Dare To Be Different

Fashion has a way of drawing out the brightest sparks of creativity. Here are four indie brands with outsized impacts on the industry

- Bryan Ho

NICHOLAS DALEY

Nicholas Daley is a rising star in the world of fashion. The Brit designer graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2013 and launched his eponymous label in 2015, before going on to present his creations at Paris Fashion Week and making it to the semi-finals of the 2018/19 International Woolmark Prize.

Daley’s work explores his Jamaican and Scottish roots, as well as the relationship between music and fashion. He references jazz for his design concepts; the sonic experimentations in the different subgenres of jazz shape how Daley approaches his clothes in terms of form and texture. Elsewhere, his creations’ vibrant palette and bold patterns serve as nods to his cultural heritage alongside oversized baker hats and traditional loafers.

For his spring/summer 2020 collection, award-winning jazz group Sons of Kemet walked the runway and gave a rare extended performance to the attendees while encouraging the audience to join in by dancing. The show’s immense success put Daley on the radar of fashion magazines such as i-D, Dazed and Vogue.

SSENSE, International Gallery Beams and Goodhood now stock his clothing.

JOHN ALEXANDER SKELTON