INDEPENDENT DESIGNERS TO WATCH

A crop of independent designers are making headlines, such as Thuy Diep of the label Thuy, Ophelie Klere and Francois Alary of Devastee, Gaspard Yurkievich of his namesake label, and Filip Arickx and An Vandevorst of AF Vandevorst.

Born to Vietnamese tailor parents who instilled her with a love of fabric, Thuy Diep graduated from Parsons with the goal of creating a label that would forge a personal connection between the wearer and the creator. Diep debuted her Fall 2007 collection at New York Fashion Week.

Diep believes in creating pieces with precision and care. Thuy is characterized by impeccable tailoring, vibrant colors, and organic materials, making the label a multi-faceted gem. Diep is definitely one of the most exciting designers to watch in the coming months.

Ophelie Klere and Francois Alary of Devastee met in high school and instantly collaborated to form their dream label. The two self-professed ‘morbid designers’ incorporate dark and sinister elements into their creations (ghouls and graveyards anyone?).

Devastee clothing is splashed with blacks, grays, whites, and reds, and many of the duo’s illustrations are printed on the clothes.