Topping our list as by far the ‘littlest entrepreneur’, Asia’s youngest fashion designer is already making her mark on the industry with stellar designs for her peers. At the tender age of twelve, Prachi Badve has been designing for two years, produced five shows, and just showcased her most recent collection at India Kids Fashion Week in Mumbai. Her initial inspiration came from former Miss World Priyanka Chopra in her winning gown. Badve drew it at nine, took some creative liberties in the design and was hooked. A preteen’s dream come true, Badve designs exactly what she wants to wear, considering Western outfits her strong suit. She tells Daily News & Analysis that she definitely wants to pursue a career in design and keeps three things in mind for her work style, comfort, and elegance. With insight like that there’s no doubt she’ll go far!
When your dad’s a king (of the orange juice industry) in Eastern Europe, who can blame you for wanting to be a princess? Citing “princess” as her original ambition, Kira Plastinina has now set her sights on becoming fashion royalty and she’s well on her way. Growing up drawing was her favorite hobby, illustrating the fairytale princesses of her daydreams. Now at twenty years old, she designs and sells the Kira Plastinina brand in Style Studios, having opened the first store in Moscow in 2007. Today there are Style Studios around the globe in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, China, and the Philippines. LUBLU, (meaning “to love”) a second line by Plastinina is available in the United States with a flagship store in Los Angeles. The Spring 2012 collection has clean and simple style that is super flattering in slightly tailored yet relaxed silhouettes. Streamlined separates, belted dresses, and cocktail frocks appear in crisp black and white accented with bright hues and detailed with lace and floral appliqué. Her designs are very modern and it’s easy to see the talent behind her successful brand.
After her first fashion show for her Los Angeles high school, Jazmin Whitley gathered a following by creating custom pieces for local talents and socialites. At seventeen, her first collection debuted at LA Fashion Week in 2006 and resulted in the launch of her own label, Li Cari. She then brought Li Cari to show in New York and became the youngest designer to show at the two major fashion markets at the time. Whitley’s celebrity clientele boomed with fans like Kelly Osborne, Paris Hilton, and Christina Ricci and she soon had her own MTV series House of Jazmin, documenting her life ‘backstage’ of the fashion industry. Li Cari strives to be socially responsible, manufacturing garments in the United States and utilizing organic or natural fabrics when possible. “I always try to think, not only of my design but of the world around us when I am creating,” says Whitley in a release. Three years later, at twenty-four, she’s still going strong. Whitley presented her Fall 2012 “The Europe” collection yesterday at a Hollywood charity auction for Unlikely Heroes. The collection’s theme, to bring a taste of Europe to the States, is inspired by the combination of European royalty and Hollywood grace and executed with lush organic cashmere in a subdued color palette.
The head designer behind Australian-based brand August Street, Ainsley Hanson has quite an impressive resume for her budding career in the fashion industry. A graduate of the Sydney Institute of Technology, the twenty-five year old designer presented her globally inspired, senior collection titled “Generic Sameness” at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia. She’s worked alongside Aussie designers Josh Goot and Gary Bigeni and after graduation landed a job as the stylist for Australia’s Next Top Model series. She now heads up the urban-chic brand and continues to draw attention with great design and innovative ideas. August Street’s Fall 2012 line “Navajo Dreaming” received rave reviews for the tribal color palette and ethnic design flourishes. Now working on the Spring 2012 lookbook, (the season’s are reverse down under!) Hanson has embraced the blogger phenomenon and invited five to attend the shoot and each style a look with the new collection. Full of juicy color and featuring the brand’s spring model muse Krystal Glynn, we can’t wait to see it live and in color!
One of the youngest designers to show at the tents at New York Fashion Week starting with his Spring 2010 collection, Alexander Berardi, 25, now has years of successful seasons under his belt and a popular Soho boutique. Located on Prince Street, the boutique doubles as a retail space and design studio. The New York native and Parsons grad spent his apprenticeship at Kenneth Cole before starting his own venture. Berardi’s designs are flirty, feminine, and often inspired by classic Hollywood and New England charm. He keeps his production local, manufacturing in the Garment District, and price points reasonable, from $150 to $1100. Generating buzz in news recently, all eyes are on Berardi’s boutique after the kidnapping of boutique bunny Miss Cooper by a cowboy-clad homeless man last week! All is well however, after one of the kidnapper’s pals convinced him to return the beloved pet and he dropped it off at the 1st Precinct on Saturday.
Get the RSS Feed
