Designer of the Year: What This Moment Means for Me and Tonē Bekka

Designer of the Year: What This Moment Means for Me and Tonē Bekka

Honored to receive the 2025 Columbus Fashion Awards “Designer of the Year,” presented by the Columbus Fashion Council.

Designer of the Year: What This Moment Means for Me and Tonē Bekka

On Friday night, I heard my name called as Designer of the Year at the 2025 Columbus Fashion Awards, presented by the Columbus Fashion Council — and for a second, I honestly froze.

I looked around that room filled with incredible creatives, stylists, models, and designers, and all I could think was, “Wow. They see me.”
They see this work. They see this brand. They see the women I’ve been designing for all these years.

This isn’t just a trophy for a shelf. This is a full-circle moment.

From One Bag in Class to an Award-Winning Brand

If you’ve been with me for a while, you know Tonē Bekka didn’t start on a runway. It started with a need.

Years ago, I was in fashion design school with a toddler on my hip, trying to balance class projects and motherhood. I made my first leather bag for a class assignment — not because I wanted to “build a brand,” but because I wanted a bag that felt like me:

  • stylish but practical

  • polished but not stiff

  • something I could carry from daycare drop-off to date night

  • A bag that didn't look like a diaper bag

People noticed that bag. They stopped me, asked where I got it, and slowly, the idea for Tonē Bekka was born.

From there, it was late nights, small batches, and handcrafted bags made one by one at my sewing machine. There was no big team, no huge investor… just me, my vision, and women who believed in what I was creating.

To stand here now, recognized as Designer of the Year, makes that entire journey feel seen.

Why This Award Matters So Much

For me, this award is bigger than fashion.

It’s about:

  • A Black woman from Columbus being recognized for her creativity, discipline, and vision.

  • Proving you can build something meaningful piece by piece, even when you’re juggling work, family, and life.

  • Showing my daughters — and yours — that their ideas are not “too much,” they’re the beginning of something powerful.

I design with a very specific woman in mind:
She’s smart, stylish, multi-layered. She loves a good statement coat, a bold lip, and a bag that does more than “match” — it sets the tone. She’s raised kids, leading teams, starting businesses, and still chooses to show up as herself.

This award is for her, too.

This award is a win for every woman who ever decided she didn’t have to shrink to be stylish.”

The Women Who Made This Possible

Let me be very clear: I did not win this alone.

If you:

  • Voted for me in the Columbus Fashion Awards public vote

  • Shared the link with your friends

  • Purchased a bag, told someone about Tonē Bekka, or even just liked a post…

You are part of this.

Every DM that said “I’m so proud of you,” every time you carried your bag to brunch, vacation, or the office and told someone, “It’s Tonē Bekka,” — that energy is what got me here.

To my day-one clients who bought from the early collections, to everyone who trusted a pre-order, to the women who saved up to buy their first Tonē Bekka bag… I see you. I design for you. And this award is ours.

What’s Next for Tonē Bekka

Awards are beautiful, but for me, they’re not the finish line — they’re fuel.

Here’s what you can expect next:

  • More intentional design. I’m continuing the shift from “just luxury” into a full lifestyle brand that supports you in your everyday life — school runs, boardrooms, flights, brunches, and everything in between.

  • The next chapter of the Rebecca and beyond. From handcrafted to manufactured, I’m making sure the quality stays high while making it easier for you to actually get your hands on the bags you love.

  • Story-driven launches. You’re not just going to see products drop. I’m bringing you fully into the process — from sketches and sourcing to samples and launch.

This award tells me: keep going, keep evolving, keep designing for the woman who refuses to dim her light.

How You Can Stay Connected

If you’re reading this, you’re already part of the Tonē Bekka story. Here’s how to keep walking this journey with me:

  • Join the email & text list so you’re the first to know about new drops, pre-orders, and behind-the-scenes updates.

  • Follow along on Instagram @tonebekka for styling ideas, process videos, and real-life fashion moments.

  • Share this post with a friend who loves fashion and deserves to discover a brand that was designed with her in mind.

From my sewing machine to the runway stage, thank you for helping me turn a quiet dream into an award-winning reality.

We’re just getting started. 💛