With the fashion industry growing and changing everyday, it’s important to stay inspired and across new talent. Whether these designers are new, or old favourites headed on a different venture, these seven designers are sure to make an impact on what we wear in 2019.
1.Tomo Koizumi, @TomoKoizumi
Discovered by LOVE editor Katie Grand, former costume designer Tomo Koizumi has already had a spectacular beginning of 2019. Debuting at New York Fashion Week, the Japanese designer worked with renowned make-up artist Pat McGrath and a model lineup including actresses Gwendoline Christie, Rowan Blanchard, and models Emily Ratajkowski, Bella Hadid and Taylor Hill. The colourful, avant garde collection, which draws comparisons to Giambattista Valli and Viktor + Rolf was a hit among critics and could feature once again when the Met hosts it’s annual ball with the theme ‘Camp: Notes On Fashion’.
2. Clare Waight Keller, @GivenchyOfficial
Former Chloé creative director Clare Waight Keller has already earned her position at Givenchy within her first year, designing Meghan Markle, duchess of Sussex’s wedding dress and winning womenswear designer of the year at the British Fashion Awards. Clare has redefined Riccardo Tisci’s Givenchy aesthetic and turned it into a modern womenswear label. Since introducing couture back into the house, Clare’s first two collections have been homages to the now late Hubert De Givenchy, so 2019 is the time to let Clare’s natural talent for designing for women to shine.
3. Virgil Abloh, @VirgilAbloh
Once Kanye West’s sidekick, Virgil Abloh has stepped into his own since creating his brand Off-White and stepping into the creative director role at Louis Vuitton mens. The brand, which is favoured by the Kardashian-Jenner’s, Bella Hadid, Rihanna and Beyonce perfectly blends the street style phenomenon with luxury. He has collaborated with Nike, and has an upcoming collaboration with IKEA coming in 2019, as well as a bottled water line. This man is taking over all forms of design, and he won’t be going anywhere soon.
4. Christine Centenera + Josh Goot, @Wardrobe.NYC
Three years ago fashion director Christine Centenera and designer Josh Goot partnered up to launch their new venture Wardrobe.NYC. Launched online and branded as a ‘conceptual composite of luxury essentials distilled into their purest and most desired form’ the duo sell packs of 4 and 8 for men, with a woman’s pack of 8 including a knit bodysuit, long sleeve crop top, tailored shirt, hooded top, puffer jacket, leggings, knit skirt and a spray pant for $3000. This capsule alternative may be a remedy to fast fashion that many are hungry for. The pair recently opened up their first store for their celebrity clients that include Margot Robbie, Victoria Beckham, Kim Kardashian and Gigi Hadid, so you’ll be seeing these two on your favourite celebrities in 2019.
5. Albus Lumen, @AlbusLumen
Founded by stylist Marina Afonia in 2015, Albus Lumen’s European summer aesthetic has become a hit with critics and consumers alike. Since debuting during Sydney’s Resort 18′ shows, Albus Lumen has been photographed in Porter Magazine, Marie Claire and Harpers Bazaar, as well as being seen on the likes of Lara Worthington, Zoe Kravitz and blogger Nicole Warner (aka ‘Gary Pepper Girl’). In 2019, highlights include Albus Lumen representing Australia as a Woolmark prize finalist and having her pieces displayed at the National Gallery of Australia for fashion legend, Anna Wintour. It seems this is just the beginning for Albus Lumen.
6. Christian Kimber, @Christian_Kimber
Fresh off winning the National Design Award, Melbourne based, British menswear designer Christian Kimber is just getting started. Located in Fitzroy, Kimber describes his collections as ‘high quality, easy to wear enduring pieces complemented by bolder pieces for the modern man’s wardrobe.’ If his success thus far is any indicator, we will be seeing a lot more of Kimber in the Australian fashion scene.
7. Virginie Viard, @ChanelOfficial
Paris Fashion Week without Karl Lagerfeld may take some getting used to, but in the mean time, 2019 will bring his right-hand woman Virginie Viard to centre stage, as she will present her first solo collection after Karl’s death. Although many had tipped the likes of Haider Ackerman, Phoebe Philo or Raf Simons to take the reigns, Virginie has been working for Chanel since 1987, and was Karl’s ‘right arm and left arm’ as he once said.
Written by Tess Goodie.
