Awarding The Avant-Garde | Stores Supporting Emerging Talent
Becoming a successful designer while staying sustainable is difficult. The fashion industry needs to support emerging talent to unlock potential and break barriers. Luxiders has created a list of marketplaces that champion these emerging designers and their new ideas helping the creative industry thrive. These are the platforms making a difference, featuring some of their most impressive designers.
Celebrating up-and-coming designers is crucial for keeping fashion fresh and innovative. Emerging talent brings unique perspectives and creative solutions, challenging traditional norms and pushing boundaries. While becoming a designer is a tough journey, we’ve identified marketplaces that support emerging talent. Platforms like APOC STORE, Garmentory, Maison de Mode and The Folklore, provide designers with resources to grow their business. They also all prioritise sustainability, ensuring fashion remains environmentally friendly and ethically produced. These are the marketplaces championing the avant-garde while embracing eco-friendly values.
APOC STORE
APOC STORE is an online marketplace dedicated to independent fashion, design and art. Progressive, ethically-made pieces are chosen from creatives all over the world, spotlighting avant-garde pieces and celebrating the new generation of artists. The store believes that the impact of human activity on the climate and the environment has created an urgency to which these artists respond.
Connecting buyers directly to designers, the work shipped straight from their studios. APOC STORE is determined to foster a supportive system, supporting emerging talent with fair commission rates allowing the artists to grow sustainably. The array of bold styles and visionary artists on offer are all unapologetically unique and innovative.
STAND OUT DESIGNERS
Pia Glassworks is a queer Argentian designer and experimental artist working with glass. Through glassblowing, Pia creates unique jewellery and objects aimed at revealing the volatility and plasticity of glass. Each piece is its original ecosystem with an ethereal feel.
Six Dots Design was founded by Joseph Ellwood in 2020. Ellwood creates unique and sustainable furniture, built to create joy and bring uniqueness to every home.
Harri is an artist playing with all textures, from wood to latex, to create both simple and intricate couture. The designs reflect contrasts and larger-than-life proportions, making bold statements in the fashion world.
Garmentory
Offering a unique fashion experience, Garmentory features over 3,000 emerging designers and 1,000 independent boutiques. The marketplace focuses on intentional shopping by discovering new designers, making an impact, and shopping with confidence. Every purchase supports independent businesses and celebrates creativity and diversity. The marketplace offers menswear, womenswear, lifestyle and kids’ clothing. Garmentory also promotes resales through their platform The Loop and features articles in The Thread, promoting designers and informing buyers about sustainable shopping.
STAND OUT DESIGNERS
Sea New York creates a blend of modern and vintage styles. Classic silhouettes are reimagined with lace, embroidery, knits and technical fabrics. Their collections are both romantic and boyish, offering effortless and optimistic fashion.
3 Women is a women-owned sustainable fashion brand in Long Beach, California. They create limited-run, custom-tailored clothing from vintage textiles. Each piece is unique, and customers can choose their fabrics. The brand actively collaborates with local artists and creators, bringing fresh ideas continuously.
Datura is a brand from New York City that is also women-owned. Their collections feature timeless and feminine designs, all handmade with ethically sourced materials like silks and wool. Datura combines natural elements with urban lifestyles, exuding strength and sophistication for modern women.
Maison de Mode
Maison de Mode is a platform dedicated to sustainability and fashion, aiming to empower individuality. The hybrid ethical fashion retailer specialises in unique ready-to-wear, fine jewellery, accessories, and home goods. Maison de Mode also emphasises sustainable brand building and communications for luxury brands worldwide. Their elite network connects luxury brands and consumers increases global brand awareness and promotes fashion innovators and sustainability pioneers.
Shashi is a unique line of fashion jewellery handcrafted in New York using materials like gemstones, sterling silver, crystals and silk fabrics. Shashi’s pieces are versatile and visually striking, yet highly personal and driven by spirituality.
Port de Bras was born from the desire to create beautiful yet meaningful designs that instil self-confidence and poise. Inspired by ballet, the pieces are centred on dance and empowering women. Their feminine, comfortable, and eco-friendly designs use only high-quality, award-winning fabrics that are 100% biodegradable.
Edun’s mission is to promote sustainable production and trade in Africa by blending its creative vision with the continent’s richness and positivity. The brand collaborates with artisans, manufacturers, and community initiatives to create high-end designer products that challenge and celebrate ethical fashion. EDUN’s ready-to-wear and accessory collections are developed by a New York-based creative collective that partners with African artisans and international mills to explore eco-friendly alternatives.
The Folklore
The Folklore is a global movement dedicated to supporting brands with technology, education and community resources. Created to address the lack of inclusivity and the additional challenges faced by emerging brands from Africa, Asia, South America, and beyond, The Folklore breaks down barriers and amplifies their influence. Today, it helps brands grow their businesses and provides a platform for recognition by retailers and service providers. Their core values are community, connectivity, diversity and inclusivity, growth, impact and innovation. This commitment ensures that every brand has the opportunity to thrive and be celebrated globally.
Unlike other marketplaces, The Folklore doesn’t sell clothing directly. Instead, it focuses on growing businesses by providing resources such as webinars and community events. The Folklore connects brands to leading global retailers like Rent The Runway and Revolve, helping them expand their consumer base.
+ Highlight Image: © Pia Glassworks
