July 24, 2022
Milan, New York, Paris and London have long been the ‘Big 4′ fashion capitals. All thanks to globalisation and the rise of social media, newly emerging fashion cities across the globe are making waves lately in addition to the Big 4. Each has its own flavour influenced by the particular region and thriving subcultures which have now come into the limelight. In this article, we discuss the top 5 cities that are on designers’ radar.
1. Seoul, South Korea
South Korea has been one of the most influential when it comes to fashion. With its rich culture, it proves to be a source of inspiration for pretty much everything, from music to beauty, which also holds true for fashion. South Korea was a catalyst in popularising the casual, effortless and comfortable yet chic style with its signature bucket hats and tote bags. From the delicate victorian lace blouses and mini skirts to oversized tees and plaid wide-leg trousers, the signature looks are quite diverse yet pretty recognizable due to the identifiable styling. Know about the fashion industry in Korea here.
Notable brands and designers
Kye, Minjukim, Hyein Seo, Gentle Monster, Style Nanda, Beyond Closet, Goen.J
2. Istanbul, Turkey
Apart from being an inspiration for sophisticated dressing, Turkey has lately been an emerging centre for manufacturing and sourcing in fashion. Moreover, the industry is sensitive to garment workers. As per FashionUnited, the country has 59,000 companies in textile, footwear and apparel manufacturing, which yearly produce over 65 billion dollars per of garments and fashion goods. Apart from the progressive apparel industry, one can look at Turkish brands for modest fashion and their use of innovative textile materials. The designers bring in an amalgamation of Asian culture and European aesthetics to create remarkable works of art and are gaining global recognition.
Notable brands and designers
Dice Kayek, Koton, LcWaikiki, Mavi Jeans, Defacto, Atıl Kutoğlu, Ipekyol
3. Copenhagen, Denmark
This is no surprise that Copenhagen makes it to the list since it has been long in the news due to its environmentally conscious brands. Denmark is perhaps one of the most active when it comes to sustainable fashion. For instance, Copenhagen Fashion Week has always been encouraging to adopt responsible business practices and promote slow fashion. When it comes to aesthetics, both extremes can be found; the maximalist avant-garde, and the minimalistic androgynous updated basics. In both, the focus is on playing with the silhouette.
Notable brands and designers
Ganni, Cecilie Bahnsen, Stine Goya, Norse Projects, Ivan Grundahl, Nicholas Nybro, Samsøe & Samsøe
4. Tokyo, Japan
Fashion in Tokyo is led by technological innovation. Tech-driven fabrics & techniques like 3-D printing are well explored by many globally-recognized Japanese designers to create design masterpieces. Moreover, Japanese streets exhibit some of the best fashion subcultures like kawaii. This article would be incomplete without mentioning the popular district ‘Harajuku’ known for its flamboyant offbeat fashion.
Notable brands and designers
Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto, Kenzo Takada, Rei Kawakubo’s Comme des Garçons, Sacai, Junya Watanabe, Uniqlo
5. Shanghai, China
As per Bain’s report on China’s Luxury market 2021, the segment continued the double-digit growth trends of 2020, putting the country on pace to become the world’s largest luxury market by 2025. Being the economic hub of China, Shanghai has established itself as an emerging fashion capital, especially in the luxury segment, with its young population and high disposable income. Many international brands maintain a strong presence in the city. Also, native Chinese designers and independent homegrown labels are gaining traction globally.
Notable brands and designers
Masha Ma, Helen Lee, Uma Wang, Shushu/Tong, Shuting Qiu, DiDu, Ming Ma
Schedule a session now to know more about where to look for inspiration for your upcoming collection.
(Featured Photo by Pexels.com)
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