Fashion career profile
Brandon Maxwell
Brandon Maxwell is an American fashion designer whose career developed from photography and celebrity styling into a namesake womenswear label. He studied photography at St. Edward’s University, then assisted stylist Deborah Afshani, fashion editor Edward Enninful and designer Nicola Formichetti. The CFDA dates his work as fashion director to Lady Gaga from 2012, a parallel creative relationship that preceded the launch of his own collection. The Brandon Maxwell ready-to-wear label debuted in New York in 2015 with a focus on tailoring, sculptural detail and clothes intended to make women feel powerful. Maxwell received the CFDA Swarovski Award for Womenswear in 2016, as well as a Fashion Group International Rising Star award. The CFDA describes the collection as designed and produced in New York City. This profile keeps his work as a stylist and fashion director distinct from his authorship of the namesake label, and does not treat celebrity styling as a substitute for the collection’s own design history.
- Role
- Founder & Creative Director, Brandon Maxwell
- Nationality
- American
- Age
- 42
- Verified awards
- 2
- Lady Gaga — Fashion Director2012–End not documented · status not documented
- Brandon Maxwell Spring 2027 Is Truly About the ClothesFashionista · 2026-09-15
- Brandon MaxwellThe Impression · 2026-09-11
- Brandon MaxwellThe Impression · 2026-09-11
- Styling: Worked with Deborah Afshani, Edward Enninful and Nicola Formichetti before launching his labelThe sequence connects his early fashion work to celebrity styling and collection design. · CFDA
- Parallel creative role: Has served as fashion director to Lady Gaga since 2012The relationship predates the namesake label and is distinct from its collection leadership. · CFDA
- Founder: Launched his namesake ready-to-wear label in New York in 2015The label centers tailored womenswear with sculptural details and New York production. · CFDA
- Recognition: Received the CFDA Swarovski Award for Womenswear in 2016The award followed the first year of his namesake collection. · CFDA
- 2012 — Begins work as fashion director to Lady GagaThis parallel creative role predates Maxwell’s namesake collection.
- 2015 — Launches his namesake ready-to-wear labelThe New York collection begins Maxwell’s independent fashion-house chapter.
- 2016 — Wins the CFDA Swarovski Award for WomenswearThe award follows the label’s 2015 debut.
- 2019 — Brandon Maxwell — Womenswear Designer of the YearVerified fashion award
- 2016 — Brandon Maxwell — Swarovski Award for WomenswearVerified fashion award