Designer Selects | Vol. 17
Sandy Liang
The New York-based designer has a knack for melding ultra-girly details (like organza frills) with tom-boyish attitude. Her eponymous line communicates a message of confidence through a mixture of cuteness and masculinity. After studying at Parsons in New York and interning for the prominent American-based designers 3.1 Phillip Lim, Jason Wu, and Opening Ceremony, Liang started her own label in 2014. She finds inspiration in her Chinese roots and super stylish grandmothers.
Sandy Liang
An anti-fashion industry designer inspired by the Lower East Side and stylish grandmothers, Sandy Liang created her namesake label in 2014. Since then, she's had her collectsions modeled on both the runway and red carpet, been credited with the much-beloved elevation of fleece, and even hit the Forbes 30 under 30 list, making her clothing as powerful as it is covetable.
Issey Miyake
Undoubtedly one of the most impactful and recognizable designers of the last 50 years, Japanese legend Issey Miyake, who recently passed away at 84. We instantly recognize his famous pleats and avante-garde shapes. His career spanned the fashion capitals of the world—the designer called Paris and New York home in the ’60s, working for big names like Hubert de Givenchy and Geoffrey Beene before moving back to Tokyo in 1970 to establish his own brand. His international experiences, coupled with his Japanese roots and profound talent, would influence his unique take on East-meets-West fashion.
Issey Miyake
Japanese designer Issey Miyake has been turning out innovative, unconventional, forward-thinking pieces for over 45 years. His career-long obsession with making clothes light, practical, washable, and crease-free has resulted in technologically sophisticated production methods entirely unique to the brand. The pieces themselves have an innate genderless quality to them — often free-fitting with a sportiness to the performance-driven fabrics — making this decades old brand designed by a man in his late 70’s some of the most relevant fashion of modern day.
Julia Heuer
Julia Heuer is a German designer based in Paris who, like Miyake, is known by her distinct use of plisse pleats and eccentric prints. She applies sensuous colors and the Japanese tie-dyeing technique, arashi shibori, to her work. Before launching her eponymous line, she was the head of print design for renowned textile company Jakob Schlaepfer. During her tenure, she created unique prints for various fashion houses such as Christian Dior, Comme des Garcons, and Calvin Klein. In 2016, Heuer was awarded the prestigious Swiss Design Prize for her collectsion Adobe Indigo.
Julia Heuer
Julia Heuer is the eccentric master of prints and pleats. Playing with folklorish elements, visual references give homage to the past, while being brought into the contemporary context with a signature twist. With a combination of unique in-house designed prints and innovative pleating techniques, she creates a look that cannot be replicated. Giving ancient techniques a contemporary and bold makeover, Julia Heuer pieces delight with sensuous colors and an unorthodox array of patterns.
giu giu
Giuliana Leila Raggiani founded her brand giu giu in 2013 after studying at Parsons School of Design in New York and Central Saint Martins in London. She finds inspiration in her Italo-American upbringing, her Nonna’s fashion design legacy, and through travel and yoga. In fact, giu giu pieces are really the perfect companion for those on the go—they hug the body in a comfortable stretch knit. The designer herself splits time between Los Angeles, New York, and Paris.
giu giu
giu giu (pronounced joo-joo) is the creative vision of Giuliana Leila Raggiani, a first-generation Italian designer inspired by her grandmother, Palmira Giglia, creator of the iconic Vaccaro Turtlenecks. Established in 2013, giu giu reimagines heritage knitwear with a modern, playful approach—most notably through the signature Nonna Turtleneck. Rooted in nostalgia and bound by simplicity, the label embodies a unique, offbeat freedom with no limits on age or gender.
Paloma Wool
Seven years ago, long-time friends Paloma Lanna and Tana Latorre founded the fashion project, Paloma Wool in Barcelona. Not strictly a ready-to-wear label, Paloma Wool is more accurately characterized as an online creative space that celebrates the act of getting dressed. The brand famously collaborates with other creatives on one-of-a-kind prints, most recently with the celebrated Italian stylist Riccardo Maria Chiacchio.
Paloma Wool
Clothes and jewelry by this Barcelona-based brand are like little odes to the city: everything’s produced locally and often features collaborations with local contemporary artists (check the illustrative prints for proof). Founded in 2014 by Paloma Lanna, the brand operates outside of the seasons of the fashion industry by gradually releasing timeless pieces throughout the year.
