Last week we reflected on the biggest moments in fashion of 2016, but as the new year looms it's time to cast our eyes forward and focus on the emerging talent that will be instrumental in shaping the future of fashion. Now more than ever, the industry has an insatiable hunger for newness, whether it's the newest must-have bag, the designer du jour, the hottest new model, an emerging street style star or even the incessant changeover of creative directors at fashion houses.
Already embraced by the style cognoscenti, get to know the fashion vanguard ahead, whom we'll all be talking about in 2017.
The brand: Jacquemus
You may not know the name but you've probably seen Simon Porte Jacquemus ' designs on your favourite street style stars or on Solange Knowles and Rihanna.
The self-taught designer started his label seven years ago, aged 19, and has swiftly been heralded in the industry for reinvigorating the French fashion scene, long dominated by old fashion houses. Thanks to Jacquemus' deconstructed designs and exaggerated proportions (and, of course, Demna Gvasalia at Vetements), a new wave of energy has recently returned to Paris fashion weeks.
If you're into tailoring with a twist, asymmetric cuts and voluminous sleeves, Jacquemus is the brand to watch in 2017.
Photo: Courtesy of Jacquemus.
The front row favourite: Ella Purnell
Among the usual faces frequently found in the front row at shows, this year we spotted a new addition, with a playful, colourful and experimental style that we can't get enough of. 20-year-old Brit actress Ella Purnell may only have a few films under her Prada belt but the fashion world has already picked her out as a new muse.
Purnell sat front row at Burberry 's show in September, as well as Dior's Cruise show at Blenheim Palace and Gucci's Resort show at Westminster Abbey. Add to that a recent Wonderland cover and we're pretty sure her model CV will be just as impressive as her acting CV in 2017.
Photo: Venturelli/Getty Images for gucci.
The It Kid: Selah Marley
Yep, you guessed it (she is the spitting image of her mum after all). Selah is the daughter of Lauryn Hill and Rohan Marley. At just 18 years old, Marley, who started at New York University in autumn 2016, walked in Kanye West’s Yeezy Season 4 show back in September, Chanel's Métiers d'Art show earlier this month and recently covered Wonderland and L'Uomo Vogue. Oh, and she's shared new music on Soundcloud. Move over Lily-Rose Depp and Sofia Richie, there's a new It girl ready to steal your crown.
Photo: WWD/REX/Shutterstock.
The model : Damaris Goddrie
In her first season, just a couple of years ago, Dutch beauty Damaris Goddrie walked for J.W.Anderson, Fendi and Simone Rocha. Not bad for a newbie. Since then, the 19-year-old has hit the catwalk for the biggest fashion houses, from Chanel to Stella McCartney, as well as starring in campaigns for Paul Smith and most recently, the Topshop Christmas campaign.
With her own killer style, effervescent personality and instantly recognisable megawatt smile, Goddrie is our kind of supermodel-in-the-making.
Photo: Melodie Jeng/getty Images.
The brand: Isa Arfen
Italian-born designer Serafina Sama launched Isa Arfen in 2011 after graduating from Central Saint Martins and gaining experience at Chloé, Marni, Lanvin and Marc Jacobs. Isa Arfen's ethos is about dressing women in clothes that are playful, beautiful and chic, all realised in eye-catching jewel tones. FKA Twigs, Rihanna and Yasmin Sewell are all fans.
Photo: Kate Green/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images.
The photographer: Letty Schmiterlow
Letty Schmiterlow shot one of our favourite fashion covers of 2016, namely the cheeky-grinned wink of Adwoa Aboah for the Female Gaze issue of i-D. A member of the i-D fold, Letty also frequently shoots for Man About Town, Miss Vogue and Marfa Journal. After Harley Weir's stratospheric success last year, we're just as excited about Letty, another young female fashion photographer. Who run the world indeed.
Photo: Courtesy of Letty Schmiterlow.
The artist: Margot Bowman
Multimedia artist Margot Bowman has been celebrated by the fashion and art world for years, thanks to her work with GIF art project 15 Folds, the sustainable swimwear brand, Auria, which she works on with friend Diana and her collaboration with brands including Converse, Alexander McQueen and Nike.
This month it was announced that Bowman would be the first artist to collaborate on the River Island Design Forum initiative, creating an eight-piece clothing collection which will launch at London Fashion Week’s Fashion Film event in February next year. Margot’s inspiration derives from the idea that “In fashion we always talk about the outside, we never celebrate what’s on the inside. It’s a collection that’s all about the amazing, unique, contradictory, complicated, ambiguous shapes, ideas and thoughts that fill us all up.”
Photo: Courtesy of Margot Bowman.
The makeup artist: Nami Yoshida
Take one scroll through makeup artist Nami Yoshida 's Instagram and you'll be blown away by her creativity and the abstract beauty she brings to life in every image. Whether its an army of identical models with a deep red lip for a Kenzo campaign, doll-like perfection for Natalia Vodianova's POP cover or extreme eyelash extensions and flawless skin for AnOther magazine, Yoshida's talent knows no limits.
Born in Japan, Nami studied makeup in Tokyo before moving to London in 2010, where she began assisting. A few years later, she went it alone and now counts Interview, Wallpaper, Dazed, i-D and POP as regular clients.
Photo: Courtesy of Kenzo.
The creative director: Alex Eagle
Even if you're not familiar with her name, chances are, if you're interested in fashion – or more accurately, shopping – you've already visited one of Alex Eagle's stores. Situated in central London, Berlin and Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire, Eagle's shops offer a new type of retail experience, with the most beautiful edit of fashion, own brand pieces, art, furniture and unique curiosities.
However, Eagle has more strings to her bow than running some of the chicest shops in Europe. Her most recent space, The Store on the Strand (a vast building a few doors down from Somerset House), is now also the central hub for London Fashion Week, where both men's and women's shows will take place from the beginning of next year.
The rising street style star: Monica Ainley
If you're a street style aficionado and follow everyone from Pandora Sykes to Pernille Teisbaek, then you've probably already swooned over Monica Ainley's outfits in Insta pics posted by best friend and podcast partner, Camille Charrière. Monica does tomboy chic to perfection, wearing loose silhouettes and layered tailoring. Hit follow now and listen to her podcast Fashion: No Filter.
Photo: Kirstin Sinclair/Getty Images.
The model: Rina Fukushi
In a sea of social media supermodels/ daughters-of (we're looking at you, Bella, Gigi, Kendall, Lily-Rose Depp et al), part-Filipino, Spanish and Japanese model Rina Fukushi caught our eye at the shows during 2016. Fukushi walked for Alexander Wang, Marc Jacobs, Bottega Veneta, Chloé and Miu Miu at the SS17 shows, although considering her very first show in Paris was for Louis Vuitton, this model was always destined for big things. We also love the fact that Rina is an anime, photography and vintage fashion enthusiast.
Photo: Randy Brooke/WireImage.
The stylist: Alice Goddard
Earlier this month, designer Molly Goddard stole the show at the Fashion Awards, scooping the Emerging Talent title as well as dressing both Adwoa Aboah and Susie Lau on the red carpet. Working quietly behind the scenes is younger sister, Alice Goddard, who not only styles Molly's shows and presentations but also casts the models.
The Central Saint Martins alumnus, who shies away from social media, runs cult biannual fashion and art magazine Hot and Cool and has worked with Bella Freud, Helmut Lang and M.i.h Jeans.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Goddard.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
The 2019 Pirelli Calendar Is Here & It's Cinematic Gold
All Of Priyanka Chopra’s Wedding Looks In One Place
Priyanka Chopra Is The First Indian Woman To Cover American Vogue