26-Year-Old Designer Debuts NYFW Collection Inspired by Natural Hair

Camryn Renée McClain's RENÉE line Entwine blends natural hair, culture, and NYC nightlife

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Camryn Renée McClain, a 26-year-old designer, recently debuted her RENÉE collection Entwine at New York Fashion Week. The collection draws inspiration from McClain's upbringing in a cosmetology school, featuring natural hair and braiding techniques. The designs reframe romance as power through draped silhouettes and bias cuts, with braiding as a central motif.

Why it matters

McClain's collection represents a new generation of designers using fashion to tell deeper stories about identity, culture, and personal experiences. Her work highlights the growing influence of natural hair and Black culture in the fashion industry, challenging traditional norms.

The details

The Entwine collection featured pieces like an electric blue braided two-piece outfit and a clear bubble crop top that reimagined childhood hair accessories. McClain incorporated fringe in dramatic ways, allowing models to showcase their fierceness. The collection's press release states that it 'deepens RENÉE's exploration of intimacy as both personal and cultural storytelling, reframing romance as power'.

  • McClain debuted the RENÉE collection Entwine at New York Fashion Week on February 14, 2026.
  • McClain has dreamed of designing since she was 7 years old.

The players

Camryn Renée McClain

A 26-year-old designer who recently debuted her RENÉE collection Entwine at New York Fashion Week, drawing inspiration from her upbringing in a cosmetology school and natural hair.

RENÉE

McClain's fashion label, which she describes as a 'love letter to herself, her family, and her culture' while being inspired by New York City nightlife.

Rihanna

A celebrity that McClain would love to dress with her RENÉE collection.

Doechii

A celebrity that McClain would love to dress with her RENÉE collection.

Ayra Starr

A celebrity that McClain would love to dress with her RENÉE collection.

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What they’re saying

“A lot of the references are for hair — especially natural hair. I grew up in a cosmetology school in D.C. My mom owns one. There are a lot of braids, a lot of knotting, and a lot of hair details in the collection. Watching the students do everything really shaped how I think about design. It's me taking those memories and redefining them through fashion.”

— Camryn Renée McClain, Designer (themorninghustle.com)

“Hair has always been part of my life, so it naturally became part of the collection.”

— Camryn Renée McClain, Designer (themorninghustle.com)

“Rihanna—absolutely. That would be incredible.”

— Camryn Renée McClain, Designer (themorninghustle.com)

The takeaway

McClain's RENÉE collection Entwine represents a powerful new voice in fashion, using natural hair and cultural references to redefine traditional notions of beauty, romance, and self-expression. Her work highlights the growing influence of Black creatives in shaping the industry's future.