23 Best New Designer Brands
Some designer brands like Prada and Gucci have been around for over a hundred years. In comparison, some newer brands have been around for a fraction of the time.
For the sake of what we class as ‘new’ in this article, below we show you designers who were formed largely in the 2000s onward. We’ve also added in a few who came about a bit before this.
So here’s a list of new designer brands you should be familiar with.
1. Stella McCartney
Since its inception in the early 2000s, the fashion label Stella McCartney has grown to become one of the most renowned names in the industry, thanks to its emphasis on environmentally conscious practices.
In contrast to many labels, whose primary focus is runway fashions, their collections are ready-to-wear. The brand employs non-harmful materials in producing its ready-to-wear clothes, eyewear, lingerie, and accessories. They strongly believe in protecting the environment and guaranteeing animals’ welfare.
The brand’s menswear is characterized by its distinctive urban style, softly fitted lines, and sporty vibe. With 46 standalone locations in New York, London, Paris, Milan, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Beijing, their products are available at 863 retail locations across 77 countries. They also offer international shipping to 40 countries.
2. Rag & Bone
Established in 2002 by Nathan Bogle and Marcus Wainwright, Rag & Bone has grown steadily over the past two decades. The brand is appealing because of its urban style, which features super stylish pieces you can easily wear regardless of the occasion.
Being one of the newest designer brands, you can buy their products in hundreds of retail locations worldwide. Each item is meticulously manufactured and intended to last for many years. Some of their offerings include the following:
- Casual linen blazers
- Cotton knit shirts
- Linen shorts
They run a loyal customer community to give customers a customized and streamlined purchasing experience. They will also connect you with a professional stylist who will help you develop unique looks reflecting your personality, interests, and how you hope to feel.
The company ships to over 75 countries and accepts returns from anywhere in the world. The brand’s affiliate company, Global-E, handles all overseas orders and returns. That permits them to give their customers a good purchasing experience through affordable international shipping rates and localized pricing.
3. Rick Owens
The Rick Owens brand was created to draw attention to itself. The force behind the unique and stylish brand is Paris-based fashion designer Rick Owens, earning him the title “Lord of Darkness.”
It’s a fascinating mash-up of streetwear, medieval aesthetics, and expert tailoring, resulting in one-of-a-kind outfits. Since its debut at New York Fashion Week’s Spring/Summer 2002 show, the label has become one of the best latest designer brands.
4. Alexander McQueen
The brand was founded in 1992 by Lee Alexander McQueen. His designs feature geometric abstraction, raw emotion, and a strong sense of physicality. In its earlier years, Alexander McQueen was famous for its controversial marketing strategies and surprise outfits, such as the “bumster trousers,” that hardly covered the buttocks.
Today, it has become one of the most successful designer labels globally, offering graphic tees and punk-inspired streetwear. You may find their most recent designs through their webpage, My Theresa, Forward, Farfetch, or Net-a-Porter.
5. Alexander Wang
2005 marked the beginning of Alexander Wang’s namesake fashion label, which dealt with knitwear collections at the time. His first women’s collection runway debut was in 2007. Since 2008, Alexander Wang has won many prestigious accolades, such as the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, allowing him to develop his fashion label further.
Today, New York’s entertainment and urban culture serve as the brand’s inspiration. The brand emphasizes American sportswear and classics crafted from contemporary materials such as leather and denim. Furthermore, using subtle but striking color palettes and patterns contributes to the brand’s success.
6. Zimmermann
The Sydney-based luxury fashion house was founded in 1991 by two sisters, Nicky and Simone Zimmermann. The most recent additions to the label’s catalog include accessories, kids’ wear, swim collection, and ready-to-wear.
Zimmermann has quickly become one of the newest designer brands popular among superstars and fashion influencers thanks to its signature sentimental designs and vivid floral patterns.
The brand prioritizes timeless elegance over transitory trends. Their goal is to design exquisite apparel aesthetically. They use the most water- and energy-efficient manufacturing methods to minimize their impact on the natural world.
Most of the brand’s lines feature natural fibers like silk, linen, and cotton. They restrict synthetics to wear, like swimsuits, slips, and pleat products that have practical needs for nylon, elastane, or polyester.
7. Vetements
Demna Gvasalia, a Georgian fashion designer, founded the French luxury brand in 2014. It was born out of a wish to break free from the endless rebranding and innovation cycle that characterizes the fashion industry. The brand draws inspiration from mainstream culture and millennial style.
Instead of focusing on overarching seasonal collections, the brand creates polished options to overthought design. They concentrate on instant-wear pieces that aren’t affected by the season. They’re best known for offering sporty-chic footwear, t-shirts, and oversize hoodies.
Vetements is among the high-end streetwear designer labels that contribute to the ugly-chic aesthetic so beloved by today’s youth. The brand reaffirms its commitment to trend-defying design by offering a postmodern approach to streetwear that combines high-end design and experimental techniques.
