Kicking off your clothing label is a notoriously tough gig, so when a celebrity wears your stuff, it’s a pretty big deal, and there’s good news for any emerging designers. There’s a long list of A-listers with an appetite for supporting the next generation of design talent.
When a celeb or person of influence wears a garment, the positive effects can be massive, putting confidence in younger labels and exposing the brand to a boatload of potential customers. Take A$AP Nast, the A$AP Mob member and fashion mood board regular with a hunger for the hottest designers around. He might be known for his 10/10 trousers from Japanese labels like Issey Miyake and Comme des Garçons, but you can guarantee there’ll be some solid pieces from smaller brands thrown in the mix, too.
From A$AP Nast to Charli XCX, smaller brands are in some pretty not-so-small people’s wardrobes. We’ve rounded up some of our favourites for your reading pleasure down below.
Charli XCX in Sia Arnika
We’re not here to tell you whether Brat summer is over or not, but we are here to say that Charli XCX wearing Berlin-based Danish designer Sia Arnika to her birthday bash (the same party that Rosalía brought a bouquet of ciggies to) was a pretty major moment. Charli wore a pair of short shorts and a cut-out white tee, black specs, all pulled off with her trademark carefree cool.
A$AP Rocky in Christian Stone
A$AP Rocky does designer dressing like no one else. Whether he’s donning a grey tee and jeans or going for a run in a full leather Bottega Veneta leather tracky, he’s always out here looking sick. Back in 2018, Rocky wore a knitted neon green bally designed by Christian Stone for the video of his 2018 banger “Fukk Sleep” with FKA Twigs, putting the NYC-based designer on the map.
A$AP Nast in Juntae Kim
Finding pictures of A$AP Nast dressed in young designers is a pretty easy task, given the NYC-born rapper’s finger is always on the fashion pulse, but his recent Juntae Kim moment in London was a definite highlight for us. The South Korean designer founded his namesake label in 2022, fusing punk with classic tailoring and designing with comfort in mind, so it makes perfect sense in Nast's wardrobe.
Beyoncé in KWK by KAYKWOK
KWK by KAYKWOK is a future-looking label whose experimental avant-garde designs caught the attention of Beyoncé. She wore a metallic, 3D-printed chrome helmet and body piece with sculpted arms on the Stockholm leg of her Renaissance tour, and it’s not a look we’ll be forgetting soon.
Quavo in TOMBOGO
Back in June, Quavo donned a full leather set from Oakland-born LA-based designer TOMBOGO. The rapper wore relaxed leather pants with contrasting silver accents, an iced-out chain, and sunglasses. As far as growing your brand goes, getting Quavo to wear a full look from your collection is a pretty massive move.
Cover Image: @charli_xcx
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