Rody McDonald, founder of Bruklin Bespoke, brought his classic, distinctive elegance to the Baltimore Met Gala, drawing inspiration from the event’s “Mahogany” theme.

Before his models hit the runway, McDonald told InquisitiveCarter.com he was “a little anxious, but super excited” about showcasing his work.

Inspired by the 1975 film Mahogany, starring Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams, McDonald said he wanted his designs to reflect the movie’s timeless representation of Black excellence.

“When you’re thinking about the movie Mahogany, it’s Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams, you know, very classic, elegant example of Black excellence,” McDonald said. “And so I wanted to make sure that the clothes that I made for this evening represented that level of excellence.”

Beyond the Baltimore Met Gala, McDonald recently expanded his television résumé through Netflix’s Survival of the Thickest. He said the opportunity came after the show’s main set designer discovered his work at a fashion show.

“She loved our clothing,” he shared. “Particularly since the fact that I really do like to focus on plus-size clothing, particularly for people of our culture, because it’s very difficult to find that. She was really happy that I did that and so she came up to us after the show and asked if we could come down and meet with Netflix, and I was like, ‘Hmm, yes.'”

Bruklin Bespoke specializes in custom clothing for men and women and is based in Jersey City, New Jersey. McDonald also offers virtual appointments for clients outside the area.