How Support From Esteemed Fashion Brands Helps Young Designers Flourish

Most people know how difficult it can be to gain momentum in an ultra-competitive industry. It’s often the case that individuals get their first big chances if they know established parties in the sector that can call attention to and vouch for them.

Famous fashion brands are taking that approach by backing young designers, giving them valuable time in the spotlight.

Dolce & Gabbana Backs Young London Designer

Dolce & Gabbana is an instantly recognizable name in modern fashion culture. That’s true even among people who don’t follow the industry closely and follow the latest trends. And, among those for whom fashion is an enduring passion, it means a lot when the famous brand gives its support to emerging designers.

London-based designer Sohee Park was on the receiving end of it with her Miss Sohee label. Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana were reportedly dazzled with how the Miss Sohee items were full of authenticity and freshness and previewed the designer’s future potential. They also mentioned that fashion’s future belongs to young people.

Their decision to praise and highlight Miss Sohee’s products will undoubtedly give hope and inspiration to other young people in the industry.

Dolce & Gabbana is no stranger to staying in tune with youth culture. In 2018, the company opened a store targeted at millennials. It was designed with social media activity in mind, giving people plenty of opportunities to take Instagram-worthy snaps for their feeds.

Dolce & Gabbana Showcases Young Talents in Store

Getting singled out by Dolce & Gabbana, as Sohee Park did, is not the only method of drawing much-deserved attention to young designers. Spiga 2, one of the brand’s shops in Milan, got transformed into a store that sold multiple brands by young and international designers.

That happened over a decade ago, proving how Dolce & Gabbana has a long history of helping the younger generations of fashion talent receive more publicity.

Besides offering options from established and newer young designers, the Spiga 2 store featured D&G accessories. That way, shoppers could experiment with creative ways of blending pieces from a brand they know well, as well as labels that are less familiar.

Deciding to use a physical store like that during a time when online shopping was already well established also speaks volumes about Dolce & Gabbana’s intentions. Being able to touch and try on a young designer’s products in a store helps people feel excited about purchasing items and envisioning how they might wear them.

Artist Theaster Gates Collaborates With Prada For Incubator

Young designers are especially likely to benefit from big-name support if they’re part of minority groups. Chicago-based artist Theaster Gates knew that when he partnered with the Prada Group and his own Rebuild foundation to launch an incubator project for people of color.

It includes, but goes beyond, people in the fashion realm. Creatives are also eligible if their work relates to industrial or graphic design. People who design furniture can even take apply. The Dorchester Industries Experimental Design Lab will be the avenue through which incubator members show off their work.

People get nominated for the incubator by respected people in the industry. Then, those who make it through the selection process receive financial support and the opportunity to sign up for classes and network with design leaders.

Designers often work for years before being discovered. Some stay dedicated to their craft and never become known worldwide. There’s no way to know for sure which of the world’s emerging designers will eventually get the fame they want so much.

However, efforts like these show the vital role that veteran designers and fashion brands can have in helping younger people get their starts. People who receive this support can go on to enjoy long, successful careers that allow them to pay forward the help that was so critical to them by giving some to other budding designers.