The 8 Emerging Designers You're About to See More of in 2023
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Des_Phemmes; Diotima; Marlies Grace
If the romantic silhouettes crafted by Brooklyn-based Tae Park don't make you feel moved to your core, I'm not sure what will. After sharpening her design skills at Coach, Proenza Schouler, and Orseund Iris, founder Taehee Park finally launched her brand in late 2020 and promptly earned plenty of adoration from influencers and was stamped as a 2023 name to know by Moda Operandi. The label is home to striking pieces that celebrate the female form, including a strapless top with an under-bust cutout and a poplin number with a generous collarbone-framing neckline, all filtered through the lens of Park's love of vintage and her Southeast Asian upbringing.
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Diotima; @courtneygrowIn Plato's ancient Greek philosophy, there's a concept called Diotima's ladder, from which the brand derives its name. It's essentially a metaphor for the continuum of desire—from its most basic form, lust, to its most enlightened, the love of love itself. And enlightened is indeed how I'd describe Rachel Scott's vision. Just shy of two years old, Diotima is the designer's tribute to her home country, Jamaica, and a dialogue with the rich history it's steeped in. Like much of the collection, the artful crochet that has become its cornerstone is all made in Jamaica with a particular emphasis on supporting artisanal communities.
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@ashleygraham; @lucywilliams02; @dionemdavisFor a brand that launched in the middle of a global pandemic, the sheer crystal-netted dresses and slinky draped numbers that have become Interior's style signatures are hardly destined for an indoors-only lifestyle. The label, founded by industry vets Jack Miner and Lily Miesmer, has already managed to get insiders completely abuzz about its certifiable cool-girl aura and counts an ever-expanding list of celeb fans including Ashley Graham and Hannah Bronfman.
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@emnitta; @karen.madi; @fashkyConfession: I didn't actually find Marlies Grace—it found me. Normally, I'd be the one seeking out exciting new talent to feature, but when the brand slid into my DMs last month, I knew I needed to learn more. Named after founder Verena Martin's mother who was, according to her, "elegant in everything she did and wear," the newly launched label brings that soulful feeling you can only get from shopping one-of-a-kind vintage into the present day. Indeed, Martin collaborated with vintage expert Mariana Vergara of Merci, C'est Vintage to imbue the line with that heirloom quality, which you can see in items like the cinched-in blazer and drop-waist dress that offer the perfect 2023 updates to beloved silhouettes of the past.
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BFA/Courtesy of Moda Operandi; Des_Phemmes; @dualipaBuzzy eveningwear label Des_Phemmes is single-handedly changing what party attire looks like. The Milan-based brand has captured the slinky, sexy allure of the '90s-supermodel era with its hyper-embellished miniskirts, strapless dresses, and suits that are all surprisingly chill.
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@eyeswoon; @monikh; @thelsd; @kristengracelamIf brands like Toteme, SIR, and The Frankie Shop are your sartorial North Stars, then trust me—you're going to want to get in on the irresistible tailoring of Beare Park. The Australian talent is less than two years old and already proving itself to be one to watch with its refined mood and sophisticated takes on minimalism. Its maxi coat is already rising among the ranks as a season definer, and Moda Operandi's Lauren Santo Domingo just featured seven ways to wear it in her segment for Vogue's #VogueRewear challenge.
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JiaJia; @shoedogdaganJia-Jia Zhu used to collect the beautiful stones she found on the beaches in California as a child, and her fascination with them has never wavered. Created for "all the lovers of our planet," Zhu's eponymous jewelry line JiaJia marries the beauty and power of crystals with a fashion-person perspective, and it's this unique lens that earned the brand a coveted spot in Net-a-Porter's Vanguard program at launch. It has since found a spot in the assortments of retailers such as Saks, Moda, and MatchesFashion. Each stone you'll find here is hand-selected for its uniqueness, and the crystals are all-natural, uncut, and untreated.
Kendall Jenner has an enviable jacket collection that spans collectible North Face puffers to *that* Loewe puffer bomber. Her latest addition? A shearling-lined style from up-and-comer Halfboy. Jenner wore hers in the most casual way with relaxed jeans, boots, and a tonal scarf while on a snow trip to the mountains. That easy-to-wear ethos resides throughout the rest of the collection in cool statement jackets that basically do the styling legwork for you. High on my own wish list is a boxy suede style adorned with silver studs.
