These are the names you should be keeping an eye on
Expand your fashion know-how in 2022 with these BAME designers, curated by Jamie Gill and given the deep-dive treatment by Belinda Bamber.
Buy a copy of Great British Brands 2022 here
10 BAME Fashion Designers To Watch
AHLUWALIA
Priya Ahluwalia’s own brand exploded onto the scene like a firecracker in 2018, with the designer wearing her pride in her multicultural Nigerian-Indian heritage quite literally on her clothing – characterised by bold, colourful shapes and sinuous patterning. ahluwalia.world
ALIGHIERI
Named after Dante, poet of purgatory and paradise, Rosh Mahtani’s jewellery encapsulates stories of human imperfection and vulnerability. An Oxford graduate, raised in Zambia and London, her fragmented talismans are worn and prized by the likes of Michaela Coel and Marcus Rashford. alighieri.com
BIANCA SAUNDERS
Award-winning Bianca Saunders magics menswear basics into statement pieces thanks to artisanal workmanship and her playfulness with masculine tropes. Her British-West Indian roots inform the distinctive vibe of her streetwear x avantgarde couture. biancasaunders.com
K.NGSLEY
Based in New York, Nigerian-American designer Kingsley Gbadegesin founded his label to forge a positive future for the Black and queer communities and people of colour in the USA. His sensual woollens and geometric separates reflect his formative years at Versace, Celine and Loewe. k.ngsley.com
MARTINE ROSE
Martine Rose is the cult go-to for edgy androgyny with a dash of kink – viz this winter’s fuzzy jumpers and leather cowboy chaps: a glorious revel in ‘bad’ taste and gender codes. Martine’s many influences include the ’90s rave scene, her Jamaican-British heritage and London’s cultural melting pot. martine-rose.com
NICHOLAS DALEY
While the use of rich tartan textiles and emphasis on craftsmanship hint at Nicholas Daley’s Scottish upbringing, his distinctive hats, chunky weaves and assertive textile patterns are a tribute to his Jamaican heritage. It’s a powerful, unashamedly masculine exploration of multiculturalism. nicholasdaley.net
RAHEMUR RAHMAN
London-born Raheem Rahman’s love of craft and community sing through the colours, woven textiles and natural dyes of his clothing – bold reinterpretations of South Asian identity that are made in his parents’ homeland, Bangladesh. @rahemurrahman
SAUL NASH
Who better than a dancer and choreographer to design flexible, luxury activewear? Saul’s movement-based shows famously feature his North London mates in unusual venues like schools or markets; he explores his Bajan-Guyanese heritage with masculine, sporty pieces topped with a nonchalant, acid-yellow trench. saulnash.co.uk
SUPRIYA LELE
Sensual draping, chiffon layers, ruching, sequins, beading, mesh: Supriya Lele transforms her heritage of traditional Indian materials into a hedonistic mix of sexy, feminine and empowering. Raised in the Midlands with family ties in Madhya Pradesh, Supriya’s an activist for the education of Indian girls. supriyalele.com
WALES BONNER
LVMH Young Designer winner 2016, Dior collaborator, Central St Martins lecturer, critical theorist in Black literature and music: Grace Wales Bonner landed on the sportswear scene with the versatile agility of an Olympic multisport athlete. Take your marks for her zinging daywear in stripes and checks, elegant leather and wool. walesbonner.net
Feature image: AHLUWALIA
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