The Best Up-And-Coming Brands to Shop This Holiday Season
Tired of holiday shopping at the same old stores? We round up a few designers you may not know yet.
There's still time to order gifts before the holidays hit. And regardless, buying yourself gifts is a year-round endeavor. When looking online and in stores for truly unique presents, visiting the same few shops can get tiring and expensive.
We round up a list of new, small-scale, up-and-coming brands and designers to check out before you lock in that gift list. Party dresses, whimsical blouses, avant-garde menswear and more can be found in the hands of these young talents.
Rua Carlota
What began as a passion project by artist Charlotte Rose Kirkham has now turned into a full-fledged knitwear brand. Kirkham's one-of-a-kind pieces recycle found fabrics into new, exciting garments. The tops, sweaters, skirts, and shorts tangle and unfurl in unexpected ways. They are as much art as they are clothing.
Gimme Kaya Crochet
Gimme Kaya Crochet is the brainchild of Lizzie Kaya, a UK-based, small-scale designer. She ensures that every crochet garment is personally made, sewn, and shipped by her, as well as a very limited team of helpers. Gimme Kaya pieces are known for their lighthearted approach to fashion, heavily featuring smiley faces, flowers, and geometric prints. Custom orders are also available for the lucky few who can snag a timeslot.
WildeRoseCostumes
This little-known but much-loved Etsy shop specializes in what it calls "whimsical historical fashion." Corsets are a certified trend of the moment, and Natalie Rowland, the designer behind the shop, will custom make you one for around $100-200. That price covers all manner of bodices, with or without applique, lacing, ribbons, and ruffles. The shop also features a small collection of ready-made pieces, available for immediate purchase.
FRKSlingerie
This lingerie, made and emroidered in Hungary, is somehow both adorable and sexy. You can buy the silk pieces on Etsy from FRKSlingerie, featuring a wide array of pets, flowers, and fruits, intricately stitched onto the delicate garments. Cutouts, straps, and tasteful touches of mesh give the otherwise cutesy items a sexy playfulness. If you want to go even a bit more cheeky, the brand has a collection of panties embroidered with a range of vulvas.
House of Aama
House of Aama comes from mother and daughter design duo, Rebecca Henry and Akua Shabaka, who are paying homage to a rich history of Black design and storytelling. Though they get their inspiration from the past, these garments are entirely modern in craft and aesthetic. The pieces range from party dresses to sailor caps. Whatever the occasion, House of Aama has the necessary outfit.
Deiji Studios
Founded by Juliette Harkness and Emma Nelson, Deiji Studios is making loungewear chic enough to wear out-and-about. The linen sets are breezy in the best way, made of high-quality fabrics and with even higher-quality design aesthetics. If you truly fall in love with the feel of linen, bedding and slippers are also available to complete the transition.
Olivia Annabelle
Serving King Arthur chic, the latest collection from Olivia Annabelle is all about mythology and magic. British designer Olivia Welsh weaves fantasy into each garment she produces, whether it is her oversized collars or historical waistcoats. Everyone from rockers to cottagecore cuties will appreciate the aesthetic of this up-and-coming brand.
Tombolo
Humor courses through Tombolo, both in its avant-garde advertising and quirky design aesthetic. The brand comes from duo Mike and Chris, both New York born and based. Tombolo is already gaining traction (spot Kristen Stewart on its Instagram!) so now is your chance to get in on the ground floor of a potential fashion mainstay.
La Veste
La Veste is the recent invention of Spanish stylist Blanca Miro and designer Maria de la Orden. The two joined forces to create a whimsical, colorful line of clothes in unexpected styles. Capes, bonnets, and geometric trousers are paired with more scaled back blouses, t-shirts, and leather coats. The infusion of fun, however, is never missing.
Sleeper
Can a brand still be considered small-scale once it's been worn by Kourtney Kardashian? Sleeper hasn't fully blown up yet, but now's the time to get your hands on one of these pajama sets before they are absolutely everywhere. The frilly designs are the creation of former fashion editors Kate Zubarieva and Asya Varetsa, who founded the brand after a dream about a pajama factory. Tres chic!