Man shares how one decision took him from earning $10 an hour to having a designer bag brand

Narratives of individuals transforming their lives might appear implausible, yet real-life examples, such as the journey of Brandon Blackwood, shatter these doubts. Transitioning from scarcely earning $10 per night to birthing his own line of upscale handbags, this fashion visionary's odyssey is nothing short of remarkable. His tale shared recently on TikTok, resonates as a true wellspring of inspiration, proving that with determination and hard work, one can transcend immense odds and achieve extraordinary success.

When a woman called Amy Elizabeth posed the question, "What is one small, unimportant decision you made that changed the whole trajectory of your life," Blackwood—who goes by @brandonblackwoodnyc on TikTok—decided to reply to it. He started off by saying, "One night in Brooklyn, my friends invited me out and I did not have enough cash to go to a bar." This was owed to the fact that he was working at a small business where he barely made $10 a night. So, he was left with no other option but to stay home and suffer the whole weekend.

Blackwood reached out to various factories. The aspiring fashion designer went to a nearby manufacturer on his day off to express his aspiration to design his own handbag. Since he lacked the cash up front, they reluctantly agreed to assist him and even let him make payments on the cost of manufacturing his product. The Portmore backpack, Blackwood's first bag, was created not long after. It didn't take long for others to start noticing his bag as he traveled to work wearing it.

Then, the best thing that has ever happened to him happened. He came across the editor of Essense magazine. After Blackwood showed her the handbag he had made, she loved it and exclaimed that she was really into it. Two weeks later and boom! The Portmore backpack was featured in Essence Magazine. That's how he went from being a designer and buyer to the owner of his own brand.

From there, it has been exclusively upward and onward for this young businessman. Right from being featured in the Wall Street Journal, having his bags at Saks and Nordstrom, and having his own website, Blackwood is viral. In fact, he also dolled up stars like Serena Williams, Beyonce and Sheryl Lee Ralph. He added in the video in disbelief, "We’ve done all these crazy things and I always think about that night that I really wanted to go out but was bored at home, and how that was the best thing that ever happened." 

While tales of people turning that luck around and going from rags to riches are unbelievable, the story of Blackwood makes it 100% real. His video on TikTok immediately went viral, owing to his inspiring story. @candice313 said, "Whew! Our destiny meets us right where we are." @imani.nia commented, "Sometimes being still can help you tap into your destiny!!!" @emilyraposo60 shared, "I’m not a fashion or bag person whatsoever just a single mom from Boston and don’t read mags but I immediately knew your name and Portmore backpack!"