Last weekend I checked another thing off my bucket list…meeting designer Sergio Hudson.

I donned my Sergio dress and Beret and headed to Columbia to the Museum of Art for the opening day of his exhibit and the opportunity of a lifetime.

The exhibition Sergio Hudson: Focused on the Fit will be on view from Saturday, Nov. 18, through Sunday, June 30, 2024.

It showcases the remarkable moments of a designer who fell in love with fashion at 4 years old while living in Ridgeway, South Carolina, and has become one of the biggest names in the industry today.

“When I was 5 years old, I said this is what I’m going to do,”

In 2013, he was the first person to win Bravo’s reality TV series “Styled to Rock,” hosted by Rihanna. Following this win, he came back to Columbia to continue working on his brand and made a name for himself by styling clients and creating custom designs for his all-women’s clothing line.

“Focused on the Fit,” features nine garments from Hudson’s career, as well as 43 fashion illustrations and four items of memorabilia, ranging from the beginning of his career to current day.

Visitors can preview Keke Palmer’s ethereal 2023 Met Gala look, a suit ensemble worn by Beyoncé in 2019 and a custom suit made for Issa Rae in 2018.

We then entered the private area for Sweets and Sips.

Hudson took the stage to accept The Key to the City from Mayor Daniel Rickenmann.

We were then treated to the story of his life from the man himself.

Megan Pinckney Rutherford moderated as Hudson spoke.

As images flashed on the screen beside the stage, the designer spoke about pivotal moments in his life and career.

He recalled his leap of faith to move to L.A., and the challenges faced in his first undersized studio.

“We would have to cut the fabric because at night mice would come in and they would leave whatever they left over the silk and everything. It was an episode. it. I never complained about it because I always knew it.”

“I made the pattern for Kamala Harris’ dress from that place,” he revealed. “We made Michelle Obama’s from that place. So, it is a part of the journey. It was tough, tough, tough. Anybody who knows me knows I pushed myself to be positive. Even though it isn’t a part of my nature, I learned to be a positive person.”

His team, Co-Owner Inga Beckham and Co-Creative Director Charles Lynch, later joined the stage.

He considers them family and they are the backbone of his brand.

He spoke about a mural the street from his studio in LA he watched being painted. Each day he saw the progress. On the day it was completed he had had one of the worst days of his career. Filled with doubt. And then he saw the completed project. Believe…you got this.

He never gave up. He went full steam ahead from that point on.

To pay homage to the painter, artist Jason Naylor, he created a dress based up on that mural. He included the artist to the point of matching the colors exactly.

Family is most important to him. He spoke fondly of his mother, siblings, husband and children. As well as his beloved grandmother.

Hudson’s philosophy is that fashion should be for everyone and include everyone. He designs to empower the wearer and often includes a nod to the ’90s of his youth. Focused on the Fit features eight signature garments from key moments in his career alongside more than 20 sketches and drawings exploring his career from the early days winning Bravo’s Styled to Rock in 2013 up through the present day.

Cheers to one of the most memorable moments of my life.

Columbia Museum Of Art