Now more than ever before, it can feel like there are a trillion and one new fashion brands emerging every day, each utilizing social media and pop-up shops to show us what they can bring to the table. A continuous theme for 2018 was the ever-blurring lines between high fashion and urban streetwear. We saw veteran designers starting their own labels and promising creatives reveal their first-year collections. This past year we have also seen some awesome emerging talent, however only a few were able to make a solid impact to stand out above all others in the category of ‘rising stars.’ So here is our top five favourite list of emerging new fashion brands that we saw rise in 2018.

1. ader ERROR

In an interview with GQ, ader ERROR claims that they, “Started this brand to communicate with people. We started as a fashion company but we don't want to just be a fashion brand. We aim to be techy, lifestyle and that little something more – a new type of business.” Well, for anyone who was on Instagram in 2018 it was very clear that they were bringing something new to the table. Born in 2014 Seoul, South Korea, ader ERROR relies entirely upon quality of product and social media to make sales… and it works. Instead of using celebrity endorsement and famous faces in its campaigns, the brand has figured out a way to operate without the help of paid influencer projects or sponsored posts. They work through three main brand-focused Insta pages, each dedicated to different things; the first being used for campaigns or any store launches, the second for product launches and the last (one that is truly fantastic) is dedicated to showing customers how to style ERROR’s clothing, while sharing customer’s looks.

Exploding into the spotlight this year, ader offers unisex clothing and has become well know for its oversized blazers, drapey shirts and baggy jeans. They additionally provide playfully retro graphics and awesome new twists on wardrobe staples. The brand also incorporates a bit of tongue and cheek humor into some of their designs, like their socks that read “your life is a joke” and “not yet” printed across unzipped flies. Very little is known about the design team behind this hot new label and even the creative director, but collaborations with Maison Kitsuné and PUMA have helped solidify ader ERROR’s presence in the fashion industry. By pairing sportswear with refined silhouettes that look great in an Insta-post, ader ERROR has become an immediate favourite among the youth and social media savvy consumers.

2. BODE

Up-and-coming NYC designer Emily Bode soared this past year with her eponymous label that has drastically made a name for itself by way of a standout Spring/Summer 2019 presentation that traded the traditional runway for a performance art-like exhibition. The 28-year old’s collection is made almost entirely out of vintage textiles and brilliantly-patterned quilts. She also uses antique table linens to produce repurposed workwear and billowy trousers. It was rich with detail as we saw how Bode incorporated an Eastern influence into every design. Bode’s handmade items include beautiful linen shirts, patchwork jackets and painstaking embroidery which has garnered the attention of tastemakers like Vogue and The New York Times.

The Spring collection was inspired by her Uncle’s attic in the south of France which allowed for a sense of nostalgia. A few months after her debut, Bode won the CFDA Award 2018 runner-up prize followed by partnerships with prime stockists like Opening Ceremony, Totokaelo, Trés Bien, UNITED ARROWS and Edifice. The brand even saw co-signs from fans like Dyllón Burnside and Ezra Miller. Even though this young talent is seemingly operating in the polar opposite of Fashion’s relentless push toward the future, she has certainly made a name for herself and has designers and consumers on the edge of their seats to see what happens next.

3. REESE COOPER

The 20-year old designer Reese Cooper has been killing it since 2016 but effectively broke through the impenetrable wall that is the fashion industry in 2018, procuring the backing of powerhouse retailers like SSENSE, RSVP Gallery, Selfridges and Barney’s. Earlier this year, the young designer debuted “Lone Pine,” which he considers to be his first true collection of clothing, replacing the handful of capsule releases that preceded it. The recent Fall/Winter 2018 “Lone Pine” collection incorporated Cooper’s DIY ethos into an awesome array of streetwear staples that included work jackets with a blend of soft silk twill, and coaches jackets that were made from repurposed military fabrics.

At the age of 11, Cooper moved from Los Angeles to London where as a teen he worked at Adidas UK. Cooper claims to produce his collections with a deliberate sense of narrative, each echoing one another. He describes in his own words that, “I’m not thinking of it like a movie with scenes, but it all flows together. It tells a full story over at least the first four collections.” His friends and supporters include Midnight studios’ Shane Gonzales, Brockhampton’s Henock Sileshi and even Idris Elba. Definitely put Reese Cooper on your watchlist if you haven’t already, he’s here to stay.

4. MARINE SERRE

French designer Marine Serre, who won the 2017 LVMH Prize is the head of her own label and is the purest definition of a 21st century designer. Her take on haute couture includes a long khaki dress crafted from old survival jackets and a stunning evening gown stitched together from old football jerseys, truly fantastic stuff, but what makes her different to all the rest is her ability to actually craft these fantasies into reality. The technical detail at which this designer operates is truly admirable. With her ability to make fashion seem deceptively easy, Serre has figured out how to push the evolution of street style without forgetting its origins.

Her earliest collections explored the relationship between Muslim communities and the West. One of her signature pieces is a bodysuit adorned with a much-loved crescent moon logo. Serre has organized her eponymous line into four categories; one devoted to avant-garde experimentation, the second focused on using recycled materials, another that embodies creative ready-to-wear garments, and the most recent that provides fantastical pieces constructed entirely from recycled goods. Serre has joined forces with the likes of Converse and Nike for her crossover Spring 2019 “Hardcore Couture” collection, which surprisingly revealed the designer’s menswear debut. The collection saw unisex styles among pieces that included dip-dyed tracksuits, padded jackets and jacquard floral coats. Now with the attention of well-known stockists like Dover Street Market, Nordstrom and Barney’s, Serre is well positioned for a phenomenal 2019.

5. COME TEES

Sonya Sombreuil’s Come Tees label has had a fantastic year. First formed in 2009 while living in the western Massachusetts town of Haydenville, Come Tees has emerged from an in-demand crew of LA-based creatives that includes No Vacancy Inn, Some Ware and Election Reform! Belonging to an East Coast underground artist network, Sonya first began restoring vintage garments before moving to LA in 2014. After working her way up through the tight ranks of multidisciplinary artists and streetwear designers, Sonya’s work has been seen on the likes of Rihanna and Kanye West.

As a painter at heart, Sombreuil screen prints all her pieces - mostly t-shirts with the occasional jeans, jacket or dress without the help of sponsorship or investors. Her signature look is influenced by vintage workwear and perfected with Sonya’s use of text and colour. The garments are graphic and bold, often incorporating song lyrics alongside stunning comic book-like images. All her work is produced in a limited edition run complimented by special one-off events which has ensured her demand and her underground status as an artist/designer. We look forward to seeing what she does next in 2019.

By Max Daly, Founder

www.instagram.com/maximilliondaly

OUR TOP 5 FAVOURITES: ON-THE-RISE FASHION BRANDS FROM 2018