Brandon Bolland graduated from AUB in 2024 in Fashion Branding and Communication (now BA (Hons) Fashion Communication), having already taken home a couple of awards for his final major project, MASC. Magazine.
In its first iteration, a physical print edition that blended Brandon’s passions for styling and magazine development. “Basically a reflection of my own personal relationship with fashion.”
“I found there was a disconnect between menswear and womenswear, so I wanted to break down those boundaries,” he explains. “I wanted to create a space where masc-presenting individuals were able to express themselves the way they wanted.”
The fashion magazine contained interviews, style edits, editorials throughout, and Brandon says that was something he wanted to continue after he graduated. However, when the time came, he opted to focus solely on styling, putting MASC. on the back burner while he pursued freelance opportunities collaborating with music artists, working on music videos and editorial shoots, as well as the chance to work with actress Jennifer Coolidge. Indeed, some of the images he worked on have won awards and featured on billboards.
Among the brands he’s worked with in various capacities are Birkenstock, MM6, Saucony, Joseph Joseph, Sicky Magazine, Boys by Girls, Feroce Magazine, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Celine, Mez and Pier Atkinson.
He also worked as an assistant stylist for a London Fashion Week runway show.
“And then this year, I took a six-month hiatus from fashion, then did the Fashion Accelerator Programme through Graduate Fashion Foundation,” Brandon reveals. “That got me a bit excited to come back into fashion, and I got to the point where I decided I wanted to control my image within industry instead of waiting for other people to do it for me. Then one day, I woke up and felt like I was ready to revisit MASC.”
Taking it beyond its print magazine form, Brandon has turned MASC. into a creative platform that explores fashion, intimacy, culture, joy. “Anything that I love within the industry, through the output of image and storytelling.”
Brandon says he wanted MASC. to become “my voice within the industry.”
“I wanted to create a kind of universe, where I can talk about upcoming designers, queer designers, POC creatives, emerging talent that I believe in, that I think portray the message of MASC. and believe in the freedom of expression.”
The platform is currently based on Substack, but Brandon hopes to gradually venture into the events space, hosting dinners for small groups of creators within the fashion industry – “an opportunity to bring like-minded people together under MASC., which I’m really excited about.
“I hosted by first event recently, and I’m currently in talks to host a few more dinners, which is really exciting,” he says. “I love film, I love music, and I want to evolve into that space of maybe putting together some fashion films, imagery, editorials, under the umbrella of MASC.
“I am currently in very early stages, but I love the idea of putting on a London Fashion Week event next season under MASC. Very early doors, but it’s something that’s there and even if that doesn’t come around this season, it’s definitely something that I want MASC. to grow into.”
Away from MASC., Brandon has also entered the podcasting sphere, after being approached by fellow AUB graduate Ragnheiður (Rory) Blöndal to start The Fashion Feature Podcast.
“The idea is that it’s a fashion podcast, but it’s more accessible for those who maybe aren’t in fashion,” he explains. “We want to keep it less jargon-heavy, talking about your fashion news, fashion education, designers, pop culture in a more accessible, two friends having a conversation way. We love it so far.
“We’ve had discussions about maybe introducing MASC. into it in later seasons. Right now, we’re just doing Season One, which will be 10 episodes, and then maybe when Season Two or later seasons come around, MASC. might sponsor an episode or something like that. Right now, MASC. sits separately.”
As the interview concludes, Brandon offers one piece of advice for future AUB graduates.
“One thing I’m learning, this year in particular, is just go for it. Whatever is in your head, whatever you think might work or people will enjoy, putting yourself out there, people will engage with it regardless.
“I think I’ve put a lot of myself into MASC. this time around. It felt very surface-level when I first started it. And now coming back around, it feels very personal and people are engaging with it a lot more. So, I think, put yourself into everything you do, and people will relate to it more.”
Want to see more?
Head to Instagram to keep up with Brandon (@brandonbolland_), MASC. (@mascmag_) and The Fashion Feature Podcast (@thefashionfeaturepodcast). Or subscribe to MASC. on Substack.