8. Tom Ford
After holding positions at Gucci and Saint Laurent, Tom Ford launched his fashion label in 2006. With his ready-to-wear, cosmetics, eyewear, and accessory collections, he aimed to attract a sophisticated clientele that had experienced the world.
Tom Ford is known for dressing famous people like First Lady Michelle Obama, Jennifer Lopez, and Daniel Craig. Today, most people recognize the label’s wares for their unique curves, rich color palettes, and exquisite designs.
9. Off-White
The Milan-based designer brand was created in 2012 by designer, architect, and DJ, Virgil Abloh. Off-White is known for producing innovative and stylish designs featuring signature components like quotation marks, zip ties, and four-way arrows that form a cross.
The cutting-edge luxury label mixes graffiti and other urban patterns with luxurious fabrics like silk and velvet.
The label offers seasonal collections of men’s and women’s clothes, accessories, and homeware to express a contemporary cultural vision. The collections are grounded in an ongoing backstory, focusing on producing clothing with a distinct identity by construction.
The brand draws inspiration from Italy’s rich history and craftsmanship while providing a worldwide perspective on design and fashion trends.
10. Marni
Marni was founded in 1994 and quickly became one of Italy’s most prestigious designer labels. The brand is known for its bold experimentation with print, color, fabric, and form. The label celebrates eccentric elegance with its ready-to-wear clothing, footwear, accessories, and home décor.
Marni’s dedication to environmental sustainability distinguishes it from many high-end fashion labels. The company has attempted to lessen its adverse environmental effects by switching to more eco-friendly raw materials and manufacturing techniques.
Most of their offerings come from organic cotton, linen, and other natural fibers. Other products the company creates are from recycled polyester. That assists with guaranteeing resource conservation and reduction of waste that end up in landfills.
11. Mansur Gavriel
The designer label was founded in 2012 and is known for redefining luxury with its unique approach to color and form. In its early years, the brand mainly focused on high-end Italian designer handbags.
Still, they’ve branched into other product categories, such as footwear, ready-to-wear, and accessories for men. The brand offers hand-painted monogramming when you buy shoes or accessories from them. Mansur Gavriel is a must-do designer brand if you’re looking for simple, visually-appealing, ageless luxury products.
To reduce its environmental impact, the brand has found ways to limit its packaging materials with a smaller, flexible, reusable architecture and use vegetable-based ink printing on all of its boxes.
They never stop looking for more environmentally friendly materials to use in their manufacturing process. Their commitment to a greener future stem from the brand’s founding values of respect and appreciation of the natural world.
12. Isabel Marant
Isabel Marant debuted her namesake label in 1990 as “Twen,” rebranding it in 1994. The French brand is famous for its high-street shoes and chic, effortless Parisian style. Isabel Marant is among the most sought-after designer labels because of its chic yet carefree Bohemian designs that are versatile enough to be worn during the day or at night.
The brand keeps improving its manufacturing procedures to cut down on environmental pollution. That includes reducing paper use, business travel, and energy consumption. They also work hard to find and cultivate partnerships with environmentally conscious vendors.
13. Giambattista Valli
The designer brand was created in 2005 and produced leather products and accessories, including shoes, handbags, and ready-to-wear garments.
Giambattista Valli is well known for offering fanciful ruffles and floral designs, representing the youth, modern, and global generation’s image of luxury.
The brand partnered with H&M in 2019, aiming to make Haute Couture more accessible to numerous fashion enthusiasts in different countries.
14. Anine Bing
The women’s designer brand was started by blogger and model Anine Bing in 2012. It’s a premium brand that’s easily accessible, and it combines the laid-back Los Angeles vibe with the understated elegance of Scandinavia to produce classic and edgy pieces.
Since its inception, Anine Bing has become a global fashion empire catering to fashion-forward women looking for iconic clothes and accessories with a touch of modernity.
The one-stop shop features new weekly arrivals ranging from fragrances, fine jewelry, shoes, purses, blazers, jeans, cashmere knits, and leather jackets.
Some precious fabrics that go into the label’s exquisite creations include leather, silk, linen, cashmere, and 14-karat gold. You can buy the brand’s product at over three hundred and fifty online retail stores worldwide.
The brand values progress above perfection and consider transparency essential. They commit to reworking their current procedures to have a smaller negative effect on the environment over the long term. Each product they bring to market boasts the greatest quality materials and lays the groundwork for seamless, all-year-round fashion.
15. Jacquemus
Founded in 2009, Jacquemus is a French designer brand known for its vibrant, modern, and amusing designs with a touch of aesthetic simplicity. The brand’s designs are undeniably fashionable and easily wearable.
The collections range from pop-themed apparel, accessories, footwear, bags, and ethereal dresses displayed on heavenly runways.
