9 emerging labels to refresh your closet
With many of us spending more time at home than ever before, it’s the perfect opportunity for a closet clear-out and overhaul. Getting rid of pieces that simply aren’t serving you anymore makes room for clothes that could – while allowing you to invest in the designers who are shaping the future of fashion. MEGAN LOGUE shares the emerging labels she’s putting her money on…
Tove
London-based label Tove – derived from the Danish girl’s name meaning ‘beauty’ and ‘strength’ – established by former colleagues-turned-business-partners Camille Perry and Holly Wright, was designed with the modern woman in mind. Each of the brand’s faultless pieces – whether it be an asymmetric skirt, silk dress or an elegantly draped blouse – promises to elevate and slot effortlessly into your closet; just ask brand fans and street-style stars TyLynn Nguyen and Christie Tyler. While our schedules may have slowed in recent months, there is no excuse for letting sartorial standards slip. Whether it’s lockdown date night, lounging in the garden or hosting a digital quiz, bring a sense of occasion to the affair in Tove’s laid-back yet luxe pieces.
Christopher John Rogers
American designer Christopher John Rogers’ rise has been nothing short of stratospheric. Since his debut collection in 2018, Rogers has become known for his fearless use of color, print and proportion; the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund-winning designer immediately made a mark on the fashion landscape with his mood-enhancing aesthetic. From floral skirt suits to figure-sculpting dresses and ’80s-inspired blouses, Rogers’ pieces have presence, which is exactly why he’s been championed by commanding women including Rihanna, Lizzo, Tracee Ellis Ross and Michelle Obama. At a time when we could all do with a little joy, Christopher John Rogers’ spirited designs are the sartorial boost we need.
Paris Georgia
To say New Zealand-based brand Paris Georgia has a strong following would be something of an understatement. Irina Shayk, Hailey Beiber, Kendall Jenner, Emily Ratajkowski and Georgia Fowler are just a handful of the women who have fallen hard for the label’s playful yet polished pieces. Launched by design duo and lifelong friends Georgia Cherrie and Paris Mitchell Temple in 2015, Paris Georgia has been fêted by the industry from day one, and it’s not difficult to see why. The label’s emphasis on quality and cut ensures that each and every one of its designs – from the colorful co-ords to the waist-cinching summer dresses – is a knockout.
Coperni
Despite launching just seven years ago, Parisian label Coperni already boasts a pretty illustrious history. In 2014, the brand became the first recipient of the prestigious ANDAM First Collection prize, and the following year it went on to win the equally distinguished LVMH Prize; both accolades are credited with highlighting the fashion industry’s most promising new talent. Needless to say, the label, co-founded by creative director Sébastien Meyer and CEO Arnaud Vaillant, was a smash hit. However, much to the dismay of the industry, the duo put Coperni on hiatus for two years from 2017 while they took the helm at French heritage house Courrèges. It should come as no surprise, then, that news of Coperni’s revival was met with bated breath – and it did not disappoint. Consider Coperni your new go-to for everything from must-have accessories to impeccable modern tailoring.
Gauchere
Gauchere founder and creative director Marie-Christine Statz has a pretty stellar resumé. Before launching her label in 2013 – which has been shortlisted for the ANDAM Award not once but twice – the German-born designer studied at New York’s esteemed Parsons School of Design, going on to cut her teeth at powerhouses including Narciso Rodriguez and Diane von Furstenberg. Now based in Paris, where Gauchere’s entire collection is produced, Statz wants to provide women with the means to express themselves. Considered fabrics, subtle details and oversized silhouettes may be Gauchere’s calling cards, but these timeless pieces – everything from asymmetric tailoring to structured dresses – leave space for women who want to experiment.
Deveaux
In 2018, legendary street-style-photographer-turned-designer Tommy Ton was announced as creative director of Deveaux’s womenswear line, although the brand was originally established as a menswear label. A hit from the off, Ton’s fresh interpretations of classic pieces – such as slip dresses, trench coats and A-line skirts – never fail to hit the sweet spot between elegant and effortless, which is why the brand has become a go-to for the industry’s most discerning dressers, including model Giedre Dukauskaite, photographer Jessie Bush and sartorial polymath Aimee Song.
Lauren Manoogian
Combining timeless design with a timely focus on natural, responsibly sourced and luxe fabrics, fashion insiders’ favorite Lauren Manoogian has quietly amassed a cult following. Every one of the Brooklyn-based designer’s sumptuous knits – from oversized cardigans to cozy sweaters and even luxe slippers – is made by hand in her local atelier. Sustainability is key to Manoogian’s ethos and aesthetic; her plush yet understated designs are made to be worn, and cherished, forever. Moreover, at a time when, worldwide, many of us are living under lockdown, her snug knits look more inviting than ever.
S.Joon
As the only accessories label to be selected for the most recent instalment of NET-A-PORTER’s Vanguard program, London-based S.Joon immediately caught our attention. A Persian term of endearment, ‘joon’ can be loosely translated as ‘dear’, and it’s the deft way Iranian-British designer Sahar Asvandi balances clean lines and contemporary shapes with ladylike flair that has made her handbags an instant success, treasured and toted by the likes of Linda Tol and Phoebe Collings-James. With a focus on quality and craftsmanship, Asvandi’s ultimate goal is to redefine sustainable design by creating forever pieces that prove buying better is the key to buying less.
ioannes
German-born designer Johannes Boehl Cronau is fascinated by fashion’s capacity to transform. Born into a family of carpenters, the concepts of craft and quality were instilled in him from an early age; it was just a matter of time before he found his own medium. Despite launching his (almost) eponymous label, ioannes, just a few years ago – Boehl Cronau opted for the Latin abstraction of his name in order create some distance and space for experimentation – his joyful designs have already been displayed in Paris’s Palais de Tokyo twice and are worn by arbiters of taste including Julia Restoin Roitfeld and Solange Knowles. A celebration of the female form, much of ioannes’ collection is cut close to the body – think figure-sculpting dresses and tops in riotous prints – while feather-trimmed slips have become a brand signature.
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The models featured in this story are not associated with NET-A-PORTER and do not endorse it or the products shown