Fashion is a universal phenomenon. Whether it’s being boasted about on the runways of Milan, or flaunted at primary school, it’s an undeniable part of ancient and modern life. And, like any other art, fashion is one that conceives itself in repetition, blossoms, and oftentimes, wilts or becomes dormant when society moves on from it. Moreover, it feeds into itself such that it is the master of its own remarkable life cycles. High fashion is the game of illustrious, established designers and directors, but it is nothing without those who still exist on the ground floor. Youth breathes life and innovation into the fashion industry; prestige simply lionizes it. In a world already booming with creativity, it can be difficult to stand out among the rest–especially as a youth artist. Keeping that in mind.
The 5 youngest fashion designers today whose work has already made a notable impact are 1) Taofeek Abijako, 2) Kheris Rogers, 3) Supriya Lele, 4) Priya Ahluwalia, and 5) Andrea Brocca.
Taofeek Abijako
At the remarkable age of just 19 years old, Nigeria’s Taofeek Abijako became the youngest designer to exhibit a full line at New York Fashion Week. That was in 2018; four years later, although the record for youngest designer to exhibit a full line at New York Fashion Week has since changed, Abijako remains an artistic force to be reckoned with.
Debuting internationally with his collection Genesis at New York Fashion Week 2018 as a part of the menswear portion of the event, Abijako told the world exactly who he is, what he wants, and where he’s going. In his own words, Genesis embodies a “minimalist streetwear approach with social and political commentary.” And in the time since his debut on the world stage, the Council of Fashion Designers of America has described his fashion brand as one that “pays homage to his past by celebrating his West African culture through a contemporary perspective.”
Today, Abijako continues putting new spins on vintage aspects and combining them with youth-led culture in West Africa to develop collections as much in conversation with aesthetics as it is with history, politics, society, and the other major cornerstones key to his work.
Kheris Rogers
In 2020, then 11-year-old Kheris Rogers surpassed Abijako as the youngest designer to ever exhibit a full line at New York Fashion Week. In an Instagram post following her debut in Harlem at the Museum of the City of New York, she wrote, “I just made history as #NYFW youngest fashion designer EVER! I am only 11 years old and made it to the runway while encouraging people to love their skin.”
Rogers’ first line, which she named Flexin’ In My Complexion, serves as an artistic response to the racism and colorism she constantly faced at the hands of her peers. In an interview, she told Refinery29, “The other kids did not want to play with me or be my friend because of how dark my skin was. Going through this inspired me to begin Flexin’ In My Complexion, because Black comes in so many shades, and they all are beautiful.”
The future is bright for Rogers, and at such a young age, there is no doubt she is a creative visionary to be watched in decades to come. As Rogers went on to tell Refinery29 in that same interview, “I am just glad that I am able to inspire others that it does not matter how old you are. It is never too early or late to chase your dreams and to always stand up for what you believe in.”
In true Generation Z style, Rogers (now 13 years old) maintains her label’s public image using Instagram. Iconic as ever, the account @officialflexininmycomplexion is effortlessly indie in its presentation, function, and engagement. The clothes are strongly indicative of Black, New York street style, and utilize stunningly rich and vibrant colors, ranging from neutrals to neons, to announce themselves as the groundbreaking societal self-love art they are. Keeping to Black models, Rogers’ label remains loyal to the ethos for which it was created.
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Supriya Lele
Supriya Lele launched her fashion label in 2017 upon completing her Master of Arts degree at the Royal College of Art. British-Indian, Lele’s designs work in the space between her British and Indian backgrounds, cultures, and experiences to develop a line tailored and unique to her diaspora. In this, they also explore the edges and toughness of femininity to develop an aesthetic many people have been eagerly waiting for.
Huge on the Madras check and designs utilizing ties, straps, and other vital clothing mechanisms to highlight, accentuate, and elaborate on femininity and the feminine form, Lele’s label exists somewhere between the industrial and the eclectic. The fabrics she uses carry a certain eloquent breeziness or lightness to them, and many of the materials tend to be transparent in form. In fact, Lele has found new ways to combine, separate, and utilize both in her designs such that these methods have quickly become essential aspects of her artistic signature.
Lele’s clothes are mostly modeled by women of South and East Asian descent, as this diaspora is essential to her inspiration and the brand. A mixture of dark, rich, elegant colors of old and bright, light, fruitlike ones of new, Lele’s clothes flaunt range without ever becoming repetitive or boring.
