Ones To Watch: January
Looking to tick off your new season style resolutions? These brands are here to help. Bringing you the latest design talent from around the globe, let us introduce you to the new brands helping us welcome a new decade in style.
This month sees the arrival of some Parisian peekaboo dresses, a rebellious Dane, Russia’s belle of the ball, your new favourite heels and a collection of rather risqué accessories.
Growing up in Abkhezia, Rasida Lakoba was frequently inspired by her fellow Abkhezian women who loved nothing more than dressing spectacularly for special occasions. After spending time working in a Moscow-based atelier making bespoke dresses for friends and family, Rasida decided to bring her design talent to a wider audience: thus Rasario was born.
Based in Russia, Lakoba’s evening and cocktail dresses are at the heart of the Rasario brand DNA. Well-loved for their bustier dresses and delicate fabrications, Rasario has graced many a red carpet and is a contemporary favourite amongst the stars.
A new kid on the block (quite literally) with their signature block heel, Nodaleto arrived on the scene in early 2019. Based between Paris and Los Angeles, Nodaleto is an anagram of the surname Toledano, which is both the surname of founder and designer Julia, and her father Sidney Toledano, the CEO of the LVMH group.
Growing up surrounded by luxury fashion, it seemed only natural that Julia would follow in her father’s industry footsteps (in a pair of Nodaleto heels, no less.) After studying in London, Julia launched her footwear brand in partnership with Oliver Leone, quickly making her mark with their signature 70s Mary Jane style.
Founded in 2018 by former classical dancer Emma Reynaud, French brand Marcia has firmly established themselves as the creator of our new favourite ‘sexy dress’. Quickly gaining notoriety for their cheeky ‘Tchikiboum’ style, the dress’s cutaway sides mean that this is a piece which command(o)s quite an audience.
Putting the sustainability in sexy, all Marcia pieces are made using ECONYL jersey, a fabric made from regenerated fishing nets, and OEKO-TEX, a mix of polyamide and elastane that is carefully analysed to ensure it contains no harmful substances. With a goal to create an entirely sustainable collection in 2020, Marcia is our new go-to for guilt-free glamour.
After starting her design career working for London-based brands Erdem and JW Anderson, Danish-born Julie Brøgger launched her namesake label in 2017. Blending feminine and masculine styling, her mix of bold colours, floral prints and cascading ruffles are a far cry from the Scandi minimalism one might expect.
Her latest collection was inspired by the eccentric dress sense of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and her late mother, who shares the same name. Similar to the Queen of Denmark, Margrethe Brøgger was very much anti-minimalism in her daily dress; a former lawyer, she believed that femininity was a strength and should thus be worn with pride. Brøgger’s pieces include ‘80s style tailoring and soft silhouettes across tops, dresses and co-ords, using unique prints and fabrics that are sourced and made entirely in the UK and Europe.
Exploring the boundaries of sexuality, Kiev-born Ivan Frolov references striptease and fetishism when creating his statement accessories. Designing and making garments since he was 14, Ivan launched his brand at Ukranian Fashion Week in 2014. Using new methods of construction and unusual fabrications, FROLOV creates provocative pieces that draw on the human anatomy. Think Studio 54 meets Showgirls, with a collection of bras, headpieces and gloves that combine sheer mesh, elaborate crystals and a whole lot of sex appeal.