NEW TALENTS: THE MOST PROMISING DESIGNERS

New talents:

the most promising designers One of the many reasons why the world of fashion is so incredible is the fact that it continuously seeks out fresh ideas, creations, and designers. Any day in fashion could become revolutionary because of someone’s groundbreaking idea. Over the recent years, more and more young and talented people entered the industry and brought something unique into it. Young designers tend to be more innovative and experiment with their ideas, and they don’t fear challenges, unlike the well-established, worldwide famous brands. We would like to introduce you to some outstanding new-generation designers and their stories

GLENN MARTENS and Y/PROJECT

Glenn Martens, a designer from Belgium, studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. In April 2013, after working at Jean Paul Gaultier as a junior designer, Martens became the creative director of Y/Project. His brand debuted at Paris Fashion Week and ran for three seasons, bringing more and more recognition to Marten’s talent and vision.

In 2017, Y/Project won the esteemed ANDAM Grand Prize, while Glenn Martens was selected as one of the BOF (Business of Fashion) 500 people shaping fashion globally. In 2018, Glenn Martens was awarded the title of Designer of the Year at the Belgian Fashion Awards, a fashion prize that was previously awarded to Dries Van Noten and Raf Simons. When the brand received the Special Edition ANDAM prize in 2020, there was no doubt that Glenn’s name has made it into the list of not only Belgium’s but the world’s most influential people in fashion.

Y/Project’s official website states that the Paris-based brand combines “conceptual and inventive detailing with playful proportions and a witty take on historical references”. Glenn brilliantly implements modern trends and personal vision into his creations, which makes his designs stand out compared to other contemporary brands.

Grace Wales Bonner is a 29-year-old British designer. Right after graduating from Central Saint Martins, Wales Bonner launched her eponymous brand in 2014, first focusing strictly on menswear then adding womenswear to the collections.

Emerging Menswear Designer at the British Fashion Awards, received the LVMH Young Designer Prize, was invited by Maria Grazia Chiuri to collaborate with Dior, and announced the winner of the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund. These are just some of her achievements as Grace continues to conquer the industry and hearts of fashion lovers.

If you take a look at Wales Bonner’s collections, you will find not only a collaboration with Adidas, but also numerous extravagant dresses together with minimalistic outwear and plaid tracksuits.

CHOPOVA LOWENA

Central Saint Martins graduates Emma Chopova and Laura Lovena give a second life to often deserted Bulgarian fabrics and national patterns. While Lovena comes from the UK, Chopova grew up in America with Bulgarian parents – united by their mutual love of traditional crafts, the pair met at Central Saint Martin’s doing their bachelor’s degrees. In search of materials, Chopova often returns to her parents’ village and the mountains outside the capital of Sofia. The found blankets, tartan aprons, and vintage fabrics get transformed into kilts and blouses with eclectic sporty elements, imbued with punk serenity.