The designers are coming!
This S/S 23’ season is fingers crossed going to be a good one! With cargo pants staying in the mainstream and designers taking silhouettes and cutouts to a new level - I am to believe that we are in for a treat. I have rounded up SEVEN of my favorite designers right now - from Black-owned bosses to our dear friends across the pond(AKA Europe) - you’re going to see some design houses that might steal a few coins from you. Sorry in advance!
#1 - KAI COLLECTIVE
Kai Collective was founded by Fisayo Longe. Geared towards women by women, Kai Collective coins itself as attainable with luxury aesthetics. This brand encourages women to be comfortable and confident in their skin. The name Kai derives from Japanese and Hawaiin languages meaning Ocean or Oceanic. You may have seen the legendary Gaia print floating across the internet some years ago - the striking pattern was developed into dresses, tops, bottoms and the signature Gaia Robe that everyone wants to get their hands on. However, Kai Collective has blossomed since then and is currently having their annual sale - I strongly encourage you to snatch up a piece of current fashion history!
#2 - HANIFA
Founded by Anifa Mvuemba, this DC-based fashion house was established 10 years ago. Her much anticipated fame in the last several years has put her designs on the bodies of Beyonce, Tracee Ellis Ross and our fav - Issa Rae. Hanifa went absolutely viral when her garments were floating down a 3D virtual runway with no bodies - literally just the garments being showcased on a beautiful 3D rendered runway. I mean - you can’t get better than that! Homegirl broke the internet.
Since then, her beautiful, vibrant pieces have been worn by everyone. And I mean, dang near, everyone. From her long, floor length robe that comes in a beautiful, rich green to her almost translucent green cargo pants that were worn by Kayla Nicole during a fashion week - you've probably seen Hanifa many times. All this to say, you should have at least one of her pieces (and me too) in your closet for S/S 23’.
#3 - THE LINE BY K
I have been drooling over this LA - based fashion line, founded by Karla Deras - for years! Her garments are so sophisticated and surprisingly detailed that it’s just hard for me to comprehend. When I say that I love basics - this is what I mean. She takes a simple, heavy duty piece of fabric and makes it drape and curve and cinch in the most beautiful and elegant ways that I just need to have in my closet. Her clothes to me are true poetry. I have a feeling that when you slip on one of her pieces, that your body and brain just gets a certain type of reset that makes you walk into a higher version of yourself. Sorry not sorry, that is the type of feeling I’d want from a company like this. Her goal is to make her customers feel fearless, not confident but fearless honey. So, if you need a pick me up - go ahead and click the link to get you a piece from Miss Karla Deras.
#4 - FANCI CLUB
Apparently, all the celebrity girlies are wearing this brand. This one and the next two fashion houses are newer on my radar so I don’t know too much about them. After looking through this company’s website however, there were definitely pieces that I adored and have seen fast fashion companies completely rip off from them but I am someone who wants to support the OG and if I can’t afford the OG - I guess I just won’t be getting it. Anyways, I digress, Fanci Club is definitely leaning towards the “I need an outfit for a girls trip” or “I need a cute piece for my closet” to me. Their clothes are oozing the S/S 23’ trend of cutouts and silhouettes that make you embrace your femininity that I absolutely love so points for them. If you want to be in the likes of the celebrity - Neopet - whatever they call them girlies - here is your chance! Float free, embrace your femininity!
#5 - FAL-ASH
When EYE saw this brand on TikTok through my fyp - I LITERALLY gasped. If I, Gabriella E Salinas, could turn into a dress - this would be IT! I mean, Fal-ash has done something… has mixed some type of futuristic compound into their garments that I don’t even see Gucci or Dior doing. Like let’s be totally clear, they are in their OWN LANE. These dresses are walking tulips. Walking flowers. Just gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous! From the ombre to the translucency that pokes out on some of the garments is to die for. And to me, it looks like they have their signature dress down to the tee. Anything outside of that tulip looking dress is really just a flex at this point. Also, the signature jersey dress is an affordable splurge that I seriously wouldn’t mind purchasing because it is THAT jarring for me. Whew! Love Fal-ash, can’t wait to get my hands on one of their Signature dresses. I will scream to the heavens.
#6 - MARA HOFFMAN
So like I said before, these last three designers are newer to me but honey - Mara Hoffman can take. my. coins! This designer has a beautiful balance of modernity, whimsy and structure that is next level. The orange top that I threw into my gallery sneak peak of these designers is just gorgeous. From the wide structured sleeve to the beveled corset outline on the front and the freaking vibrant orange? C’mon of course I want to look like a tangerine on a brisk Spring morning - of course I do! Looking at the rest of the site though, there are some really beautiful designs they have in there. Again, they look like walking art pieces - I just love it and felt like you should know about this designer.
#7 - MIISTA
Last but certainly not least is one of my favorites, Miista. I had the opportunity to visit their store while in Barcelona and oh my goodness - the craftsmanship that you see in their shoes and clothes is top tier. The way that they are approaching the design to their shoes is keeping them in business because there's no way that every single one of your shoes is a TEN. That is some real skill. Moving on to their clothing, the attention to detail just keeps getting better. They’re putting traditional fabrics on their head and executing it in a way that is leaving us (well, at least me) with FOMO because I don’t have one of these pieces yet! I think their dresses are some of the best items they have. They have a beautiful balance of utilitarian design and elegance that is an underrated sweet spot for many women. Take a look at their selections - you won’t be disappointed!
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