Best in Class: NYC Emerging Designers to Know
Milan. Paris. London. New York. Housing more fashion headquarters than any other city in the US, it’s no wonder NYC has remained a worldwide fashion capital for so long. And while the city is also home to the three most prominent design schools in the country, it’s equally understandable that some of our greatest future designers start their careers here.
With that in mind, let’s put the spotlight on some of NYC’s best emerging designers (and where you can find them).
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Emily Dawn Long
Initially founded with the intention of making clothes for her and her friends, designer Emily Dawn Long launched her label by simply producing a series of tie-dye pieces out of her apartment in 2019. While the tie-dye pieces were a hit, it wasn’t long before the collection expanded to include gender-fluid ready-to-wear.
While Long’s designs feel artisanal, it’s hard not to notice a certain quirkiness to the handcrafted aesthetic. There is something about every piece that feels both vintage and contemporary, all at the same time. And among these vintage-inspired silhouettes, you’ll find other surprising designs like spiral hair clips– remade from vintage hair pins found in Italy– and “A Hat Named Wanda”, a crochet hat that–on a design level–seems to perfectly encapsulate the beauty of this brand.
Available online or for in-person shopping, check out: Tangerine NYC at 616 Lorimer Street, Brooklyn.
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Commission
Described as “elevated 80s Asian mom style”, designers Jin Kay, Dylan Cao and Huy Luong launched Commission in 2018. Having grown up in both Vietnam and Korea, the designers were tired of seeing the way art and design in the West portrayed Asian culture. Wanting to contribute another perspective, the designers launched the brand with the intention to present pieces influenced by their childhoods growing up in Asia.
The result is a collection of gender-neutral pieces that take their cues from the wardrobes of working women in the late ’80s/early ’90s. While the pleated midi skirts scream conservative mom nostalgia, there is a youthfulness to their bomber jackets and a lushness to their knitwear. But perhaps, their perfectly tailored utility shirts best capture the essence of Commission and their elevated utilitarianism.
Available online only.
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The Great Eros
Okay, so The Great Eros isn’t exactly new in town. Launched in 2016, the brand is more teenager than newborn. But with their ever-growing customer base and refreshing take on lingerie, we felt a shout-out was in order.
With designs that suggest a more modern take on sensuality, The Great Eros feels like luxury. There is an elevated, almost Old World European quality to the aesthetic that feels invigorating in a market that seems so heavily saturated by bows and lace. Founder Christina Viviani, the woman behind these sophisticated silhouettes, honed her chops designing for Donna Karan, Neal Sperling and Adrienne Vittadini before launching our beloved The Great Eros.
135 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn; T. (347) 763 0325
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Sibling
Conceived mid-pandemic, designer Emily Bryngelson launched Sibling with an in-person pop-up of reworked vintage men’s shirts before moving her designs online. Coming from 10 years of experience at J Crew, Bryngelson has long been witness to the fashion industry’s waste-heavy cycle of production and disuse.
Seeking to amend the usual production standards, Bryngelson specifically sought thrifted men’s shirts (all 100% cotton) as material for all her designs. The result is a really fresh take on traditional pieces. Think button-downs turned backless, with eyelet and embellishments softening the stiffness of an old men’s collar. Every piece is unique and customers are encouraged to inquire about custom orders via Instagram.
Available online only.
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Thank You Have A Good Day
Launched in 2019 by stylist Alicia Yates and Gary Smith, Thank You Have A Good Day is another line that successfully fuses the new with the old. Using existing materials like salvaged vintage textiles, their designs offer one-of-a-kind pieces that feel more like wearable art than fashion.
Taking their cues from workwear, TYHAGD’s aesthetic combines painter’s pants with Belgian lace, utility jackets with french cotton linen. Quilts have been reimagined as kaftans, parkas are adorned with patchwork. The result is something that feels like home, as if the most well-loved and enduring pieces from your own closet have been taken out to play, and given a makeover for good measure.
392 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn; T. (718) 669 6854
WORDS Hillary Sproul
FEATURED IMAGE @commission_official
