Every season, young talents present their collections during Paris Fashion Week making their first appearance on the official schedule. Here are the new designers to keep an eye on for this edition: CFCL (Clothing For Contemporary Life), Gabriele Colangelo, Maxhosa Africa, Zomer.

CFCL
Designer: Yusuke Takahashi


Founded in 2020 by Japanese designer Yusuke Takahashi (formerly with Issey Miyake), the CFCL brand name stands for Clothing For Contemporary Life. Instead of fashion that expresses the tastes and mindset of an individual designer, CFCL’s clothing is designed to serve as tools for people to use in their lives. The label focuses on three elements: sophistication, consciousness, comfort and easy care. From daily life to going out to eat at a restaurant, the CFCL style is highly compatible with different scenarios while still being easy to maintain at home and responsibly made. The brand’s core is computer programming-aided knitwear, which results in almost no waste as it eliminates the need to cut the material. Selecting recycled and certified materials makes it possible to produce clothing with a reduced impact on the environment.

GABRIELE COLANGELO
Designer: Gabriele Colangelo


Milanese designer Gabriele Colangelo's career in design began at Versace and Cavalli after having studied Greek and Latin literature. Born in 1975, Colangelo, after professionally growing his father’s studio and learning all the secrets of a furrier, classical studies, and a BA in ancient literature, follows his true passion for fashion, experimenting with the highest quality fabrics and textiles. Each piece in the collection highlights Gabriele’s passion and values for each garment’s precious detailing. In 2008, after winning the Vogue Italia award 'Who's on next', Gabriele Colangelo's label was launched in Milan and is recognized as an elegant, timeless label designing innovative pieces and reinventing the concept of grace and luxury, experimenting with fabrics and shapes. Harmonic, modern, and lively architecture is visible in the designer’s garments and allows the label’s consumers the ability to express their own culture, personality, and strength.

MAXHOSA AFRICA
Designer: Laduma Ngxokolo


Maxhosa Africa is a South African knitwear brand founded in 2010 by Laduma Ngxokolo, originating in the desire to explore knitwear design solutions suitable for amakrwala (Xhosa initiates). The vision began by creating a modern Xhosa-inspired knitwear collection suitable for this market. Laduma, having gone through this process, felt compelled to develop premium knitwear in celebration of traditional Xhosa aesthetics. Through accessing and playing with the astonishing power of traditional Xhosa beadwork patterns, symbolism, and colors, Maxhosa Africa was born. Maxhosa designs showcase the beauty, culture, language, and aspirations of the Xhosa people, reinterpreting tradition through a contemporary vision.

ZOMER
Designers: Danial Aitouganov & Imruh Asha


Zomer is a women’s wear brand with a strong focus on craftsmanship, the art of dressing, and the joy found in creative expression. The label was created in 2023 by the Dutch designer duo of Danial Aitouganov (who worked in the design studios with Burberry, Chloé, and the French men’s wear brand Études) and Imruh Asha, who styled for brands including Jacquemus, Dior, and Louis Vuitton before being named fashion director of Dazed magazine in 2021. Zomer, which means "summer" in Dutch (their favorite season), features colorful silhouettes and playful asymmetrical designs, drawing inspiration from its founders’ roots in the Netherlands and a strong relationship with contemporary art.

Photo Cover: Zomer campaign SS24