Bryan Hearns Targets New York Fashion Week as the Designer Behind Cardi B’s Hardware Aesthetic
After 15 years of building industrial stage costumes for pop and rap royalty, the LA-based designer is leveraging his 14th collection to secure a spot on the New York runway.
Bryan Hearns is plotting a runway debut in New York City, a strategic move that would push the Los Angeles-based designer beyond the celebrity styling circuit that has defined his career for more than 15 years. Known primarily for constructing heavy-hardware stage costumes and red carpet armor for performers including Cardi B, Mariah Carey, Ariana Grande, and Kylie Jenner, Hearns is now engineering a transition into recognized fashion design with the release of his 14th collection.
The shift from custom performance wear to cohesive seasonal collections represents a distinct challenge in the American fashion industry. Designers who build their reputations outfitting musicians often struggle to be taken seriously by fashion week gatekeepers, who historically draw a rigid line between costume design and ready-to-wear or couture. Hearns intends to erase that boundary. He identified New York Fashion Week as his target platform over Paris, reasoning that his customer base aligns with the younger, nightlife-driven energy of New York rather than the traditional haute couture expectations of the French capital.
His latest body of work serves as the proof of concept. Photographed in Topanga Canyon in July 2026, the 14th collection spans dark, grunge-leaning garments constructed from fur, leather straps, and metal rings alongside hand-beaded ombre dresses that required over a month of labor per piece. The conceptual foundation began as a direct response to medieval fantasy aesthetics before evolving into what Hearns describes as protective armor — not literal metal plating, but layered textures and structural headpieces designed to project survival and defense.
This thematic approach mirrors his most high-profile recent commission: a sheer illusion gown featuring a sculpted corset bodice and lace detailing, worn by Cardi B to the Met Gala after-party. That garment was pulled directly from this new collection, signaling Hearns’ intent to use his highest-profile clients as live mannequins for his broader fashion ambitions rather than solely fulfilling bespoke requests.
Hearns’ working relationship with Cardi B dates to 2017, when he designed a patchwork motorcycle-inspired outfit for her “Motorsport” music video. That collaboration established his signature methodology of integrating industrial materials into womenswear. Long before he had access to luxury textile suppliers, Hearns sourced rings, bolts, and fasteners from Home Depot, building garments around the hardware itself. This constraint-driven approach originated during his time at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM), where he enrolled as a fashion design student after abandoning plans for architecture due to the mathematical requirements and pivoting away from graphic design.
Operating out of a seventh-floor studio in the Los Angeles Fashion District provides Hearns with immediate proximity to fabric wholesalers, a logistical advantage critical for an independent designer who relies on rapid turnaround times. Unlike designers housed in major fashion conglomerates with months-long production calendars, Hearns frequently executes last-minute builds under extreme deadline pressure, a workflow he credits for refining his technical speed since graduating during the economic fallout of the 2008 financial crisis.
He spent approximately 18 months working in New York earlier in his career, an experience that highlighted the physical toll of producing garments in a city with harsh weather and fragmented transit, compared to the year-round consistency of Los Angeles manufacturing. However, he acknowledged that New York offers superior access to specific luxury textiles, a factor that will influence his supply chain if he establishes a permanent runway presence there.
The current collection maintains continuity with his previous releases by carrying forward specific foundational pieces, such as structured leather bras, while introducing softer silhouettes. The accompanying editorial campaign, shot by Alfredo Llamas and styled by Hearns, featured models Kenady Jensen and Haylee Mack wearing the collection paired with customized Aldo footwear, bridging the gap between high-concept design and accessible commercial styling.
Hearns continues to operate his studio independently out of the LA Fashion District, managing creative direction, styling, and construction simultaneously as he positions his 14th collection for broader industry review ahead of upcoming fashion week scheduling cycles.
