward and optimistically. For the majority of my childhood, I had grand mal seizure disorder which I grew out of by the time I was 15. Many of the medications I had to take to prevent life-threatening seizures were compared by my neurologist as drinking a six-pack of beer every day. This made my academics in school challenging. Socially, it was a whole other story—being gay made it difficult to form friendships and feel like I fit in, I often felt more connected with adults as a child. Looking back, I am really proud of myself for persevering and focusing on the positive.
I spent most of my time in childhood focused on my future career dreams and visions, which gave me a head start in creating an identity for my current self. Instead of being outside playing, I was researching the business of fashion and watching documentaries on my muses Marc Jacobs and Tom Ford. My family was always supportive of my creative goals and sexuality, which is a major blessing that I feel very fortunate for.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Handbag and footwear design has been a dominating lifelong passion of mine. During my time at the Savannah College of Art and Design, I learned how to construct nearly any type of bag or small leather good. I also made several pairs of shoes from scratch which is a meticulous but satisfying experience. I geek out on the small technical and design details when I create. For me, a small piece of branded hardware or a tiny, well-executed stitch detail can transform an entire product. I really enjoy the small challenges that come with designing, such as finding ways to incorporate subtle branding that feels natural to an item’s symmetry and styling. I would say this approach is very much part of my ethos as a designer.
I am heavily influenced by the aesthetics of old Hollywood, the rise of Art Deco architecture in Los Angeles, and especially the glamorous femininity in cinema costuming of the time period. I love doing research at my local library and sifting through old picture books for inspiration.
What matters most to you?
My family and small group of best friends mean the world to me. I have a very close relationship with my mom and aunt. At the end of the day, I truly live to support the people I love. There’s nothing more satisfying to me than having a deep, meaningful conversation or making someone laugh. I tend to be a bit of a jokester.
Another emphasis in my life is to never stop learning, whether it’s perfecting my craft or seeing more of the world. I live by the philosophy “If you are not learning, you are not living”.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://blakeblair.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kingblakeblair/
Image Credits
Sebastian Sarti
