I found an interesting article in the Texas Monthly titled Deep-Fried Couture about a local native from Longview, Texas who built himself up from his little city and moved out to New York to become a designer and has succeeded by staying true to his roots. Brandon Maxwell won the Swarovski Award for Womenswear, he thought he was not going to win, so he was totally shocked when they called his name to receive the award, and in front of 500 people was a  “a slightly overweight boy from Texas whose idea of a fine meal is something rolled up into a ball, deep-fried, and put into wax paper”.

Like all Texans Brandon was in Austin eating some queso with some friends, when discussing his big night at the CFDA Fashion Awards where he won the Swarovski Award where he mentioned that he is from Texas and will always stay true to who he is. He graduated from St. Edwards with a degree in photography, and moved to the East Coast living in a tiny apartment in Brooklyn, NY. Where he spent most of his time sending out resumes to land a job. He landed a job assisting Lady Gaga's stylist, and later became the stylist for Lady Gaga making his career really shine through in the fashion world. Brandon launched a line of tailored jumpsuits last September that definitely scream eighties-era Texas style of flowing bell-sleeved blouses, and glamorous long gowns that Brandon wanted for his clothing line.

Brandon got into fashion through his grandmother by helping her at her job Riff's where the elegant women of East Texas shopped at. Brandon's grandmother would put outfits together for her clients to wear and Brandon fell in love with fashion, with putting outfits together and taking photo shoots, he says  “Growing up in a small town and not having a lot of things I was interested in at my fingertips made me scrappy and resourceful,” he said. “Those are the main things that have gotten me by in my career so far.”

Although Brandon can't make it home all the time to Longview, he stays connected to his family by his dad who runs the day to day of his business. The fashion industry is a tricky business but Brandon has total trust in his father to get the job done.

Brandon Maxwell was in the headlines for designing a dress for the First Lady Michelle Obama who wore the dress to a state dinner at the White House in early August. Brandon will show his 3rd collection at the New York Fashion Week, he will be a keynote speaker for the Women's Symphony League of Austin, so he has quite a hectic month ahead of him but it's all about staying true to his Texan roots that has led him to his success in the fashion industry.