Louise KoninckxThe first Monday of May might be considered the most important day of the year, that is if you’re into fashion. Every year the Met Gala, which is a fundraising fashion exhibition, takes place at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City. Yet, the Met Gala is not just any other fundraiser; every year, the red carpet is filled with VIP guests like Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Kanye West. Aside from that, a dress code is selected that goes along with the theme of the exhibition.
This year, due to the Coronavirus still playing a huge role in our lives, the Met Gala was postponed until Monday, September 13, 2021. Not only that, but the event has also been split into 2 parts, the first one in September with the focus on “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion”. While the second one takes place in May 2022, showcasing “In America: An Anthology of Fashion”.
Celebrating American Fashion
The theme ‘American Fashion’, chosen as a reaction to political and social changes in American society, has caused a big stir on social media with people questioning what ‘American fashion’ really means and what kind of designers can represent the matter. Who will be invited and what designers the celebrities will wear is still unknown. Nevertheless, this year creates an opportunity for them to look inwards and celebrate the most iconic and amazing American designers.
The celebrities will have a huge range of designers to choose from, think older and memorable designers such as Charles James, Ann Lowe, Ralph Lauren, and Stephen Burrows. Or maybe they will opt for designers who have already put their stamp on the fashion industry but are still relatively young and fresh like Prabal Gurung, Christopher John Rogers, and Zac Posen. However, this might be the opportunity for smaller, up-and-coming designers to impress the audience and be seen with the most important and influential celebrities.
Here are some young designers to watch:
Peter Do for Peter Do
With incredibly tailored suits and fitted dresses, Do is a rising star in American fashion. Born in Vietnam, he moved to the United States at 14 years old. After graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2014, he won the LVMH Prize for Graduates and started working under the one and only Phoebe Philo, during her time at Celine. His work combines the feminine with the masculine, the powerful with the soft and geometrical forms with organic shapes. The designs give off a powerful and strong aesthetic, while still giving room for romance and dreamy subtle forms.
Catherine Holstein for Khaité
After graduating from fashion school in 2006, Holstein successfully launched her first fashion line. Later, in 2016, she founded Khaité. Khaité is a ready-to-wear brand using a mix of old and modern techniques to create idyllic clothing with a sense of realism in a utopian world. Her brand includes ready to wear, footwear, accessories that are sold on prime retailers such as Bergdorf Goodman or through her online e-commerce site.
Kerby Jean-Raymond for Pyer Moss
Kerby Jean-Raymond is a designer who has been in the spotlight for quite a while now. As young as the age of 14, Kerby started working at his first apprenticeship and started his clothing line a year later, all while attending high school in New York City. In 2013 he founded Pyer Moss and in 2015, Jean-Raymond was recognized by Forbes on the 30 under 30 list. His collections highlight social and political movements in society, themes such as activism and debate to challenge social narratives, and start a conversation around these topics. On top of that, he was named Global Creative Director of sportswear brand Reebok in September 2020.
Bethany Yellowtail for B.Yellowtail
Lastly, we can’t talk about American fashion without talking about Native American designers. Bethany Yellowtail is a designer based in Los Angeles whose designs reflect her indigenous heritage originating from the Northern Cheyenne and Crow tribes. Yellowtail is an active supporter of Women’s rights and design to emphasize matters like empowerment and respect. Her work carries a sense of innovation in combination with tradition and culture at her core.
To know who will be there and what designers will be dressing the A-list stars, we will have to wait until September. Nevertheless, young and talented American designers paving the way for a hopeful future in fashion should be celebrated, acknowledged, and supported with Met Gala or without.
