On September 28, Teen Vogue, in partnership with Motorola Razr, honored six new Gen Next Innovators with a celebration in New York City. The latest class is a new addition to Teen Vogue‘s existing Generation Next program, which highlights a diverse group of the next wave of upcoming fashion designers. According to Teen Vogue, their Generation Next program acts as part advisory board, part fund, and part incubator with the intent of supporting young creatives and giving them access to industry insiders. Knowing that fashion is a notoriously difficult industry to break into, Generation Next was created to give newcomers networking opportunities and help them foster relationships as a springboard for their careers. For years, the program has highlighted innovative designers from around the world—even bringing a former winner to judge this year’s competition.
“It is thrilling to see the level of support and excitement for young designers who are really pushing the industry forward—and it was wonderful to connect with them all in person and see some immediate friendships formed,” Teen Vogue editor-in-chief Versha Sharma said the night of the event.
A panel of judges selected these six winners based on their work and designs, while considering elements like fabrics, textures, and the use of inventive materials. The Innovators will also serve as mentors to the existing group of Generation Next winners. Each Innovator will receive a grant from Motorola, a consultation with one of the six judges, plus a trip to New York City.
READ RELATED: Author Fariha Róisín Says Wellness Has a Whitewashing Problem
In addition to providing funds, the program has also given a platform to these young designers who are using the lens of fashion to discuss topics like sustainability, philosophy, and their own cultural histories. For instance, designer Qianru Zhang, previously told Teen Vogue her work is “influenced by Chinese philosophies extracted from Tao Te Ching, Jiangnan Garden design, and traditional Chinese methods including Ancient Chinese dye.” Another winner, Juliana Heredia, has found inspiration in her multicultural background and traveling around the world. All of the winners spoke about the transformative power of fashion, with others mentioning their desire to meld new textiles and approaches with timeless design.
Read more about the first class of Gen Next Innovators here, and see more event highlights from Teen Vogue here.
Related:
Source: SELF
