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The freshest names in fashion who are making waves with bold creativity and innovative designs this season
The fashion industry is continually evolving, with fresh talent bringing innovative perspectives and redefining style norms. This season, four emerging designers are making significant waves with their unique approaches and creative visions. Here’s a closer look at these rising stars you should keep on your radar:
1. Colleen Allen
Based in Brooklyn, Colleen Allen is gaining attention for her meticulous craftsmanship and commitment to sustainability. An alumna of The Row, Allen focuses on slow, deliberate brand growth, emphasizing quality and personal engagement with clients. Her designs are built to last, reflecting her personal values and deep connections to her community. Allen’s showcase during New York Fashion Week involves personal appointments, allowing detailed examination of her creations.
2. Zoe Gustavia Anna Whalen
Also hailing from Brooklyn, Zoe Gustavia Anna Whalen brings a unique narrative to her designs, highlighting the importance of craft in fashion. With experience at Eckhaus Latta, Bless, and Interior, Whalen stages runway shows that convey her brand’s emotional narrative. She emphasizes quality, sustainability, and personal engagement with clients, creating work that resonates with repeat buyers and industry insiders alike.
3. Rachel Scott of Diotima
Jamaican-born designer Rachel Scott is redefining luxury with her brand, Diotima. Her collections highlight Caribbean craftsmanship, featuring hand-crocheted dresses, heritage tweeds, and crystal mesh. Scott collaborates directly with Jamaican artisanal communities to address systemic inequities in the fashion industry. At 41, she has achieved significant recognition, including being the first Black woman named American Womenswear Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2024.
4. Ellen Hodakova Larsson of Hodakova
Stockholm-based designer Ellen Hodakova Larsson has garnered attention for her imaginative and sustainable creations. As the first Swedish recipient of the prestigious LVMH Prize, Larsson transforms everyday materials—like leather belts, zippers, and even spoons—into avant-garde yet wearable pieces. Her commitment to sustainability is evident, with aspirations to establish the world’s first fully sustainable fashion house. Larsson’s designs reflect a harmonious blend of her rural upbringing and a modern, eco-conscious ethos.
These designers are not only creating captivating garments but also challenging norms and advocating for sustainability and inclusivity in fashion. Keep an eye on them as they continue to shape the industry’s future.
