In New York, it’s the emerging labels that are fast becoming some of the sexiest tickets of the week. Because everyone wants to have been there when the new Prabal Gurung or Alexander Wang was born. Take Tome, for example: The relatively young, New York-based brand barely had one season under its belt back in September, and yet word of mouth was strong enough that its show was heaving with industry majors including Jenna Lyons and top editors from Vogue and W.
And that’s just one on an impressive list of up-and-comers worth watching closely. So that you can support them from the start, we’ve got the backstory on New York’s soon-to-be giant names listed on the fall ‘14 show calendar.
ADEAM
Fans of chic city separates, this label is talking to you. Two-year-old ADEAM is the product of Japanese-born, New York-based Hanako Maeda, who has taken her urban surroundings on board and channeled them into her modern label, by way of collared dresses, city shorts, and pretty tailored twinsets.
Perfect for: Days full of important meetings.
Public School
Cool menswear label, Public School is expanding into womenswear, presenting its first collection this season. After relaunching their label in 2012, Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne have gone from win to win. They scored love from the CFDA in 2013, winning both the CFDA Swarovski Award for menswear and the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award.
Perfect for: Earning style cred at the office and the gym.
Tome
Sydney natives, Ryan Lobo and Ramon Martin certainly aren’t newbies, but having spent the past few seasons refining their offering, they’ve earned a fixed place on the talent radar. Named as a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winner in 2013, their spring/summer ’14 show presented a memorable collection of pastel PVC raincoats, pretty white slips and Grecian silhouettes. We’ve got high hopes for fall ’14.
Perfect for: Statement making on rainy days.
Koonhor
Hot on the heels of Rag & Bone and Alexander Wang is Koonhor, the new solution to downtown style. Designing together since 2003 (and scoring their NYFW debut last season), Koon Lim and Catrine Thé grew up in Singapore and Indonesia, though you’d never guess. Their label screams “New York, New York!”
Perfect for: After-work drinks in Soho.
Novis
Novis’ designer, Jordanna Warmflash spent time under Zac Posen, Alice + Olivia and Peter Som before establishing her own label in 2012. And thier influence shows. Designed and made in New York City, her pretty pieces float with femininity and elegance.
Perfect for: Romantic dates.