16. Alice + Olivia
The New York-based fashion label was established in 2002. They offer high-end ready-to-wear shoes, dresses, accessories, and handbags. Alice + Olivia collection, which began with a search for the perfect pair of pants, caters to the posh career woman, the adventurous girl, and the Bohemian or seasonal girl.
You can shop for suits, dresses, cashmere skirts, and leather jackets. The brand is famous among Hollywood celebrities such as Meghan Markle, Michelle Obama, and Beyonce.
The brand’s wool outerwear, including recycled cashmere sweaters, denim, and linen tees, is responsibly sourced and crafted with the utmost regard for the environment. Outerwear created from sustainable wool promotes animal welfare and conservation efforts.
To put their environmental commitments into action, the brand created the Conscious Capsule Collection, which is created from eco-friendly materials and follows strict chemical reduction, reuse, and recycling guidelines. The brand’s long-term goal is to exemplify large-scale environmentally responsible business practices.
17. Kate Spade
Established in 1993, Kate Spade is a household name in the United States since its synonymous with confident femininity. The spade and the slogan “live colorfully” are the brand’s identifying trademarks, which the brand includes in its extensive line of handbags and accessories. Their offerings have eye-catching patterns and luxurious finishes.
The brand has extended its wares to include designer apparel and home decor, all of which feature its signature modern femininity and elegant color palette. Kate Spade’s tote bags are an evergreen staple since they are both practical and stylish.
The company values the strength and unity of its female customers. They work with some of the most influential women’s mental health and equality spaces.
18. Tory Burch
Tory Burch is an American-based luxury label that started in 2004. It’s renowned for its timeless boho-preppy sportswear that captures the positive vibe of modern women everywhere.
The label is an “attainable luxury” brand, and its collections include ready-to-wear garments, handbags, accessories, jewelry, and footwear. Their signature ballet flats are the perfect finishing touch to any look. Besides being famous for the T-logo pendant, Tory Burch is a favorite among women of varying ages.
19. Raf Simons
Belgian designer Raf Simons created his eponymous menswear line in 1995. Simons, deeply ingrained in the counterculture of the early 1990s, created pioneering collections representing the urban underworld’s energy.
The brand draws inspiration from street culture, sportswear, and the world to create cutting-edge collections that combine a simple look with modern prints and color palettes. Pop art designs, collage picture prints, and amusing text accents inform the brand’s offerings. Raf Simons is known for his avant-garde collections that feature a refreshingly defiant aesthetic.
20. Zadig & Voltaire
The France-based designer brand came into operation in 1997. Besides its cashmere sweaters and Tunisian t-shirts, the brand’s streetwear look has inspired many other designers.
The Parisian woman, with her independent attitude and a hint of rock and roll, has been a major inspiration for the women’s wear luxury label. Zadig & Voltaire’s renowned designs include leather, denim, and a blend of soft fabrics such as cashmere.
21. 3.1 Phillip Lim
3.1 Phillip Lim brand was started by two good friends, Phillip Lim and Wen Zhou. Since its debut at New York Fashion Week in 2005, the brand has become among the globally sought-after designer labels.
3.1 Phillip Lim is renowned for its high-quality, ethically-made clothing. The brand places a premium on community and environmental well-being.
Even though it’s hard to be fully sustainable, they strive toward becoming as near to nature as possible. They’re always working to streamline their production process and prioritize using recycled and repurposed materials whenever feasible.
In addition, they intend to make their products available to what they call “global citizens.” Furthermore, the brand has unique designs, with duvet jackets and combat boots among the most popular in its collection.
22. Erdem
Erdem is a British designer brand that was created in 2005. They offer both male and female collections. Notably, this brand’s widely known for its signature floral prints. Furthermore, all the designs are built to last because they use the finest materials.
They have simple wares and unique creations fit for special events. There’s something for everyone, usually less expensive than other designer labels. The popular collections include embroidered cotton jackets, chinos, and flowery fitted shorts. Currently, the brand has thousands of customers across over 130 countries.
23. Thom Browne
In 2001, when everyone had gotten too casual with their attire, Thom Browne saw a need in the market for more formal garments. Thus, the brand focuses on suits and formal wear, rendering its casual offerings rather fancy.
The brand has grown to include ready-to-wear, footwear, accessories, and fragrance collections. Thom Browne is best known for his passion for experimenting with conventional sizes and designing shrunken clothing. Every collection uses classic textiles in innovative finishes to tell a different story.
Top New Designer Brands, Closing Thoughts
Regarding high-end clothing, new designer brands usually come out on top. The most well-known names in the industry often set the standards that other brands follow. They also deeply understand fashion and comfort and make their creations to the best possible standard.
However, with the rise of independent designers and the globalization of the fashion industry, it’s challenging to weed out the garbage from the gold. We hope our list serves as a good starting point in your search for modern and new designer brands.
