10 exciting graduate designers to watch in 2019
From feminist fashions to experimental couture, an impressive range of grad designers caught our eye last year. More than ever before there’s been a visible push towards embracing a gender fluid and sustainable future in fashion, with the new crop of tastemakers leading the way. Radical body sculptures? Chic sportswear packed with a heady dose of irony? Meet HUNGER’s favourite ones-to-watch, anticipating a new year full of fresh, flourishing creativity, and fabulous clothes.
Paolina Russo
Class of…
2018
CV cheat sheet…
Canadian-born Russo graduated from Central Saint Martins (BA) after interning with John Galliano at Maison Margiela. For her BA collection, she was awarded the L’Oreal Professional Talent Award and runner up for the MullenLowe NOVA Award. This womenswear designer has dressed a stylish array of stars including Bella Hadid, Solange Knowles, Jazzelle Zanaughtti and Rita Ora.
Insta-following…
20K @paolina_russo
Yuhan Wang
Class of…
2018
CV cheat sheet…
Born in Weihei, China, Wang graduated from CSM with an MA. Soon after, she was swept up by famous young designer organisation Fashion East, so got to debut her SS19 womenswear collection at London Fashion Week in September.
Insta-following…
6k @yuhanwangyuhan
Sinéad O’Dwyer
Class of…
2018
CV cheat sheet…
The London-based designer’s RCA MA collection both probed and disrupted bodily expectations in fantastical ways, creating wearable sculptures that celebrate the female form. Radical, diverse and beautiful silhouettes that push the boundaries of body adornment. “I aim to make space for the body within the system that is supposed to clothe it,” she says. “I also wish to evoke the vulnerability of our perceptions of our own body through these pieces.”
Insta-following…
5K, @sjodwyer
Aaron Challis
Class of…
2018
CV cheat sheet…
The UCA Epsom grad creates bubblegum princess garms with a hint of regality. Think Clueless meets The Crown.
Insta-following…
667 / @aaronchallis_
Aurelie Fontan
Class of…
2018
CV cheat sheet…
Aurélie was one-to-watch at London Graduate Fashion Week 2018, thanks to her world-first ‘Kombucha’ dress, which was made using fabric grown entirely from Kombucha tea, sugar, bacteria and yeast. Samsung also partnered with Edinburgh College of Art graduate and Winner of the Dame Vivienne Westwood Sustainable & Ethical Award this year, to create a sustainable/sci-fi collection (produced using cutting edge technology controlled directly through the Galaxy Note9). The phone was used in seven major processes in design and production, from 3D printed fastenings to the use of a “digital robotic drawing arm”. Mobile couture: it’s a thing.
Insta-following…
954 / @aureliefontan.design
Priya Ahluwalia
Class of…
2018
CV cheat sheet…
Ahluwalia was born in London but it’s her Indian and Nigerian heritage that inspires her designs. The menswear designer graduated with an MA from the University of Westminster and her stunning, sustainable collection won her the H&M Design Prize of 2019.
Insta-following…
2K @aluwalia_studio
Patrick McDowell
Class of…
2018
CV cheat sheet…
From The Wirral in Merseyside to CSM, McDowell graduated with a BA championing sustainability. His artistically urban womenswear designs have graced the cover of Elle UK and he has dressed a growing list of popular stars from M.I.A and Rita Ora to Slick Woods.
Insta-following…
3K @patrick_mcdowell
Mowalola Ogunlensi
Class of…
2017
CV cheat sheet…
After graduating a year ago from CSM, Lagos-born Ogunlensi is another talented designer joining Fashion East at LFW in January. Her Nigerian, psychedelic rock-inspired menswear collections featured in Skepta’s Pure Water music video and have been worn by other artists like Dev Hynes and Solange Knowles.
Insta-following…
13.1K @mowalola
Fabian Kis-Juhasz
Class of…
2017
CV cheat sheet…
Graduating from the Royal College of Art, Kis-Juhasz went back to her birthplace to debut her first fashion week in Budapest this year. Her avant-garde, theatrical designs have been featured in magazines from LOVE to Dazed.
Insta-following…
2K @fabiankisjuhasz
Matic Veler
Class of…
2018
CV cheat sheet…
“I was raised in a socialist town in Slovenia which was built during the communist regime. I was surrounded by sterile, concrete structures, with no art history or direction,” RCA grad Matic Veler explains. “This is where my inspiration and passion for the arts was born.Later on,my passion for art history grew exponentially and I immersed myself in it. Life taught me to correlate ornaments with my beautiful childhood memories. This developed my admiration and appreciation of 17th and 18th century Baroque-style architecture.”
Insta-following…
1K, @maticveler
