Essence USA – August 2019

F

or as long as she can remember, Carly Cushnie,

35, wanted to be a fashion designer. Her path was

clear: She received a degree from Parsons School

of Design in New York City and launched Cushnie et

Ochs, a luxury women’s line, almost immediately after

with her friend Michelle Ochs. Ten years later, in 2018,

the two parted ways and Cushnie became the major-

ity owner, creative director and CEO of her eponymous

outfit. Her career is an anomaly—there are so few Black

women at the helm of a luxury fashion business. Here the

London-born, New York City–based entrepreneur opens

up about her road to success.

ESSENCE: What was the most challenging aspect of

launching your own company?

CARLY CUSHNIE: Everything. There are numerous aspects

of the business to juggle all at once, but I’d say that cash flow

was definitely one of the most challenging. When starting a

fashion label, you have to pay for everything up front, as no

one knows who you are yet. Then once your brand begins to

make money, you have to manage funds

appropriately to keep production mov-

ing and meet your delivery deadlines.

ESSENCE: Tell us about your path in

fashion before Cushnie et Ochs.

CUSHNIE: At Parsons I gained invalu-

able experience through internships

with Donna Karan, Proenza Schouler

and Oscar de la Renta. I saw the inner

workings of three very different brands.

ESSENCE: What triumphs have you

had since becoming the majority

owner of what is now Cushnie?

CUSHNIE: Rebranding the company

marked the beginning of an incredible new

chapter for me. I’ve been overwhelmed by

the positive responses to the evolution of

the collection since going out on my own.

ESSENCE: What does it take to be a Black

woman running a major fashion label?

CUSHNIE: Although there are many

women working in the field, it’s still very

much a boys’ club at the executive level

of top design houses. Women designers

are often labeled as being “practical” in

their aesthetic compared with their male

counterparts, who offer the “fantasy.” As

a woman in fashion, you have to have

a strong point of view that stands out

and doesn’t waver under critique. And

as a Black designer, it’s very easy to be

pigeonholed based on what the indus-

try assumes you will do. It took a lot of

work for me to break those preconcep-

tions, especially when there are very few

examples to aspire to.

Carly Cushnie has taken the reins of her namesake brand,

and she’s not turning back

UNBOSSED

A Label of Her Own

As a woman

in fashion,

you have to

have a strong

point of view

that doesn’t

waver under

critique.”

Carly Cushnie (left and inset),

creative director and CEO

of her eponymous company,

continues making her mark.

BY MARQUITA K. HARRIS

EXCLUSIVE

To learn more about Carly

Cushnie’s career, check

out the UnBossed podcast,

hosted by ESSENCE Senior

Editor Marquita K. Harris.

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