Priya Ahluwalia
Based in London, Priya Ahluwalia is changing the world of menswear one design at a time. In fact, “changing” is an understatement. The better word might be “evolving.” Indian-Nigerian and raised in Tooting (located in Southwest London’s “Southall” district), her work is deeply inspired by her Punjabi grandfather’s style – specifically, his style throughout the 1970s. This, fused with her love for her Nigerian heritage and passion for 1990s rave culture [and like aesthetics], contributes to her beautifully one-of-a-kind creative vision.
Ahluwalia debuted as a fashion designer in 2018 with her first official collection, made even more unstoppable by her then-recent graduation from the University of Westminster. Named More Or Less, this collection not only incorporated influence from both her Indian and Nigerian heritages, but in its manner, execution, and general existence, doubled as an expression of love to both of Ahluwalia’s ancestral motherlands.
In the four years following More Or Less, Ahluwalia has since produced several more groundbreaking collections, increasing in momentum with each one she debuts to the world. Other notable achievements include her selection as recipient of the H&M Design Award, her LVMH 2020 Prize nomination, and her production of the fashion film Joy, which was originally broadcasted at the Gucci Fest in 2020. On top of that, she is also the author of two books, titled Sweet Lassi and Jalebi.
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Andrea Brocca
“I was obsessed with my mother’s clothes and spent a lot of time looking in her closet. She loved luxurious Italian style and quality so she would invest in specific designer pieces, especially by Gianfranco Ferré, which is why I’m so inspired by his work. Then, when I was seven, I became obsessed with drawing historical garments.” – Andrea Brocca in a 2021 interview with Vogue Magazine
Andrea Brocca is a huge name in the fashion world right now, and has been for a while. At 14, he learned how to drape while working at Temperley in London. At 16, he started his own label and opened his own shop in Dubai. Brocca even attended both Paris’s École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne and London’s Central Saint Martins, and during his time at university, he worked at Prabal Gurung, Ellery, and Bottega Veneta.
In addition to launching his own label and shop in Dubai at 16, that same year Brocca earned the title of “youngest couturier” in the Guinness Book of Records. “I’ve wanted to do fashion since I was seven and I took it extremely seriously. When I got the title, I felt a huge responsibility to elevate the standard of construction in design,” Brocca told Vogue Magazine in an interview last year.
As the Italian-Sri Lankan designer himself stated regarding his artistic ethos in an interview with Vogue Magazine, “My priority is to push my own boundaries. I want to challenge the norms of pattern cutting, and create art.”
Marvelously, a quick glance at his portfolio is all that is needed to know that he has held true to this motivation thus far. Moreover, this boundary-pushing/boundary-breaking behavior exceeds the state of the clothes he creates, and extends to other aspects of his life, mentality, and trajectory as an artist as well. His debut, Equilibrium, is a testament to that. In some ways, it is even synonymous with Brocca himself.
Brocca’s off-schedule debut collection is an ode to precision, and deeply mathematical in nature. He found himself inspired by the logarithmic spiral, Fibonacci’s sequence, and the golden ratio. Hotter yet, the line is environmentally conscious and deeply sustainable in its composition.
As Brocca himself told Vogue Magazine, “Everything is made from deadstock fabrics such as silk moiré, organza and sustainable leather. Instead of drawings, most of my sketchbook is full of equations, which is how I developed my cutting.”
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Related Questions
1) Is the future of fashion, especially in the hands of such young designers, streetwear?
Yes! Or at least, it appears so. But also, streetwear has always played a significant role in high fashion. The only difference is that in the past, its influence was somewhat subdued, and watered down by the fashion elite. Streetwear is not new in high fashion. Streetwear being fully credited, however, is.
2) How do high fashion notables determine the success, potential, and prominence of these young designers?
There is no single right or wrong way in which such things are determined, but certain aspects involved include celebrities who designers have dressed, records they’ve broken, boundaries they’ve pushed, the number of people their designs have reached, and relevance on the world stage.
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Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a legal expert to address your specific needs.
Meet Shawn Chun: Entrepreneur and Fashion Business Fan.
I’m a happy individual who happens to be an entrepreneur. I have owned several types of businesses in my life from a coffee shop to an import and export business to an online review business plus a few more and now I create online resources for those interested in starting new ventures. It’s demanding work but I love it. I do it for those passionate about their business and their goals. That’s why when I meet a designer or boutique owner at a craft fair, farmers market, retail location or anywhere else I see myself. I know how hard the struggle is to retain clients, find good employees and keep the business growing all while trying to stay competitive.
That’s why I created Fashion Business Boss: I want to help fashion business owners like you build a thriving business that brings you endless joy and supports your ideal lifestyle.