Meet the 4 Fashion Brands Launching on Net-a-Porter's 'The Vanguard'
Launched in September last year, Net-a-Porter's mentorship program, “The Vanguard”, aims to sift out the creme de la creme of young fashion brands around the world and nurture them into successful, independent businesses. "We have so much to offer at Net-a-Porter by way of expertise," says the online retailer's Global Buying Director, Elizabeth von der Goltz. "By working closely with these designers on the areas they may not have as much insight into, we are hoping to be able to help them on their journey of building a lasting and successful brand."
Each season, Net-a-Porter will introduce four emerging brands to The Vanguard. Its FW18 roster was a great first taste of the talents it has in store, with the appeal of each label summed up by Von der Goltz: "We love the duality of Les Reveries’ floral designs, which are unlike anything we have previously seen. Martinez's use of traditional Spanish craftsmanship... is a resolute approach to support local production on the human scale and to perpetuate arts and crafts techniques. RUH champions intellectual beauty and refined silhouettes. gu_de is the perfect combination of contemporary price point meets compelling design."
The second wave of fashion labels that have been added to The Vanguard for SS19 are no less exceptional. Find out about them below:
Despite only unveiling its debut collection in January last year, Peter Do's eponymous label has already amassed a sizeable following on Instagram. The New York-based designer's forte is tailoring, which he refined at stints at Derek Lam and Phoebe Philo's Céline. (It's little surprise that Do's label is already listed amongst the likes of Bottega Veneta as a go-to alternative for Philophiles.) With his addition to The Vanguard, you'll be able to delight over the LVMH Prize winner's offerings of beautifully cut, standout shirting and innovative separates.
Drawing on Asian culture is not a new concept in fashion — you'll find quite a few local brands doing so over at Design Orchard — but Commission designers Huy Luong, Dylan Cao and Jin Kay are taking an approach that is refreshing and, more importantly, authentic. For their debut collection, the New York-based trio referenced the wardrobes of their mothers from when they worked in Vietnam and Korea. The result was a line of smart clothing for the modern working woman that bears a subtle, Asian touch that we'd be able to appreciate. Case in point: one dress comes with a translucent overlay as a nod to the sheer wrapper of the beloved White Rabbit candy.
What with fashion turning its attention to sustainability and the many Marie Kondo axioms peppering our conversations lately, you're probably on the hunt for a beautiful handbag to stick with for the rest of your life. Ratio et Motus has several options for your consideration, all of which feature a distinctive, structured silhouette borrowed from classic handbags. Using Italian craftsmanship, designers Angela Wang and Daniel Li create fine leather bags that are meant to be timeless, but that doesn't mean that they ignore the needs of today's women. Their 'Disco' bag, for example, comes with a slim back pocket for its owner to safely store their Juul.
Unlike your typical jewellery label, Anne Manns' offerings do not feature star, hearts or flower motifs. Instead, the Berlin brand's collections draw on the forms of an often overlooked part of nature: vegetables. Fans of minimal jewellery will be pleasantly surprised by the sculptural forms that peas and eggplants can take when they browse through the brand's array of silver- and gold-plated earrings, cuffs and necklaces.
Exclusive designs from Peter Do, Commission, Ratio et Motus and Anne Manns are now available on Net-a-Porter's website.
