5 Fashion Designers You Should Know
From Left to right: Financial Times, Hypebeast, The New York Times, Marion Berrin, and The New York Times
Everyone knows the iconic heads of major fashion houses: Karl Lagerfeld, Silvia Venturini Fendi, Miuccia Prada, Ralph Lauren, Tom Ford, and Donatella Versace. We live in an ecosystem of fashion conglomerates that continues to appoint the same group of people to different Maisons; it has become quite tiresome to watch business take precedence over talent.
Now, it’s time to take a step back and look towards the next generation of fashion designers, all of whom continue to make their mark on the fashion industry today and looking towards the future.
Here are five key fashion designers you should know—and get used to hearing about more.
Source: The Gentlewoman
Instagram: @walesbonner
Grace Wales Bonner, a British-Jamaican graduate of the famed Central Saint Martins, established her London brand, Wales Bonner, in 2014. As a biracial woman, Wales Bonner’s heritage informs the mission statement. The brand “embraces a multiplicity of perspectives, proposing a distinct notion of luxury, via a hybrid of European and Afro-Atlantic approaches.” Some of her design signatures infuse tailoring and sportswear to create a luxe, elevated version of everyday clothing such as a tracksuit.
From left to right: Meghan Markle, Timothee Chalamet, Luka Sabbat, Lakeith Stanfield, FW 2020, and FW 2020
For her powerful political and social commentary via the medium of clothing, Wales Bonner has won countless awards including the 2015 British Fashion Awards Emerging Talent for Menswear, the 2016 LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers, and the 2019 British Fashion Council Vogue Designer Fashion Fund. Her clothing has outfitted Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, Timothée Chalamet, Lakeith Stanfield, and Luka Sabbat. Some of Wales Bonner’s items have been featured at the Victoria and Albert Museum for her contributions to the industry.
2. Reese Cooper
Source: Hero Magazine
Instagram: @reesecooper
At the age of just 18, Reese Cooper started his eponymous brand in 2016. Fast forward only two years later, Cooper debuted his first full menswear collection—only this time in Paris. And currently, Cooper is a fixture on the PFW schedule. Cooper’s aesthetic combines quintessential vintage Americana with the great outdoors, as the clothing is made and based in LA. His garments include an array of collegiate varsity jackets, DIY clothing kits, and repurposed flannels.
From left to right: Todd Gurley, Bella Hadid, Travis Scott, kid Cudi, FW 2020, and FW 2021
Cooper has remained firm in emphasizing environmentalism. Case in point, his last collection for Fall/Winter 2021 showcased at the historic Mount Wilson Observatory, which nearly got destroyed in California’s wildfires last year. Cooper has partnered up with foundations One Tree Planted to plant one tree in California for every garment sold and the National Forest Foundation to combat climate change by donating 100% of specific items proceeds. Fans of Cooper’s clothing include Bella Hadid, Kid Cudi, Todd Gurley, and Travis Scott. And in 2019, Cooper shared the runner-up spot for the Vogue Fashion Fund.
3. Emily Bode
Source: W Magazine
Instagram: @bode
As the first woman to showcase at NYFW for menswear, Emily Bode’s Bode has brought largely female-centric practices of quilting, mending, and appliqués to integrate with men’s work silhouettes. Bode’s work has been influenced by the usage of personal perspectives on narratives, storytelling, historical techniques, and antique textiles to create a luxurious modern men’s clothing line.
From left to right: Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Ezra Miller, Jordan Peele, Leon Bridges, and SS 2020
Based in Chinatown, New York, Bode’s collections are cultivated with vintage merit badges and sports pennants. Her network of antique dealers spans from Paris to Atlanta, with patchwork being one of her brand trademarks. Famously, Bode’s work to create sustainable clothing for Harry Styles and his music videos has propelled her as a force to be reckoned with. But others such as Jay Z, Jordan Peele, Zayn Malik, Ezra Miller, Henry Golding, and Childish Gambino are eager to count themselves fans of her work, too. Bode was the runner-up at the 2018 Vogue Fashion Fund and was part of the 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
4. Yoon Ahn
Source: Complex
Instagram: @yoon_ambush
Yoon Ahn’s Ambush, created alongside her husband Verbal, is one of the most prolific streetwear brands you’ve seen grace your Instagram feeds without even knowing it. Starting in 2008 as an experimental jewelry brand by the Koreans’ take on the Japanese aesthetic, the company molded into creating unisex apparel which premiered in Paris 2015. Ahn and her husband brought the Japanese “remix” culture to its cult status with a spin on Tokyo street fashion and pop art.
From left to right: Big Sean, Ambush for Bvlgari, G-Dragon and CL, Ambush for RIMOWA, Ambush for the NBA, and FW 2019
Ahn has laid the groundwork for the company to create a slew of collaborations with Louis Vuitton (under Kim Jones), Beats by Dre, Bvlgari, Sacai, Off-White, Nike, Converse, Rimowa, and Gentle Monster. In 2019, she was appointed the jewelry designer at Dior Homme by Kim Jones. Ambush continues to be seen on celebrities and friends of the house: LeBron James, Nigo, Big Sean, Bella Hadid, CL, G-Dragon, and Naomi Osaka.
5. Marine Serre
Source: HypeBae
Instagram: @marineserre_official
Graduating from La Cambre Mode Belgian Fashion Design academy in 2016, Marine Serre’s undeniable forward-thinking attire has held the eye of Karl Lagerfeld and Phoebe Philo since her foray into fashion. In 2017, Marine Serre’s self-titled French brand won the LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers following her graduation show, “Radical Call for Love”. With her signature crescent moons, Serre’s emblem was an instant hit on a range of futuristic athleisure from skin-tight leggings to sleek, silky tops.
From left to right: AWGE for Marine Serre, Beyonce, Dua Lipa, Adele, Charli XCX, and FW 2019
Despite being the moons being her most recognizable symbol, the Parisian-based designer has showcased her powerhouse status through an upcycling ethos, technology-driven designs, and anti-pollution masks of apocalyptic nature, well before the COVID-19 pandemic materialized. Serre’s hybrid fashion has been seen on top musical stars such as Blackpink, Ariana Grande, Beyonce, Dua Lipa, Charli XCX, and Adele. The brand is currently collaborating with A$AP Rocky’s AWGE.
Despite varying in their design aesthetics, the one thing Grace Wales Bonner, Reese Cooper, Emily Bode, Yoon Ahn, and Marine Serre have in common is their undeniable talent. Their companies were created around the raw gifts they have honed in and perfected upon. While niche and with cult-followings, the five have undoubtedly changed the face of fashion—despite not being household names.