Help BD Continue to Elevate Empower Educate

How It Started

In March 2017, Casey Kelley's 8yr old son, Carter, came to her with what seemed like a simple request. He wanted a backpack with a character on it that looked like him "with brown skin". Unable to find one, Casey used her background as an insights and analytics professional in Consumer Product Goods to do research. She learned that less than 2% of the character backpacks in the market included children of color. Realizing there was a void that could be filled, she worked with her husband, Harvey, to create a line of backpacks under their company Blended Designs. Using Carter's face and the faces of other children in their family they developed ten characters affectionately known as The BDSquad featuring kids in different shades of melanin proclaiming a proud message of "I Can Do Anything". Shortly after launching, BD captured the attention of mega mompreneur Yandy Smith and the rest, as they say is history. Blended Designs has since been featured on The View, The Today Show and The Real. They have been recognized by major publications like Essence, Ebony, Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, Forbes and many more as the backpack of choice parents across the globe. Blended Designs has become the favorite amongst foundations like The Sean Anderson Foundation (Big Sean), SocialWorksChi (Chance the Rapper), The Golden State Warriors Foundation, The Girl Scouts of America, and many more. While kids love being able to see themselves, parents love the quality with reviews stating that the backpacks have been used for at least two school years. In an effort to give back, Harvey and Casey donated thousands of backpacks each school year to children in underserved communities. As part of the mission of Blended Designs to Elevate Empower Educate, the Kelleys have also helped first generation college students attend four year universities.

How It's Going

Blended Designs is primarily a backpack company with the majority of annual sales happening during the third quarter when families are shopping for back to school items. Like many businesses, the pandemic changed operations and sales for Blended Designs. With the majority of schools opting for virtual learning at the start of the 2020-2021 school year, parents were not in need of backpacks and did not have the normal "back to school" shopping. As a result, Blended Designs sales dropped to about 10% of the annual volume. Blended Designs has found it necessary to sell backpacks below cost in order to cover operating expenses. This means that funding to purchase new inventory is extremely low. Schools are all expected to return as normal which will turn things around for the company. But Blended Designs needs help purchasing inventory.

How To Help

Helping Blended Designs continue to empower our children is easy. DONATE by making a monetary contribution or DONATE by purchasing selecting a Blended Designs item.  Choose from one of the original backpacks or one of the brand new drawstring bags. These aren't your typical drawstring bags. Using the same approach to quality that has become signature with Blended Designs products, the drawstring bags are made with an extra thick fabric for optimal support. Perfect for summer.

Blended Designs thanks you for your continued support, love and more importantly prayers.