Skip to main content

MEMBER LOGIN

Departures Logo Created with Sketch.

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER

Departures Logo Created with Sketch.
  • City Guides
  • Travel
  • Fashion
  • Art + Culture
  • Home + Design
Departures Logo Created with Sketch.
  • City Guides
  • Travel
  • Fashion
  • Art + Culture
  • Home + Design

FOLLOW US

LOGIN

NEWSLETTER

More In City Guides

Explore the Galapagos by Private Jet and Yacht

It’s the ultimate remote escape.

California's Famed Green Gables Estate Hits the Market for $135 Million
How to Spend a Perfect 24 Hours in San Francisco
Sleep Under the Stars in This Glass Lodge in Iceland

More In Travel

  • Hotels
  • Travel Guides
  • Restaurants

How Albert Kriemler Keeps 98-Year-Old Fashion Brand Akris, Fresh

He puts an emphasis on textiles, function, and the wearers of fashion. 

19 High-Fashion Looks We Loved From the 78th Golden Globes’ Virtual Red Carpet
To Celebrate Harry Winston’s 125th Birthday, the House Debuts the Winston Pink Legacy Ring
Hermès Launches First New Men's Cologne in 15 Years

More In Fashion

  • Style
  • Shopping

Tour the 21 Most Stunning Examples of Modern Architecture Around the World

These masterpieces revolutionized the architecture industry and inspired architects to

Stanley Tucci: Prolific Actor, Pandemic Mixologist, and Now Sex Symbol at 60
Is Your Life Story a Work of Art? Then You Can Hire a Professional Writer to Pen Your Autobiography
13 Architectural Salvage Stores Where You Can Buy Gorgeous Reclaimed Pieces

More In Art + Culture

  • Books
  • Philanthropy
  • Film

A Guide to Healing Crystals—And How You Can Incorporate Them Into Your Home Décor

Crystals can affect the energy in your home resulting in a more harmonious environ

Design Your Home Like a Cartier Boutique As the Famed Jewelry House Puts Its Most Iconic Furniture up for Auction
Luxury Linens That'll Make You Never Want to Leave Your Bed
Everything You Need to Know About Japandi

More In Home + Design

  • Art + Design
  • Architecture
LOGIN
NEWSLETTER
  • City Guides
  • Travel
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Travel Guides
  • Fashion
    • Style
    • Shopping
  • Art + Culture
    • Books
    • Film
    • Philanthropy
  • Home + Design
    • Art + Design
    • Architecture
  • MEMBER LOGIN
  • JOIN OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
  • Contact Advertise Sitemap
Home / Fashion
Fashion

The Best Fashion Labels to Watch for 2019

By Kristen Bateman on December 05, 2018

Keep an eye out for these talented up-and-coming designers.

© Courtesy CROSTY

SHARE:

Fashion saw quite a few changes this year. With the appointment of new designers at important labels including Celine, Burberry, and Louis Vuitton menswear alone, the world was kept on its toes. Despite that, there’s always room for new designers and the runways this year certainly didn’t lack talent. Here, the best new fashion labels to watch (and wear) in the new year.

 
Courtesy Marine Serre

Marine Serre

If you follow a certain street style crowd on Instagram, you’ve likely come into contact with Marine Serre’s work. The signature motif of the young designer is a crescent moon, which she prints on bodysuits, shoes, and leggings. Earlier this fall, her Spring/Summer 2019 collection transformed sportswear basics with couture-like techniques and sustainable upcycled fabrics. The world started seriously watching when she won the LVMH Prize in 2017, and by offering a little bit of something for everyone (transparent trench coats, mermaid fluted dresses, fuzzy sweaters, and tailored separates), it’s clear she’s one to watch for the new year. The line is currently stocked at Nordstrom, Barneys, SSense, and more.

Timur Emek/Getty Images; Christian Vierig/Getty Images

Magda Butrym

Based in Poland, Magda Butrym focuses on luxury womenswear. She founded her namesake line in 2014. Worn by Anja Rubik, Kendall Jenner, Alicia Vikander, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, it’s the craftsmanship that makes the label’s rebelliously feminine sequined dresses and cut-out tops stand out. Pieces are hand-finished by local Polish artisans. Whether it’s handloom weaving, hand knitting, or crocheting, each piece has unique handmade elements that end up being one of a kind. Floppy bows and pearls add an extra ladylike edge to the brand’s accessories and shoes.

Courtesy CROSTY

Crosty

Eastern Europe has been at the forefront of cool, undiscovered fashion for the past few years—particularly Georgia. Brand new to the U.S. is Crosty, Georgian leather sneakers that takes inspiration and technique from the country’s old school tradition of shoemaking. Founded by brothers George and Shota Mikaia, each pair is handcrafted in Georgia with premium Italian materials. Crosty delivers on fashion’s current obsession with chunky, ‘90s era dad shoes and many of their sneakers mix suede with calf leather or contrasting laces.

