For those of us who aren’t out to tote designer logos, the brand-less bag can be something special. We of that tribe particularly pay attention to materials, construction, usability and of course design. That design-minded ethos is shared by Berlin-based Gretchen. The four-year old accessories line  designed by Anne-Christin Hofmann offers updated patchwork leather hobos that [...]

We’ve had our eye on Berlin-based brand Miroike for their selection of comfy yet design-minded footwear, but it seems we’re not the only ones with a soft spot for the line. For Spring 2011, there are more clothing options ranging from lovely belted cocoon dress to a kicky pleated skirt. Color choices are still limited [...]

Copenhagen-based Henrik Vibskov has made a thriving business out of the unconventional – the designer has showcased everything from runway collection titled The Human Laundry Service (with striped “cogs” in the background for industrial effect) to art installations all over Europe. More recently Vibskov seems to be flexing his consumer savvy. Along with a Spring [...]

Nothing caps off the week with less reading and more gorgeous visual stimulation. Israeli-born, South America-raised designer Yaniv Persy has built up his resume with stints at John Galliano at Dior, Lanvin and Donna Karan. In 2009, Persy decided to go it solo (crappy economy be damned) and launched his namesake line in young designer-friendly [...]

Having honed her design chops in the studios of Hussein Chalayan, Vivienne Westwood and then Peter Som, Nicole Kwon struck out on her own with her debut Fall 2010 collection for NKWON. The modern aesthetic that plays with silhouette as much as it does the illusion of proportion, the South Korea native and NYC transplant [...]

Lu Flux may have been a Vauxhall Fashion Initiative Ones to Watch back in 2009, but this London-based fashion designer has yet to land Stateside. No matter, there are several London and Tokyo stockists who have clamored for the artsy meets whimsical meets ethically minded young label. There has been some playful riffs on stuffed [...]

The buzzy word around Paris Paris is of course your usual big names like Dior and Chanel, but pay close attention to Hakaan Yildirim who has the editors, models and pretty young things clamoring for more. After a stellar show last season in London, the Turkish-born designer has moved onto primetime – namely Paris Fashion [...]

While the European Spring 2011 collections continue on with bold-faced brands in Paris, there’s some buzzy young designers on the continent to pay attention to. Barcelona-based line Txell Miras riffed on the neoprene trend with a scuba-styled SS11 collection. But the more important overarching trend isn’t the sea, but rather the black and white palette [...]

If you weren’t convinced already, Topshop has earned its moniker – the Brit retailer is on top of the fast fashion heap by not only mimicking runway trends, but creating some of their own. Now with fall quickly approaching, Topshop has announced a new initiative: Emerge, a new series working with under-the-radar edgy designers like [...]

In the fashion industry it’s easy to be pigeon-holed as one specialty or another. Thankfully, La Petite S***** (formerly known as La Petite Salope, or the little strumpet) founder Nicola Helgesen ditched her start-out career as a visual merchandiser to start her own line in 2001. Since then, the line has been quietly building up [...]