OXFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 03: Jourdan Dunn and David Koma attend the BoF VOICES 2021 Gala Dinner at Soho Farmhouse on December 03, 2021 in Oxfordshire, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images for BoF VOICES)

As we saw the world beginning to open back up in 2021, an abundance of emerging talent jumped at the opportunity to spread their wings and fly. With red carpet events making a return to an in-person format, designers such as David Koma, Nensi Dojaka, Mônot’s Eli Mizrahi, Markarian’s Alexandra O’Neill, and Aliétte’s Jason Rembert have taken this year to make their names known. From feats like catching Ariana Grande’s attention, costuming Zendaya in her film Malcolm & Marie, and dressing FLOTUS on Inauguration Day, 2021 proved to be a big year for these five up-and-comers. 

Here, GRAZIA compiles the designers to know now and keep an eye out for in 2022.

David Koma

While the London-based designer has helmed his eponymous label for over a decade now, this year’s offerings have scattered red carpets and saturated celebrity Instagram feeds at an unprecedented rate. A graduate of Central Saint Martins, the Georgian designer’s Fall/Winter 2021 ready-to-wear collection has been sported by the likes of Lady Gaga, Jessica Chastain, and Chrissy Teigen, all opting for the futuristic, crystal embroidered ensembles. Even more broadly favored, his glamorous Resort 2022 collection has been beloved by Dua Lipa, Ariana Grande, Zoey Dutch, Kourtney Kardashian, and Megan Fox. The playful sensuality mixed up in these highly coveted party ensembles makes for a collection we can’t get enough of.

Olivia Rodrigo in David Koma

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 21: Olivia Rodrigo attends the 2021 American Music Awards in David Koma. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for MRC )

Jourdan Dunn in David Koma

OXFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 03: Jourdan Dunn attends the BoF VOICES 2021 Gala Dinner in David Koma. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images for BoF VOICES)

Winnie Harlow in David Koma

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – NOVEMBER 14: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally manipulated) Winnie Harlow attends the MTV EMAs 2021 ‘Music for ALL’ in David Koma (Photo by Gareth Cattermole – MTV/Getty Images for MTV)

Hailee Steinfeld in David Koma

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 22: Hailee Steinfeld attends the “Hawkeye” Special Screening in David Koma. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

Jessica Chastain in David Koma

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 15: Jessica Chastain is seen at “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in David Koma. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)

Ella Hunt in David Koma

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 13: Ella Hunt attends the Dom Perignon & Born This Way Foundation at Museum of Modern Art in David Koma. (Photo by Dominik Bindl/Getty Images)

David Koma on the ‘gram

Aliétte

Most notably known for that custom liquid silver silk lamé cut-out gown worn by Zendaya in the 2021 film Malcolm & Marie, stylist-turned-designer Jason Rembert’s luxury label Aliétte has made quite a splash in the last year. Having only created the label two years ago, thriving in the midst of a pandemic can prove to be a challenge- but when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Rembert has been featured in the pages of fashion’s most prominent publications, has his work grace the Met Gala red carpet, and has dressed some of the biggest and brightest stars from Issa Rae to Simone Biles.

Issa Rae in Aliétte

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 19: Issa Rae attends the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards in Aliétte. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)

Simone Biles in Aliétte

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 15: Simone Biles attends the 6th Annual InStyle Awards in Aliétte. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Kehlani in Aliétte

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 13: Kehlani attends the 2021 Met Gala in Aliétte. (Photo by Taylor Hill/WireImage)

Elaine Welteroth in Aliétte

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 15: Elaine Welteroth attends the The 72nd Annual Parsons Benefit in Aliétte. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for The New School)

Aliétte on the ‘gram

 

Mônot

Lebanese designer Eli Mizrahi has taken the fashion industry by storm this year with his slinky and sultry creations for his womenswear label Mônot. Dressing a slew of supermodels at this year’s ​​Red Sea International Film Festival, Candice Swanepoel, Irina Shayk, and Tina Kunakey all donned the designer’s dreamy confections. Mizrahi’s minimalist evening wear is set apart by the outrageous cut outs his creations obtain. With the detail being in the shocking silhouettes, the designer has been quoted as saying he finds his inspiration in bodacious “bad girls,” America’s resident hot girl Megan Thee Stallion dropped jaws in one of Mônot’s sultry frocks to an awards ceremony this year, as did actress Kate Hudson. Possibly the most talked about was the cut-out design adorned by Kendall Jenner to a friend’s wedding this autumn, prompting online discourse over the model potentially outshining the bride.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 08: Megan Thee Stallion attends the 2021 Glamour Women of the Year Awards in Mônot. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 04: Kate Hudson attends the 78th Venice International Film Festival in Mônot. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images for The Red Sea Film Festival)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 21: Madelyn Cline attends the 2021 American Music Awards in Mônot. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – OCTOBER 01: Alessandra Ambrosio at the Palais Galliera in Mônot. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/GC Images)
CAP D’ANTIBES, FRANCE – JULY 16: Nina Dobrev attends the 74th Annual Cannes Film Festival in Mônot. (Photo by Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

Mônot on the ‘gram

Nensi Dojaka

Albanian designer Nensi Dojaka has cemented herself as a celebrity favorite in the last year. Creating slinky, layered, sheer ensembles, Dojaka studied lingerie design in her BA. program before moving on to Central Saint Martins, where she would launch her eponymous label in 2017. The young designer sky-rocketed in popularity last year, after Bella Hadid wore one of her creations to the 2020 MTV VMAs. Since then, she has been granted the 2021 LVMH Prize for Young designers, the 2021 British Fashion Council Award for emerging designer talent, and has been chosen by fashion heavy-hitters Zendaya, Hailey Bieber, Emily Ratajkowski, and Dua Lipa.

Zendaya in Nensi Dojaka

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 18: Zendaya seen attending the “Dune” London film premiere afterparty in Nensi Dojaka. (Photo by Ricky Vigil/GC Images)

Emily Ratajkowski in Nensi Dojaka

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 12: Emily Ratajkowski attends the 2021 Tribeca Festival in Nensi Dojaka. (Photo by Dominik Bindl/Getty Images)

Madison Beer in Nensi Dojaka

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 13: Madison Beer attends Sony Pictures’ “Spider-Man: No Way Home” in Nensi Dojaka. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

Jourdan Dunn in Nensi Dojaka

LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 13: Jourdan Dunn attends a VIP Dinner in Nensi Dojaka. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Hailey Bieber in Nensi Dojaka

Credit: Instagram @haileybieber in Nensi Dojaka.

Nensi Dojaka on the ‘gram

Markarian

Despite having founded her label Markarian in 2017, this year has marked a slew of firsts for designer Alexandra O’Neill. Starting 2021 off with a bang, the label was chosen by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden for Inauguration Day in January. Creating a custom blue velvet-trimmed coat, a Swarovski embellished dress, and coordinating face mask for the historic event, marking a momentous turning-point in O’Neill’s career. Also a defining moment of 2021, Markarian hosted its very first runway presentation this year with great success, exuding the classic Old-Hollywood glamor it has become known for. Chosen by stars from Scarlett Johansson to Priyanka Chopra, Markarian’s all-star momentum doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. 

Scarlett Johansson in Markarian

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 12: Scarlett Johansson attends the premiere of Illumination’s “Sing 2” in Markarian. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

First Lady Dr. Jill Biden in Markarian

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 20: U.S. First Lady Jill Biden in Markarian. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Sophia Bush in Markarian

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 19: Sophia Bush attends the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards in Markarian. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)

Markarian on the ‘gram