Sergio Hudson: "Dressing Michelle Obama changed everything"
The Californian designer rose to world fame after dressing the former first lady on the day of the presidential inauguration. He has just made his debut on the New York catwalk with a parade inspired by his African-American heroines of the seventies and eighties.
Leticia GarciaTOPDesigner Sergio Hudson
Sergio Hudson is not an emerging designer. Since he launched his brand in 2014 (after winning the reality show Styled to rock) Beyoncé, Amal Clooney or Ariana Grande, among others, have worn his suits in impressive colors. But it was last January 20 when his career changed completely. Michelle Obama, who had worn her clothes in the past, attended the presidential inauguration in a maroon two-piece framed by a wide belt. That same night, Vice President Kamala Harris donned a frock coat of hers (which the creator had to retouch in six hours). "That day everything changed," he says via Zoom, "I became someone better known, and orders increased." During these months, Hudson has known how to capitalize on his budding business: along with his collections, the designer has launched more affordable products, such as belts (for now, the brand's best seller), home clothes and even a clothing service. based on virtual appointments with clients. "I don't want to stop being a luxury brand, but I think that doesn't just have to do with the price," he says, "I would like all the people who want to dress in my garments can do it.
Michelle Obama dressed as Hudson at Biden's presidential inauguration. Photo: Gettyimages
Hudson's sudden relevance led him to debut at New York Fashion Week last February with a digital show. This September she has finally been able to make her first physical catwalk and she has done so with a collection inspired by Diahann Carroll, the first African-American actress to get a leading role in the cinema in the seventies (that is, not to play a slave or a maid). “I have grown up admiring many pioneering women. They are always my source of inspiration », he comments. In his collection there are also echoes of the style of Diana Ross, Whitney Houston or Toni Braxton, a cross between glam and disco with traditional tailoring. "I almost always use the suit jacket because I find it an empowering tool," he explains, "what attracts me most about design is that it can be something powerful for the women who wear it." In general, his acclaimed style has echoes of Tom Ford and of course Halston, following that line of garments that are as functional as they are imposing and festive that have marked the American aesthetic (and specifically, the African-American) in the last thirty years.
Sergio Hudson fall-winter show. Photo: Gettyimages
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For his in-person catwalk debut, Hudson has teamed up with the social network Pinterest. Users can directly buy the garments that were seen in the fashion show as well as discover the inspiration behind the collection or live preparations for the show. "I've been hooked on Pinterest for years. It is one of my main sources of discovery and inspiration for my collections,” explains Hudson. At a time when the industry is rethinking the relevance of the traditional fashion show, initiatives that combine fashion and digital entertainment are becoming more and more frequent. “It's a way to build community,” says Hudson, “users who like my brand can interact and see what they don't usually see. In the near future this way of presenting the collections will be more and more common».
Sergio Hudson fall-winter show. Photo: Gettyimages
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