Introducing The Mentors For NET‑A‑PORTER And MR PORTER’s The Vanguard Program
Now in its sixth year, NET-A-PORTER and MR PORTER’s global mentorship program helps to support and empower emerging design talent. Here, we meet the mentors providing invaluable industry insights to this year’s brands: Liberowe, Diotima and Kartik Research
Julie Ragolia, stylist and creative consultant
“I think it’s incredibly important to champion independent designers alongside those who are more developed in their positioning,” says Julie Ragolia, an internationally renowned fashion director, stylist and creative consultant based between New York and Paris. “Having a cross-section of ideas and viewpoints is vital to dynamic and diverse human storytelling. Clothes are an integral tool through which we all share our personal stories and taste,” she continues. “Offering space for more voices propels the greater conversation further. If we invite space for greater expression, more participation, we create a healthier ecosystem as an industry.”
“I’m always interested in not only the design, quality and wearability of the clothes, but also what’s behind that person’s point of view. What fuels them? And how is what they are doing contributing to the culture of our times?
”Lynette Nylander
Lynette Nylander, executive digital director at Harper’s Bazaar
“The future of fashion is inextricably linked to the talent that is coming down the pipeline,” says Lynette Nylander, a New York-based writer, editor, creative director and brand consultant, who held positions at Teen Vogue, Dazed and i-D before being appointed executive digital director at Harper’s Bazaar in March of this year. “I think it’s critical to nurture emerging designers to have their own sustainable businesses and put their own sense of design and perspective into the world. I’m always interested in not only the design, quality and wearability of the clothes, but also what’s behind that person’s point of view. What fuels them? What do they read and listen to? And how is what they are doing contributing to the culture of our times?”
Claire Bergkamp, CEO at Textile Exchange
As CEO of global nonprofit Textile Exchange, Claire Bergkamp is on a mission to help brands improve their environmental footprint within fashion’s material supply chain by introducing more regenerative practices and lower-impact alternatives. “My hopes for the new generation of design talent, in terms of sustainability, are to see them prioritize the use of sustainable and ethically sourced materials, embrace circular design principles, and commit to transparency in their sourcing and manufacturing processes,” says Bergkamp. “I envision them actively engaging with communities and industry stakeholders to co-create solutions that enhance sustainability across the supply chain, while using their platforms to advocate for environmental stewardship and ethical production. It is crucial that designers take the time to get to know their suppliers and build sustainability into their practices from the beginning, as it is much easier than trying to add them later on.”
Alison Loehnis, ad interim CEO and president of YOOX NET-A-PORTER
“Supporting talent is at the forefront of what we do, and helping nascent brands develop and grow is at the heart of The Vanguard’s mission,” says Alison Loehnis, ad interim CEO and president of YOOX NET-A-PORTER. “It is incredibly rewarding to offer designers the reach and scale that our platform provides and to introduce our global customer base to exciting collections they might not otherwise discover – true fashion symbiosis.”
“Supporting talent is at the forefront of what we do, and helping nascent brands develop and grow is at the heart of The Vanguard’s mission
”Alison Loehnis
Sophia Li, journalist and climate advocate
Sophia Li is an award-winning journalist, climate optimist and public speaker committed to making conversations related to the climate crisis accessible and digestible for audiences. “My hope is that the new generation of design talent actually feels empowered to explore and incorporate sustainable practices. This empowerment will come from institutional finance, open-source sharing of suppliers from bigger brands, and having policies passed – like the NY Fashion Act – that equalizes the playing field between mass and independent brands,” says Li. “The fashion industry at large can support them by championing and incorporating sustainability education into the design curricula, starting from the source, when designers hone their craft.”
Greg Chait, founder and CEO of The Elder Statesman
“The Vanguard can be a ‘north star’ for designers,” says Greg Chait, founder and creative director of LA-based brand The Elder Statesman. “In the end, we have to work together.” Chait is looking for “grit, original creativity, individuality and a focus on quality” from this year’s designers. “If your plan is to make quality items that people can use and adore for generations to come, we need you.”
DISCOVER MORE
The Vanguard: how Team NET-A-PORTER style their favorite designs by this year’s brands
Learn more about The Vanguard at MR PORTER