Up Next Designer founder and Creative Director Albert Ayal (@upnextdesigner) has an unparalleled eye for spotting the next style stars. Here, the ultimate industry insider shares his take.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SUBJECT
How do you hope what you do supports a more inclusive industry?
I hope that Up Next Designer supports a more inclusive industry by making fashion—a world that can seem exclusive and daunting from its exterior—feel more welcoming, fun and, of course, exciting. I want to uplift the next generation of talent, not only designers but also stylists, writers, photographers, editors and other style-focused creatives, by highlighting their work, providing them with as much valuable industry insight as possible, and offering a friendly front-row look inside fashion’s red-roped world. Additionally, it’s no secret that establishing a design label can be a lot to take on financially. I want to help newcomers, who maybe don’t come from money or advantageous backgrounds, accomplish their goals of breaking into fashion.
Where do you scout and discover talent these days?
I look at practically every single fashion school across the globe to see what their graduating classes are presenting, and I connect with students whose work catches my eye. I like to look at the work of niche stylists and explore the fashion credits inside indie magazines for names I’m not familiar with. I’ll look at the brands that influencers in different countries are wearing, and I’ll also look to more local fashion week presentations for rising talent. Sometimes, I’ll find amazing talent by simply checking who’s following me.
Please describe your personal sense of style.
I would describe my personal sense of style as casually elevated—I like pieces with a lighthearted sense of sophistication, but nothing too serious. I’m always scrolling through SSENSE and Mr. Porter looking for quality pieces to add to my personal closet. I wear a lot of button-downs, both short-sleeve and long-sleeve, and I love oversized tops. Jacquemus is definitely a standout brand for me, but I also enjoy finding cool tops from both well-established and up-and-coming brands alike. In the winter, I gravitate toward long jackets, sweaters and turtlenecks—I’m a big fan of Ami Paris for those. In the summer, I wear a lot of Onia swimwear, and on a casual day, I’m in a Madhappy sweatsuit. I love hats, specifically bucket hats, and I normally have a pair of sunglasses on me. As for shoes, I’m currently loving New Balance.
Who were or are your main style influences (both early and current)?
I’m personally inspired by so many people—in terms of more mainstream celebrities, I would say Devin Booker, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Timothée Chalamet. Collectively, they all have a strong pulse on fashion. They each emulate the relaxed yet refined look that I enjoy, and their stylists do a great job of selecting cutting-edge looks that not only align with their individual styles but also influence menswear at large. Now being on social media, I’m also inspired by Wisdom Kaye and Andrew Georgiades. They both possess this innate ability to seamlessly pair mix-and-matched, high-end pieces with ease.
Any other projects or news that we can share?
I’m currently working on curating a New York Fashion Week exhibition with Revolve, which is super exciting. I’m also tapping into my editorial skill set with my own column at Business of Fashion, and I’m taking on a lot more independent styling.
WHO ARE SOME OF THE EMERGING DESIGNERS TO WATCH THIS SEASON?
Nullus Official
MOKOO
N Palmer
Christopher Raxxy
Justin Gall
FIGI Studios
MOLE’NERATION
YING KONG
(@0818ky)
Mai-gidah
EMEERREE
Aaron Esh
