BEST EMERGING DESIGNERS 2019: FLYING SOLO

Elena Rudenko at Flying Solo NYFW Show

As a regular reader will know, I am such a fan of Flying Solo in New York. Every time I visit them, I always find the most incredible designers who are creating inspired collections that you really can’t find anywhere else. 
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I am so happy to bring you some of the latest designers from the store that you should be keeping an eye out for in 2019.

MONA ROMANI
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Mona Romani is an incredibly unique designer and solving two big wardrobe problems many women are facing, that of not having enough space in their wardrobes at home and not having enough space in their luggage when they go away. So how is Romani solving this you might wonder? All of her stunning pieces are reversible! Therefore investing in her designs will always allow you to have two outfits in one, saving both room in your wardrobe and your luggage. The added bonus is that due to the reversibility of her pieces, every item is perfectly stitched. Romani tells me that the idea started simply because she didn’t like it when her pieces weren't finished perfectly and stitching was visible and from this the idea of duality on each piece was born.

Romani's long evening gowns are also reversible, making them such a great investment piece. In her collection she has even designed a ruffle dress, that once reversed completely hides the ruffles which results in creating an entirely new look for 'look two'. 

Impeccably made, fashion forward pieces that look stunning from every angle. A two for one look and creating more room in your wardrobe? What is not to love about Mona Romani?! 

​AVEM

Avem shoes should be considered pieces of art. All are handmade in Italy, with three generations making shoes for the family business now with designer Nok taking the helm.

The latest fall / winter 19 collection is called, ‘Enchanted Land’ and is inspired by nature, with a wolf, fox and rabbit image featured on the collection.

Nok's name in Thai means bird and Avem means bird in Latin and this is where the designer drew her inspiration on for the latest collection. However the stunning collection below with their floral pattern is called 'Flowers of the Soul' perfect for stepping into spring / summer with! 

Some of the shoes are vintage inspired with ruffles and featuring black and gold. The designer has even created an ankle cuff for the collection that can be worn with the shoe for added detail. Others feature embroidery that makes even the flats in her collection dressy enough to wear out in the evening, Nok tells me, “Each one has a different soul.” Check out Avem for simple, multi purpose stunning shoes that are timeless in design. 

https://www.avemshoes.com
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MIND OF KYE NUDE COLLECTION BY KYEMAH MCENTYRE
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Designer of Mind of Kye, Kyemah McEntyre with Stacy Fan (wearing Elena Rudenko trousers) 

​The designer behind Mind of Kye, Kyemah McEntyre is simply stunning as is her vision for her latest collection, in which she has redefined the idea of what the colour ‘nude’ is. Usually deemed as a pale tone, everyones ‘nude’ is completely different and her line has made everyones colour inclusive of this, "Nude can be pale, but it can also be tan or dark brown", the designer says. With her collection, McEntyre has included fluid dresses but has redefined them as a symbol of strength. The collection explores dresses reflecting this fluidity, femininity and your true colour and the empowerment of all those elements. 

McEntyre has also played around with tones, inspired by copper pennies. Something that many people will disregard as having no value, McEntyre is reinventing the idea of what we deem to be valuable or not. The Mind of Kye, a collection that is truly inspired and inspiring. 

http://www.themindofkye.com

ELENA RUDENKO 

A firm favorite designer of mine, Rudenko has created a stunning SS19 collection, this time using pastel colours and belle flowers as the source of her inspiration. 

Dresses that can be worn two ways with the floral structure remaining the source of inspiration. Also in the collection is a crop top and detachable flowers and pieces that can become sleeveless. Rudenko has once again created a collection that is multi-functional, but always stunning and striking with all the lines of her dresses reminiscent of the flower that started the inspiration for the collection.

www.elenarudenko.com

Photo credits: Elena Rudenko Instagram 

C_EST D BY DOYEON YONI YU
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With over 67% of American women a size US 14 and above, Yu wanted to redefine the concept of body positivity and create a collection of clothes that weren’t focused on size, but fashion. “There is no body size” Yu tells me, “Only fashion”.

Unlike other companies catering to a customer of all sizes, Yoni Yu is big on color, not understanding why brands that have plus sizes only tend to focus on black and white palettes. 

