From those who pivoted in response to shuttered stores and a lack of physical shows at Fashion Month to those who fought for equity and against prejudice in the face of Black Lives Matter movements this summer, 2020’s awards, taking place digitally on Thursday 3rd December, will spotlight the designers, brands and thought-leaders who have created change in four categories: community, creativity, environment and people.
Before the 20 winners are announced next week, the BFC has announced its New Wave: Creatives 2020. A group of 50 innovative emerging creatives spanning photography, modelling, styling and set design were voted for by industry peers, then whittled down by a committee of 15 powerhouses from fashion and beyond, including Adut Akech, Paloma Elsesser, Aaron Philip and Isamaya Ffrench.
Ahead, meet 11 of the BFC’s 50 New Wave: Creatives, whose fresh, directional and forward-looking perspectives will make your 2021 a hell of a lot more exciting.
Boston-born, London-based model and journalist Trey Trey has written for i-D and L’officiel since graduating from Central Saint Martins. Trey’s also the founder of fashion’s most exciting (and funniest) podcast, O.T.T, whose guests span trailblazing designers like Saul Nash and industry legends like Pat Cleveland. Add modelling credits at Charles Jeffrey, Wales Bonner and Mowalola, and you have one very impressive CV.
You may recognise director, artist and model Ágústa, based in London by way of Reykjavik and Miami, from Rihanna’s 2019 Savage x Fenty show. She’s graced the covers of Office and Editorial magazines but it’s her 3D video work – think blockbuster projects with Moschino – that has caught the industry’s eye. Counting legendary photographers Nick Knight, Ryan McGinley and Sharna Osborne as collaborators, Ágústa is keeping our Instagram feeds fresh.
Why is the London-based, award-winning director and journalist Fenn on a rising talent list when she’s already made such significant moves in the industry, you might ask. Her clients include Prada, Apple, Nike, Chanel and Dior, while her work has featured the likes of Spike Lee, Wu-Tang Clan, Stormzy and more. Now, with the BFC’s backing, we can’t wait to see what excellence she produces next.
After a decade of globetrotting as a freelance hair and makeup stylist, Janina, hailing from Hildesheim in Germany, felt like her inner artist was being stifled. Following a move to Berlin and an encounter with artist Tom Galle, Janina began painting magical and surreal works on people’s heads, from space-age tie-dye to killer clowns. With editorial in Vogue and Dazed Beauty, her tongue-in-cheek work is just what your feed needs.
London-based performer and writer – and the ICA’s first poet in residence – Kai is another talent whose star is already rising. Using their experience as a trans person of colour to unravel universal themes through poetry and politics, their activism uplifts their community through everything from memes to performance art. Having already worked with the Tate, the Barbican and the National Gallery, Kai’s work champions those whose voices have been otherwise ignored.
German-born and raised Larissa began modelling in Paris and New York before settling in Berlin and taking up photography. Now living in London and with a 118k-strong Instagram following, Larissa’s vivid and arresting work has featured in Love magazine, Dazed, The Gentlewoman and Document Journal.
Having worked with the likes of Jodie Turner-Smith, Paloma Elsesser and Lolly Adefope for a client list spanning Gareth Pugh, Valentino, Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton, hairstylist Issac Poleon’s craftsmanship speaks for itself. Specialising in Afro as well as European hair textures, Issac brings fashion storytelling to life through sculptural and art-like hairstyling.
UAL graduate and Nigerian native Moyosore began her journey as an image-maker as a self-taught photographer. Now based in London and working as a model alongside her photography, her work explores the intersections of selfhood, fashion and sexuality, using digital manipulation to work darkness and vibrancy into her anarchic, entrancing images.
Tokyo-based stylist Marie has brought her kaleidoscopic vision – think paintbox brights and ASMR-inducing textures – to the pages of ELLE Japan, Volt Magazine and WWD. She’s styled some of Japan’s coolest contemporary talent, musicians Amiaya and actress Yumi Adachi included, and we can’t wait to see what 2021 brings.
Welsh photographer Megan Winstone playfully draws on punk culture and feminist theory to take down societal expectations and negative body imagery. More recently, her work has shone a spotlight on her Welsh heritage, leading to collaborations with Love magazine, Vogue and Ten. Megan can also be found performing in front of the camera in music videos for the likes of Sam Smith and Adam Lambert.
From crystal-embellished ponytails to wet-look locks straight out of a ’00s music video, Latisha Chong’s repertoire is thrilling. The Trinidadian-born, New York-based hairstylist is already forging a back catalogue of looks that’ll feature on future mood boards but for now you can see her work in Vogue, Garage and i-D.
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