
Photographed by Nayquan Shuler
The voice behind RENÉE: How Camryn McClain is Braiding Heritage into Modern Fashion
By Ruby ThompsonOct. 16 2025, Published 6:40 p.m. ET
Born & raised in Maryland, Camryn began her creative journey in the salon chair. She’s been surrounded by her family’s D.C. cosmetology school since she was young, habitually picking up the work ethic, creativity, and community that was around her every day. After graduating high school, she moved to Florence, Italy, to study fashion design at Polimoda for a year, then to the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City to earn her Bachelor’s in Sportswear–carrying those skills she learned from her family’s school with her the whole time.

She was discovered by Hypebeast, thanks to her senior thesis at FIT, and was asked to collaborate on a show for NYFW in 2023, sponsored by Gushers Black Voices Create--skyrocketing her career fresh out of college. Her second show was this September, during NYFW. It featured all upcycled fabrics and many fabric manipulation techniques mimicking braids, which paid homage to her roots in the cosmetology world. To emphasize the craft and quality her brand is built on, the braids were all either hand-sewn or hand-crocheted onto the garments.

RENÉE is about both nostalgia and attitude. A brand consisting of sleek, body-conscious silhouettes that feel as intimate as they are commanding. Camryn’s NYFW debut drew inspiration from her personal journey, blending softness with structure throughout the collection. The choice of knit fabrics offered adaptable fits for a range of body types, while tailored pieces stood out with contrast stitching and embroidered messages–subtle, thoughtful details that define her brand’s unique identity.

One standout design, the Black Cropped Cargo Vest Bag, blended a garment and an accessory, transforming effortlessly between the two. Her pieces speak directly to a younger, style-conscious female audience, one that values both story and silhouette.

Outside of the studio, Camryn is holding down a 9-to-5 while sourcing materials on her own time, often through thrifting. Her path hasn't been easy to get here, though. After handling critiques from tough professors in a hyper-competitive program, she trusted her instincts, stayed close to her roots, and carved out her space in a notoriously unforgiving industry. The milestones she’s met at such a young age are both a reflection of her strong roots and the beginning of a career filled with endless potential.
Her advice to aspiring designers? "Trust your gut–it knows before anyone else does."