Fashion is always changing and just when you think that the outfit you wore to an event ast year is sti fashionable, another has aready taken its place. To keep up with the latest trends, you must keep your eyes peeled for what’s ruling the runways. From London to Milan, Fashion Weeks keep getting bigger and better.

Established brands like Versace, Armani, and Dolce & Gabbana continue to wow with new designs year in year out. Legends aside, new and upcoming designers are also making their mark with innovative clothes, footwear, and accessories. So, what is it gonna be for you? As we take a look at top trendsetting collections, here are 15 fashion designers to watch in 2019. 

Gucci

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The Italian brand has been in operation for almost a century and continues to rank among the best fashion labels to date. The luxury brand has always held exciting runway shows that go on to define fashion. Under Alessandro Michele, the brand’s creative director, Gucci has brought back ’80’s and ’70’s vibe for the 2019 collection.

In store is a collaboration with Dapper Dan, the legendary fashion designer. Back are sequins, glitter, lurex and balloon sleeves. Silhouettes range from slinky dresses and mutton chop tops to boxy cardigans. 2019 has also seen the return of animal spots and old school accessories such as Mickey Mouse handbags.     

OFF WHITE

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OFF WHITE C/O VIRGIL ABLOH™ has seen a tremendous rise in sales from their luxury streetwear. The line has already seen acceptance by major brands including dressing tennis star Serena Williams during the US Open. Virgil Abloh has also collaborated with Nike, Ikea, and Mykonos.

The young brand’s manufacturing arm is based in Milan with products aimed at ‘Defining the grey area between black and white as the color of OFF-WHITE™’. The label caters for both men and women with designs ranging from out-wear and belts to dresses and shoes. If the label’s SS19 Paris show is anything to go by, the brand is definitely worth keeping an eye on in 2019.

Balenciaga

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Since its first store was opened in 1917, Balenciaga has been an inspirational brand. It’s one of the most iconic lines to have graced the runways over the years. For the 2019 fashion cycle, Balenciaga has benefitted from the vision of Demna Gvasalia, the brand’s creative director since 2015.

Among the products to watch include an exclusive track shoe from a collaboration with Selfridges. There is also the recently launched Triple S ‘Volt’ sneaker which is driving up sales for the brand. Pleats and prints are also lining the dress section with cashmere sweaters and camel wool-blend coats still driving up sales.

Prada

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Prada is another century-old Italian luxury fashion house that has kept the runways alive over the years. The brand is renowned for leather handbags, ready to wear clothes, as well as shoes and other accessories. At the helm of the over 600 worldwide Prada Boutiques is Miuccia Prada, the head designer.

In the clothes division, the brand has unveiled cycling shorts and baby doll dresses. Also, ’60’s and ’70’s print coats and bodysuits are making a comeback in the 2019 Prada collection. Other must-haves include Re-Nylon backpacks, printed headbands, nylon hats, and Saffiano leather wallets.          

Zen Chen

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Zen Chen is a new addition to the ever-changing fashion arena. The young Chinese designer made her debut in 2017 with the i-am-chen brand. The knitwear label brings to the scene a contemporary take to traditional designs.

Asked about her style, Chen is quoted saying, “I want to redefine knitwear by focusing on technology as well as aesthetics.” She goes on to add, “I consider myself a technician rather than a fashion designer. I make pieces that don’t look knitted at all.” And true to her word, Chen spends time in factories learning about fabric making.

Her unique education has given her a unique ability to design thought-provoking and timeless chic pieces. Zen Chen’s knitwear is now thriving in the west courtesy of Susie Lau, a talent scout, and fashion director who has brought ten of Shanghai’s most promising young designers into the London runways.   

Saks Potts

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Saks Potts is an emerging brand, the brainchild of Catherine Saks and Barbara Potts. The two friends founded the brand in 2014 and since then, their designs have become popular with each passing day.

Saks Potts specializes in women’s outerwear coats for all seasons. The collection comes with unusual aesthetics and high-quality material. It is among the most successful niche brands and has received celebrity endorsements internationally.

Top on the line are tie-dye jackets and fur-lined coats. The coats, or ‘Foxy’ as they are known, have placed Sak Potts on the map with the likes of Kendall Jenner and Rihanna wearing them.   

SemSem

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Appearing on Forbes’ list of emerging brands to watch in 2019, SemSem is an Egyptian-inspired fashion label. Its owned by Abeer Al Otaiba, the proud mother of Samia or ‘SemSem’- whose nickname is the brand’s namesake. The line bears a lotus flower and a triangle which are famous Egyptian symbols.

With a background in Civil Engineering, Abeer pays attention to quality, detail, and functionality in all of her pieces. She refines Middle-Eastern fashion for the ultimate modern mother and daughter wear.

The brand has been a hit, with celebrities such as Kourtney Kardashian and Tiffany Haddish spotted wearing the glamorous designs. That’s not all, in 2018 SemSem got an even bigger boost by having Albino Riganello, former Givenchy’s head designer, joining the ranks as design director.          

Masha Ma

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Masha Ma is one of the emerging designers whose collection has stuck with runways for over a decade. The Chinese national launched her namesake brand in 2008, which is currently based in Shanghai and Paris. Masha Ma has collaborated with English supermodel Naomi Campbell among other celebrities.

