We’re used to throwing up names such as Marc Jacobs, Raf Simons and Michael Kors, but there’s a whole host of new international designers that have been gaining a steady fan following. Here are the 5 most talented that you absolutely must know about.
1) Suno
SUNO has an ardent fan in Solange Knowles – the younger sister of Beyonce, who has her own eclectic style. Known for its bold use of prints and bright colours, SUNO was founded in 2008 by Max Osterwies and Erin Beatty. The label regularly references African motifs, spinning them around so without going over the top. No mean feat.
2) Carven
The House of Carven was established in France in 1945 but it got a reboot in 2010 when Guillaume Henry took over. With a previous stint at Givenchy under his belt, Henry provided a fresh perspective to the house with his sensual dresses that have found fans in Emma Watson, Victoria Beckham and Alexa Chung.
3) Mary Katrantzou
She’s my personal favourite and her dresses can be best be termed as wearable art. The Greek-born, British based designer has depicted parts of her home on her gowns, while previous inspirations include Chinese ming vases and postage stamps.
4) Christopher Kane
Handpicked by Donatella Versace to head the diffusion line Versus, Christopher Kane has enjoyed a meteoric rise. He recently quit Versus to start his own line, with financial backing from Kering, which owns labels such as Gucci and Stella McCartney. He’s showed at Lakme Fashion week and has Freida Pinto cavorting around wearing his designs.
5) Joseph Altuzarra
Joseph Atulzarra understands a woman’s form. His designs flatter and enhance their best assets. I wouldn’t be surprised if he finds himself at the helm of a large label very soon.
Stay tuned for an Indian labels list coming up.