New Names To Know: 4 Designers To Have On Your Radar This Season

Studio Nicholson founder and creative director Nick Wakeman has spent the past two decades perfecting the classics. This includes trench coats, crisp shirting, relaxed denim and effortless knits, all reimagined in luxe materials and clean, contemporary shapes with a sense of ease and fluidity in mind. The goal? To create modern wardrobe staples she hopes will be loved and lived in for a lifetime.

Wakeman is uncompromising when it comes to fabrics, sourcing the majority from European mills that use natural, responsibly sourced fibers that get even softer and more luxurious over time, such as Japanese cotton and Italian wool. The same goes for the cut of the garment, too, with each piece often undergoing up to five fittings and a rigorous round of quality checks before earning its place in a collection.

Some of the pieces that made the cut for fall include the ‘Campion’ trench that comes in a subtle cocoon shape with a belted waist and raglan sleeves; the ‘Loenne’ sweater, inspired by an original ’60s style from Wakeman’s personal archive; and the ‘Barra’ jeans in the brand’s signature 14oz washed denim. Elsewhere in the collection, you’ll find the softest leather loafers and softly structured bags that will work with every outfit.

Where to Wear It: Modern creative workspaces, gallery strolls and sartorially minded weekend retreats.

“We are quiet in the way we approach design, and there is a certain longevity, coherence and consistency in what we create. But I’m not sure we are ‘luxury’ in the way the phrase is commonly used today,” says Ruohan Nie of the comparison often made between her brand and quiet luxury. “If luxury is also about heritage, then I believe we are in the process of creating our own.”

Founded in Shanghai in 2021, Ruohan has developed a unique design language – one that explores the beauty in simplicity but never at the expense of creativity. Abstract pattern-cutting techniques and unexpected textures make every piece feel like a work of art, yet they couldn’t be easier to wear. Sculptural blouses come in weightless silk organza for ease while languid draping adds a sense of fluidity to cotton-gauze dresses and skirts.

Nie finds much of her inspiration in art, architecture and travel, but as she mentions in her notes for Ruohan’s fall/winter ’26 collection, “a series rarely begins with a full picture.” Instead, it is with fragments gathered over months or even years. “I think inspiration is less about suddenly finding an idea and more about recognizing when an idea you have carried for a long time is ready to become something,” she explains. It’s an approach that hasn’t failed her yet, with each collection rich in shape, texture and movement – elements that capture both the immediacy of the present and the passage of time.

Where to Wear It: Exhibition openings, intimate salon dinners and contemporary formal occasions calling for sculptural elegance.

MFPEN founder Sigurd Bank never set out to create womenswear; it just happened organically. Bank and his team work extensively with deadstock and recycled materials to minimize waste, so when they were left with a limited supply of fabric insufficient for their menswear collection, they decided to change tack. That was three years ago, and the brand hasn’t looked back since.

“Our women’s collections draw clear parallels to our menswear in the way we recontextualize the formal wardrobe, while giving it a distinctly feminine direction,” Bank explains. “It’s about taking familiar elements of formal dressing and reinterpreting them from a different perspective.”

Based in Copenhagen, the designer is naturally drawn to the simplicity of Scandinavian design, but his take on minimalism comes with a relaxed, quietly subversive twist. From frayed edges and exposed seams to loose, slouchy shapes, there’s a rawness – and realness – to every piece that echoes the rebellious spirit of ’90s grunge.

“We try to make pieces that complement your essentials, and in time become your favorite item,” says Bank, who has a few favorites of his own. “I love our ‘Auditor’ coat. It’s made from 100% post-consumer recycled wool, without any dyeing, and has an oversized fit that I really like.” He also calls out the ‘Rivet’ skirt, another highlight from the NET-A-PORTER edit that combines elements of traditional suiting with denim detailing for an unexpected contrast.

Where to Wear It: Off-duty city styling, layered urban looks and relaxed creative appointments.