Courtesy A.W.A.K.E.

A.W.A.K.E.

Founded in 2012 by Natalia Alaverdian, who has a background in photography, styling, and art direction, A.W.A.K.E. stands out as one of the few fashion labels that truly creates everyday, wearable pieces with quirky twists. Earlier this year in September, the designer had her first ever runway show in Paris (she previously held intimate presentations). The pieces in the collection—essentials like pleated skirts, button-down shirts, and trousers seemed to be reverse engineered in the best way possible. Shirts were flipped so collars hung upside down under the neck, blazers were printed with giant animal eyes, and trousers had unusual ruching. You can find A.W.A.K.E. at Neiman Marcus, Net-a-Porter, Shopbop, and more.

Courtesy Musika Frère

Musika Frère

Musika Frère just celebrated its fifth year anniversary. But already, designers Aleks Musika and Davidson Petit-Frère have seen Jay Z, Nick Jonas, Chadwick Boseman, Sterling K. Brown, Omari Hardwick, Kevin Hart, Alex Rodriguez, and many more leading Hollywood stars, athletes, and tastemakers wear their luxury tailored suits. The duo combine classic Italian tailoring with techniques from traditional English tailoring to make bespoke suits that have a uniquely flattering slim fit all their own. Up next for the bespoke line is an eventual launch into women’s suits.

Courtesy Kwaidan Editions

Kwaidan Editions

With the combined experience of stints at Céline, Balenciaga, Rick Owens, and Alexander McQueen, Léa Dickely and Hung La created Kwaidan Editions in 2016. As for the clothing itself, Kwaidan Editions specializes in tailored shirts, blazers, and trousers—the kind of clothes that could be worn to work but also have a subtle twist of humor—structured coats come in cobalt blue and long, waxy dresses in Robin egg pastels. Lime green pants are styled with tie dye tees under luxe faux fur jackets. Find them at Ssense and MatchesFashion among others.

Courtesy Wild and Woolly

Wild and Woolly

Nina Cheng launched her line Wild and Woolly in September 2016 with playful furry phone cases made with high-quality sustainably sourced fur. Street style stars and the Kardashians alike were spotted using them in bold colors shortly after the launch, but since then, Cheng has proven she knows just as much about making an adorable pair of fur earrings, a fluff-trimmed banana, and plush fox fur belt bags. The line also recently expanded into wool jewelry and other faux fur options and is currently sold at Nordstrom, Saks, Opening Ceremony, and more.

Courtesy Koche

Koché

Full of sportswear inspired pierces elevated with a technical vision, Koché’s collections often suit either gender and usually captivate a wide ranging audience during fashion week. That’s because the label regularly hosts shows in public, unconventional spaces like The Strand bookstore or the streets of Tokyo. Available at Net-a-Porter, Barneys, and Shopbop, it’s one to watch for its designer Christelle Kocher’s creative sensibility, attention to color, and expert construction.

Explore More in Fashion

tout-img

These 8 Black-Owned Designer Labels Need to Be on Your Fashion Radar   

tout-img

Patek Philippe Launches Three New Women's Watches

tout-img

Montblanc Releases New Collection of High Artistry Writing Instruments Inspired by the Great Wall of China


Marketing Events & Promotions

Become a DEPARTURES VIP

Join our Weekly Newsletter

Privacy Statement
Join our Weekly Newsletter
Departures Logo Created with Sketch.
  • City Guides
  • Travel
  • Fashion
  • Art + Culture
  • Home + Design
FOLLOW US
Other Meredith Corporation Travel & Leisure Group websites: 
  • Travel + Leisure
  • Food & Wine
  • Wallpaper
Related Websites for DEPARTURES International Editions:
  • DEPARTURES-International.com
Learn more about the American Express Platinum Card® benefits

View Terms of Service  and  Privacy Statement.   Ad Choices EU Data Subject Requests All users of our online services subject to Privacy Statement and agree to be bound by Terms of Service. Please review.

© 2021 American Express Company. All rights reserved. Departures® is published by Meredith Corporation Travel & Leisure Group, a subsidiary of Meredith Corporation. Departures is a trademark of
American Express Marketing & Development Corp. and is used under limited license. Meredith Corporation Travel & Leisure Group is not affiliated with American Express Company or its subsidiaries.

  • RSS
  • Advertise
  • Advertise
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Promotions
  • Site Map

Member Login

The current issue of DEPARTURES is available exclusively to American Express Platinum Card® Members.

Cancel