She describes her designs as modern, chic, minimalistic and feminine. Ma is a Masters graduate of London’s Central Saint Martins. As a student, she was interning for the likes of Alexander McQueen. Her collection was showcased by Vauxhall Fashion Scout during the London Fashion Week, while she was still a student.

Among the highlights of Masha Ma 2019 collection is a shirtless dress. The design conforms to the designer’s style of clean and futuristic outerwear. There is also a revolutionary raincoat design featuring fin-like flaps in the production line.          

Versace

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This Italian luxury brand has seen worldwide acceptance since its first shop opened in 1978. Among the flagship designs that made Versace iconic include the “Young Versace” and “Versus” lines. Many collaborations with celebrities later, the brand came to be known as the “Rock and Roll designer”- and they continue to rock!

The brand was acquired by Michael Kors Holdings in 2019, a deal that has brought more buzz to an already established label. The new-look Versace has ventured into streetwear in partnership with Kith. Celebrity endorsement in music videos and runways also makes Versace one of the most searched brands in 2019.

Saul Nash

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Saul Nash, the latest addition to Fashion East’s list of emerging designers, is truly a force to reckon with. His menswear collection combines aspects of sports and dance. 

With a Masters in Menswear from the Royal College of Art, Nash comes with the makings of a great designer. 

Add a BA in Performance Design & Practice to his portfolio and Nash’s menswear line becomes even more innovative. His designs were something to look forward to during the 2019 London Fashion Week’s Spring/Summer 2020 collection.

His designs make use of technical fabrics with curved zippers and loads of mesh. The final products are clothes made for flexibility. The versatility of the designs has actually seen dancers model for the line.   

Ahluwalia Studio

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Every now and then the fashion world gets a glimpse of the future through the eyes of upcoming designers. This is exactly what Priya Ahluwalia promises with her multicultural-inspired designs.

She is a London-born designer has only been in the game for over a year now, having graduated from the University of Westminster in 2018. Her line, Ahluwalia Studio, is already collaborating with Adidas Originals – how’s that for vindication!

She studied menswear and saw her designs win the coveted H&M Design Award. Her inspirational pieces come from a mixed heritage; she is born to an Indian mother and a Nigerian father. By avoiding stylistic cliches and tapping into exotic and modern designs, Priya’s debut collection has seen a lot of support across the board.

Stefan Cooke

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The winner of the 2018 H&M Design Award, Stefan Cooke is among the emerging fashion designers to watch in 2019. He graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2017, with his Master’s collection earning him a joint award from L’Oréal for Professionnel Creative. This was back in 2017 where his designs graced the London Fashion Week.

Together with Jake Burt, Cooke’s partner, their brand is among the 8 finalists for the 2019 LVMH award for young designers. The London-based fashion line experiments with traditional tailoring, deconstructed pieces and traditional british patterns; the end result is colorful, urbane and joyful streetwear.      

Stevie Dance

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Already a famed stylist and fashion director, Stevie Dance is now venturing into fashion design. The multi-talented Australian works for POP Magazine and consults to OFF-WHITE. Her impressive portfolio, which also includes photography, gives her a broad perspective on all things fashion.

Her entry into the design is through The Feel Studio Inc, a clothing line dedicated to denim. FEEL, as the label is known as, sets out to create the perfect jeans for everyday wear. The niche brand targets single women but Stevie agrees that even fashion-forward men find the denim appealing.

The brand has been a hit due to the wide range of sizes in both tall and regular lengths. FEEL caters for over 50 body shapes, making it the go-to brand for both small and plus size shoppers.    

Dalton Bidula

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Dalton Bidula is the seventeen-year-old behind Shape Streetwear, a clothing line that debuted in 2017. Although the young man is still in high school, his designs are among the most outstanding designs from Denver Fashion Week.

Named among the fashion designers to watch in 2019, his line is conceived from the belief that “if someone else can do it, why can’t I?” Shape Street consists of casual everyday wear that places emphasis on geometric prints. The brand offers a wide range of designs including shorts, hoodies, belts, and tops.

His appreciation for historical architecture has led to unique and trendy pieces that have become a hit among the youth. With the brand’s motto, “Find Your True Shape”, as a guide, Shape Street aims to push the limits of what fashion has to offer.        

Jessie Andrews

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Jessie Andrews is among the most versatile fashion entrepreneurs of our times. Despite not being formally trained as a designer, Andrews continues to launch successful brands. Since 2012 she has launched various lines including Bagatiba (jewelry), Basic Swim (swimwear), Petiue (skin care), and Jue Illimité (ready-to-wear).

Her interest in fashion stems from her modeling career which included working for companies such as American Apparels and The Hundreds. Recently, she has modeled for Roberta Einer 2019 London shows.

Her focus on design has seen Jeu Illimité emerge as a successful ready-to-wear cool girl line. It offers graphic tees, slip dresses and high-waisted denim among other French-inspired designs. Apart from that, her jewelry line has been an instant hit with celebrities like Gigi Hadid and Kourtney Kardashian.   

There you go! The world of fashion is limitless and 2019 brings together legendary and upcoming brands to satisfy your need to keep up with the trends. Whether you want to stand out, blend in or outrightly dazzle, who is to stop you? Certainly not the above top 15 designers.  What’s even better is that you can sample out each that appeals to you to come up with different looks for different occasions.