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
Jourdan Dunn in David Koma
Winnie Harlow in David Koma
Hailee Steinfeld in David Koma
Jessica Chastain in David Koma
Ella Hunt in David Koma
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
Simone Biles in Aliétte
Kehlani in Aliétte
Elaine Welteroth in Aliétte
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.
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
Emily Ratajkowski in Nensi Dojaka
Madison Beer in Nensi Dojaka
Jourdan Dunn in Nensi Dojaka
Hailey Bieber 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
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden in Markarian
Sophia Bush in Markarian
