It’s always intriguing to see what the world’s most famous designers are coming out with every season. However, we think some of the fun of Fashion Week is discovering new designers to obsess over.
We bring you spotlights on three flourishing fashion designers—what inspires them, what their collections are like, and why we expect big things from them!
Suzanne Rae
Brooklyn-based designer Suzanne Rae Pelaez began her fashion career in New York after graduating from Parson School of Design. Her line, Suzanne Rae, is a women’s ready-to-wear line inspired by and made for the modern woman. And it’s awesome.
We admire her use of eco-friendly fabrics like hemp and wool. Her latest S/S 2012 collection displays a mixture of ease and elegance. She showed flowing gowns, playsuits, and swimwear constructed from organic cotton, recycled hemp, raw silk, and raffia. When asked of her inspiration she said she was saddened the tragedies in Japan, especially the climate issues and nuclear safety. She found inspiration in a simpler time in the country, namely the 19th-century.
This environmentally-savvy designer involves her community in her designs, teaming with local artists to create prints for each of her collections. How cool is that? And by making all samples in-house with all production done in NYC’s Garment District, Pelaez makes certain to support neighboring industries.
Beautiful, easy designs with value placed on the environment? We’d say this lady’s got a pretty good head on her shoulders.
Shop Suzanne Rae here.
Miha
The New York-based label Miha is composed of Aimee Kellner, Stephanie Otto, and Caroline Constas. They decided to team up on what they describe as a contemporary-couture project for the fashion-savvy career girl. When asked about their line, Constas says, “The Miha customer wants to wear something sophisticated to work, but also wants to look cool and sexy after work for drinks.” That sounds pretty familiar, huh ladies?
The women behind Miha say they wanted to offer fashionable looks, but without the super high price tag. Their goal is to create fresh and quality designs, in an affordable way. And we would say they are well on their way, being picked up by several department stores and specialty stores throughout the globe.
Their S/S 2012 line was inspired by California culture in America’s Golden Age (1950s-1970s) and we have to admit we love it. Designs include flowy maxi dresses, loose blouses, and short-draped dresses in colors ranging from pale blue, to soft coral, and deep salmon— perfect for summer!
Shop Miha here.
DEGEN
Brooklyn-based designer Lindsay Degen showcased her S/S 2012 collection of quirky, knit lingerie in a presentation rather than a runway show. This unconventional way of doing things isn’t surprising when you see her work, which borders on art.
Growing up in Cincinnati as the daughter of two scientists, Degen says the human body was always spoken of in a very clinical manner. Her playful designs, such as undies with peek-a-boo openings in the back and bras with embroidered pom-pom nipples, are her way of going against her upbringing.
Her whimsical, ready-to-wear line of knits and wovens are handmade by Degen herself with the “softest materials ever,” according to the designer. These days, with underwear being worn as outerwear and even the reemergence of the crop top, we think Degen may be onto something with these chunky textile skivvies. Plus, she's just so fun!
Shop DEGEN here.
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