NYFW propelling brands to fame

New York - NYFW continued to roll along with day 5 going strong. Looking at the schedule, there were the usual designers like Phillip Lim and Jeremy Scott, who are more regular household names. On the other end of things there are brands like Taoray Wang and Ese Azenabor who produce excellent collections, but are still building name recognition.

Fashion week is often the springboard for many designers looking to get the attention of editors, buyers, stylists, and celebrities to help propel their careers. It's all about getting the right people to pay attention to you, and at Fashion Week everyone who is anyone is there.

Concept Korea, which has been a launchpad for Korean designers to show at NYFW for the past several years, put two new designers on display this season, Suk-tae Lee with his label Kaal Eisuktae, and Ji-youn Lee with his label Jarret.

The inspiration behind the Kaal Eisuktae's collection was the bible of Daniel; chapter 2 "A Dream of King." Metallics and denims were prevalent in the collection, with main colors like indigo blue, navy, beige, black, and white proving that neutrals and dark colors don't always have to be boring. Jarrett's collection was inspired by fairytales and the idea that women have two distinct sides, "one good, and one not so," as Ji-youn puts it. She got quite creative with the color palette using pastel blue, carmine, and royal blue. The designers ability to transform costumes into technically constructed women's wear was on display as she manipulated silk and synthetic fabrics to create unique silhouettes with a sense of originality.

One designer who has already risen to fame, but was using Fashion Week to show off his shift toward a more subtle aesthetic is Jeremy Scott. Scott, who is usually known for being as over the top and flamboyant as possible, really toned down his usual aesthetic, and went with a more sophisticated theme for his collection. While there was still plenty of polka dots, neon pinks, and even a graffiti print shirt, Scott scaled back the usual ostentatious grandiose aesthetic to his clothes and was a bit closer to the traditional, but, he still retained his unique design eye.

NYFW helps new brands build a path to success

A rising star in the fashion industry who drew in a big crowd for her runway show at Fashion Week is Taoray Wang. Wang went with a black and white color palette for her collection, but played with lines and symmetry giving her collection a more elevated look, and the line also included several pieces that used snakeskin. The designer launched her signature namesake label back in 2015, and with the help of NYFW, she's getting the media attention she needs to ensure the success of her company.

Ese Azenabor presented a collection that was heavy on the sequins with a garden of eden theme. Her most extravagant and impressively constructed look was an all sequin dress with the sequins multiple colors showing her immaculate eye for detail and construction. Azenabor, who detoured to several other professions before she became immersed in fashion design, might have started her rise to the fashion industry late, but she's getting the attention she deserves.

The fashion darling of the evening who owes a great deal of her success to NYFW press and celebrities who love her collection would have to be the ever flawless Reem Acra. Acra, who is arguably the queen of expensive detailing, presented a collection of her eternally beautiful gowns that were ordained with sequins and beads and done in bright colors like gold and lime green, showed the world what true ornamentation was all about when it comes to clothes. With a clientele list including Madonna and Rosario Dawson, Acra has NYFW to thank for the place where she finally started to gain media attention.

While showing at NYFW isn't a magic ticket to success, it certainly helps lay the building blocks for a brand to really grow. Many designers who began as relative unknowns, like Michael Kors, can recall how major their first fashion weeks were and how it got their brands into the big department stores and the major magazines. By next year, who knows where these brands could be, but many of them look to be poised for success.