Raymond Courtney, a junior in the fine arts program at the University of Southern California, designs and creates for his fashion brand MACnificent. 

Courtney and his brother Martel were very interested in fashion growing up. However, Raymond decided to pursue neuroscience and his brother, Martel, went to Trade Tech to study fashion. When Raymond got to USC, he quickly realized that it wasn’t for him and switched to becoming a design major at the Roski School of Fine Arts. Meanwhile, his brother started creating different clothing and Raymond decided to start wearing them. After a while, he began to help come up with more designs. As time passed and he continued to sport MACnificent clothing, his friends grew increasingly interested of the source for his urban street-wear. After finding out that he was in fact one of the creators, his friends asked if he would consider selling them. That’s when MACnificent was born. 

When he’s not working on his clothing brand (which is hardly ever), he cultivates his artistic side by focusing on identity related photography. 

True to his brand MACnificent, Raymond Courtney, a junior at USC, is very interested in identity-related photography. MACnificent is about being ones best self, which he hopes to capture in his work, both in the academic and professional setting.

Not only does Raymond work at the fine art’s photo lab part-time, he also utilizes all the tools there to help manage his brand and assist in his class projects.

Raymond started his brand, MACnificent, two years ago in June with his brother. Since then, he’s released two lines and is ready to release his third line.

The amount of time and money Raymond has invested in his company is mirrored by his devotion to his demanding fine arts schedule.

With his love and skills in photography and film composition in hand, he created his first fine arts video focusing on identity politics.

As the end of the school year comes to a close, he has sidelined his company for a bit to work for justice in the USChangeMovement.