Even Yu's shoes are bright in color and ensure you don’t go unnoticed. Yoni Yu is a brand unlike anything out there, promoting a positive body image without limitation that allows her customer to express themselves and have fun with fashion, just the way it was intended. 

www.yoniyu.com

GAVEA.NYC
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Designer Paula Dias tells me that her fascination with identity is closely connected to her love of fashion, "The way we choose to dress after all is a huge indication of how we choose to present ourselves" says Dias. 

Starting out with a 12 year long career in business, Dias made the brave leap to go and study at Parsons School of Design, to learn how to construct and design. After completing her studies, Dias made the official move to New York and began her life as a designer. 

The Gavea collection is inspired by not just identity but construction around the city of New York. Everywhere Dias looked she saw road signs, ‘Caution’ and ‘Fire Hose Keep Clear’ as well as cones and as many signs giving out instructions. 

Dias realized seeing all these signs, that her own construction was taking place. Having changed career and moved to another city she said she herself felt, "Dangerous, flammable and far from finished" In fact Dias was just starting and the pieces from her collection were born.

www.gavea.nyc

CHAE New York
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A new contemporary womenswear designer who counts Cardi B amongst her fans, Chae focuses on classic clothes that aren’t designed in a classic way. Describing the brand as “New, youthful and wild classics" Chae uses both current trends and classic elements in her designs. With textiles that are sourced from Italy as well as England, the result is a collection of beautifully tailored pieces. 

This particular collection was inspired by the concept that we are open 24/7, working so hard as we spend so much time at the office but yet we can’t express ourselves there. Therefore Chae has created a collection of suits that are classic in their structure but with an edge, allowing those who wear her pieces to express how they are feeling inside. For truly standout pieces and for those who love beautiful tailoring but don’t want to blend in, Chae might well be you new go-to designer!

www.chaeyoonyoo.com

​JO KILDA

Jo Kilda has created a collection of all vegan pieces, however to feel and see the collection up close, you would never know they weren't real leather. 

A beautiful faux fur coat in emerald green, a suede-esque double breasted jacket and a long stunning vegan dress with pleats. The collection even includes a vegan leather jumpsuit, the likes of which have not been seen before and took the designer numerous attempts to get the piece just right as no factory could complete the pleats in vegan leather the way the designer required it to be done. 

Jo Kilda has created a beautiful, cruelty free collection that is influenced by her background of Australian style, with a reality in her designs for real people. I personally wore one of her pieces to the Candice Cuoco show in New York for NYFW and got so many compliments. The dress felt exactly like a leather piece and was stunning in look and structure. For a leather lover looking for a cruelty free brand, look no further than Jo Kilda. 
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www.jokilda.com
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Stacy Fan wearing Jo Kilda

Jo Kilda's unique vegan leather jumpsuit

​EZIE
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After seeing the Ezie collection, it might shock you to know that Esther Ihezie, the designer behind the brand is by day a physician specializing in emergency services. However she had a huge love of fashion even prior to studying medicine and eventually realised she needed to launch her own line. 

Even more shocking after seeing the collection is that Ihezie has had no formal training, only taking seminars and online classes to learn how to design and construct. After these virtual classes were taken, Ezie was born. 

With a  background such as hers you’d be forgiven for thinking that the Ezie collection would lean towards more classical tailoring and shy in color. Both couldn’t be further from what Ihezie has created. In fact, if you’re looking for a designer to transport you to a real life fairytale, you may have found the perfect collection for you! 

After working in the stressful environment of the emergency room, Ihezie took herself and now us, on a fairytale as she has created a stunning collection inspired by Alice in Wonderland including the Anne Hathaway and Queen’s dress featured in the film. Drawing upon inspiration from the ‘Queen's Collar’ on many of her pieces including the Imogene dress and the Fiona Blouse. 

The beautiful construction of the Cheshire jumpsuit is another knockout piece that accentuates the feminine neckline. 

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Seeing the collection up close, it’s truly remarkable to think the designer hasn’t taken a single professional in person class, but just goes to show that her talent is something she was born with. 

Ihezie says of the Ezie woman, "She is timeless, not afraid to be different while looking effortlessly chic". I couldn’t agree more and cannot wait to see what the designer creates for her next collection. She is most definitely one to keep your eye on this year. 
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http://www.eziedesigns.com

https://flyingsolo.nyc

434 West Broadway, New York, NY 10012