Sergio Hudson was always destined to be, a designer. If you were named after a famous fashion brand, you might be too. The luxury women’s ready-to-wear designer, who has created looks for politicians and celebrities alike, was named after Sergio Valente, his mom’s favorite denim line. Hudson says he can’t remember a time when he wasn’t infatuated with fashion. At the age of four, growing up in South Carolina, he spent afternoons watching CNN’s Style with Elsa Klensch, and in his teens, he meticulously tracked the collections of Azzedine Alaïa and Gianni Versace. Now, as a designer himself, Hudson brings new vigor to the runway. And his Spring 2022 collection showcases that ability–inspired by an image of Tony Award-winning actress Diahann Carroll in a chunky white sweater, the collection reimagines the high-octane glamour Carroll pioneered in the ‘80s with cashmere, wools, and leather.

With his laser-cut coats, sleek pencil skirts and head-to-toe color, Hudson infuses femininity and strength into contemporary American sportswear. And while his collections may have evolved with time, his core ethos remains the same: “My goal is to make women feel like they are powerful and they can take over the world.” After being crowned winner of Rihanna’s design competition (Styled to Rock), dressing Michelle Obama for Inauguration Day, and bringing ‘80s glamour back to NYFW, Sergio Hudson is still dreaming big. “What’s next for me? World domination,” he says, only half-jokingly. The 36-year-old is looking to build more than a brand, but a movement–one grounded in the understanding that creatives of color don’t have to be marginalized in fashion. “We’re not Black designers, we’re just designers,” he says., “Our success has no bounds.”