“Fight Like Her”
A Look into Brielle Ohlsen’s CFDA Award Winning Collection.
By Samantha Hirschhorn
Photography by Samantha Hirschhorn
It was 3:25 p.m. on an ordinary late-summer Tuesday. Brielle Ohlsen was taking her usual 15-minute break between classes, planning to run to the bathroom and grab a quick bite to eat when she received an email so powerful, it felt as though time momentarily stood still. Standing there, starstruck in her black flats and pleated leather skirt, in a bathroom with tiled walls that could have been mistaken for a flattened mirrorball, she tried to decipher whether the email was just her Grubhub receipt (had her order gone through?) or news powerful enough to change her life (the announcement was two weeks overdue). Although both were worthy of a double-take, it was in that glimmering disco-ball bathroom where Brielle discovered she had been hand-selected to be the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s 2024 scholarship fund recipient — a recognition that would soon act as an amplifier for her voice in the movement for breast cancer awareness.
Two weeks later, September 18th, Brielle was met with a whirlwind of congratulations as news broke publicly that she was chosen to win the CFDA’s prestigious award. She was awarded the design scholarship in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) category for her Junior collection, Fight Like Her. The name is a spin-off of “Fight like Peggy” a phrase created to honor her mother, who passed away due to breast cancer in December 2023. September 19th, the day following the CFDA’s official announcement, was her mother’s first heavenly birthday. Suddenly, the overdue announcement felt more like divine timing than the result of a haphazard plan. Brielle took it as a sign of her mom looking down on her, “I feel like I have a light guiding me”.
In the fog of grief following her mother’s passing, one thing became clear to Brielle: moving forward, her voice in the fashion industry would be heard, and breast cancer awareness would be a central topic, honoring her mother’s legacy. “The Fight Like Her collection is supporting the fighters, admiring the survivors, and honoring the taken.” Says Brielle, “I wanted to create a collection that just embodies women and makes them feel confident. I imagined survivors wearing my collection on the runway, feeling powerful — feeling more than the disease because I know a lot of people feel defeated by it”.
When conceptualizing her collection, Brielle’s top priority was to showcase breast cancer in a way that was both beautiful and empowering, balancing femininity with strength. “There’s only like the cliche t-shirts with the ribbon on it. I wanted to do more of a luxury awareness collection”. Instead of simply putting an emblem on a jacket, Brielle focused on designing garments with unique silhouettes and geometric shapes. Paying homage to her mother by designing two stunning, powerfully pink looks.
Look number one (left mannequin) features a hand-smocked organza silk skirt paired with a bralette embellished with pearls, rhinestones, and hand-made molded silicone beads. “Silicone is important because women who have mastectomies get silicone implants. It’s an option for them to be more confident in themselves. I decided to make a really gorgeous bra and include the silicon beads just as a resemblance of the beauty of their new form and body.” To complete the look, Brielle added a light pink shawl, elegantly draped into a crisscrossed train, subtly symbolizing the breast cancer ribbon.
Look number two (right mannequin) showcases a sheer, sparkly mauve-pink dress with puffed sleeves that exude elegance and boldness. Brielle intentionally incorporated the translucent element to inspire confidence, saying, “Instead of letting breast cancer bring her down, I wanted to create a dress that allows her to embrace her skin, rather than feel the need to hide.” To complement this dazzling dress, she designed a silver breastplate adorned with intricately 3D-printed breast cancer ribbons. This breastplate, symbolizing armor, can be viewed as a testament to women’s resilience and strength – a look perfectly suited for a warrior.
In response to the CFDA’s announcement, Brielle shared that receiving the award made her collection feel even more powerful. “I feel like I finally have a voice in the industry, and winning this award kind of solidified it. I’m so grateful for the committee and everyone who is agreeing that breast cancer awareness needs to be spoken about. I feel like I have a whole army behind me.”
Looking ahead, Brielle remains committed to making her voice heard in the fashion industry, continuing her mission to honor and support women affected by breast cancer. You can find her in the studio, working on a research-based project to design post-breast cancer surgery bras. By incorporating AI and fit technology, her goal is to create the perfect bra — one that provides comfort and precision, while also empowering women to feel confident and beautiful in their new forms. In tribute to her mother, Brielle has broadened her focus to include not only visually stunning garments that raise awareness but also practical, wearable solutions that address the physical and emotional needs of survivors, ensuring her work has a real, lasting impact on their lives.
This October, join Tri Sigma and the Marist hockey team for their ‘Pink the Rink’ event to support breast cancer awareness. All donations will benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
