5 emerging brands designed by female creatives to know From the minimalist bags of Kara to the sculptural creations of Ellery
Over the last few years, the brands founded and designed by women have considerably increased: female creatives are finally conquering a prominent position in the fashion industry, showcasing their own idea of femininity through different style and aesthetics. The most interesting brands of the last few years were created by women, just think of Marine Serre, Natasha Zinko, Koché by Christelle Kocher and many others.
nss magazine has decided to gather here 5 emerging brands designed by women: Kara, Di Du, Paula Gerbase, Ellery and Daizy Shely. They are young, upcoming, talented and their brands, although very different from each other, have all the numbers to leave a mark.
Di Du
Born in China less than thirty years ago, Di Du is one of the most interesting and original names to keep an eye on. After a period of training at SANKUANZ and a master's degree in fashion design just obtained at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, it took her just a brief period of time before becoming well-known and chosen by Sita Abellan, Rico Nasty, and above all Rosalía (remember the cowgirl style outfit in the Aute Cuture video?) for their looks.
All thanks to her unique style made of futuristic and modern garments, able to bring feminine power through deliberately excessive details: coloured leather, flamboyant cowboy hats, feathers, voluminous bomber, stripper styled platform. These "diva materials", as she defines them, are the tools chosen by Di to deliver the idea of free sexuality, equality and feminine empowerment. She attributes this need to portray a feminine vision to her upbringing in a country that emphasizes male power, for which many consider her "the new leader in female empowerment in the fashion industry". Du's graduation collection is the perfect demonstration of this. Sip in the ocean mixes her Chinese cultural heritage with erotic sculptures by artist Anna Uddenberg and the poster of a Parisian strip club. The result is a series of undeniably original looks, with a futuristic, kitsch twist that combines sportswear and lingerie elements.
Paula Gerbase
Originally from Perth and Parisian by adoption, Kym Ellery is the creative mind of Ellery, one of the most interesting novelties that have conquered influencers and stylists in the world such as Rihanna, Solange Knowles, Cate Blanchett or Elle Fanning. After studying at Central Saint Martins and after having worked for four years as an editor for Russh magazine, the designer took only a few years to deserve a mention in the BoF 500 list, as one of the reference figures in today's fashion and to become one of the creative favourites of the fashion industry. Business of Fashion describes her clothes as “a weather vane for trends” and Voguerunway.com citing Ms Ellery as a designer who “appears to be succeeding at one of the trickiest moves in the business”, adding: “Paris take note: she intends to stay for good.” This success is due to her womenswear made of sculptural shapes, playful volumes, original details, tailoring inspired by the 70s for silhouettes and cuts and innovative use of materials. Kym describes her own style with these 5 words: voluminous, idiosyncratic, architectural, smart and original.
