A self-declared people-watcher, Amelia Sonsino is the young photographer building a platform that captures the intimacies of the LGBTQIA+ community: ““I’ve decided it’s my job to show everyone just how many versions of being beautiful or sexy there is.”

Whilst the past couple of years has seen thrifting become the mainstream, the last year has given rise to a new cohort of young fashion-entrepreneurs selling their designs online. Through these clothes run common threads: Futuristic aesthetics that reference both the y2k renaissance and accelerating technological innovation.

Final-year fashion communication students at Central Saint Martins, George Hutton and Simone Beyene, capture London-based, Nigerian-born musician Chi Virgo around the East End of London.

For emerging designer Goom Heo, it all started with grannies and grandpas. The South Korean-born Central Saint Martins graduate is in her final tenure at Fashion East and talks to Alice May Stenson about all things memes, internet trolls and futuristic fashion following her horror-fuelled AW21 collection.

“We the women are tired” shares creative director, stylist, model and writer Anesu Noelle Mande. ‘No Consent’ is a personal essay documenting the oppression towards females by the result of a voyeuristic male gaze.

Antwerp artist Stef Van Looveren is deconstructing the rules around our bodies. With their genital sculptures, Van Looveren is subverting society’s restrictions, celebrating identity and championing diversity.

Photographer Zoey Jacqueline teams up with Grace Miller, creative director and founder of UK-based fashion label, Girls Girls Girls, in this y2k-esque editorial featuring Agency 7 models, Anya Pasternack, Alice Warre and Akemi Foxx.

After creating his eponymous label Parnell Mooney in 2015 and a breakout stint at Fashion East, the Irish-born designer found himself at a crossroads. “I don't think I ever really took time and thought…what do I actually like? What am I into?” explains Parnell-Mooney. Now the designer has shaken off the shackles of the industry and is imagining a future where making clothes he wants to wear is simply enough.

Sun Woo Chang is the designer whose eponymous brand has quickly found its fun and joy-bringing role in the fashion world through its lively, bright and experimental designs. In conversation with Ella Bardsley, the Central Saint Martins graduate sees creativity as something to play with; a reminder of being young and toying with imagination.

Central Saint Martins graduate Johannes Warnke is the designer who has captured the attention of Grammy heavyweights, Lady Gaga and Post Malone. Committed to treating his craft and couture as an artistic process, rather than manufacturing for a consumer, the emerging designer is dedicated to sustainable production and saving the planet.

Bringing on the lace revolution, Kasia Kucharska is the European designer merging her interdisciplinary vision of architecture and fashion to create hybridised garments from scribbled cycle shorts to bralets.

For Kévin Nompeix and Florentin Glémarec of EGONlab., the Parisian brand dedicated to supporting social movements, conversation and self-love, the trick to understanding our future is looking back at our past. Following their AW21 collection, we spoke to the designer duo on viral Octogenarians, design inspirations and the ups and downs of working with someone you love.

“This editorial was conceptualised from hiding my sad emotions and my false reassurances. It’s how I cope with unsure emotions; using excessive colour and collaging when feeling dull,” explains photographer-turned-model, Lily West.

Caitlin Yates is a fashion designer with change on her mind. Addressing political, moral and social issues, Yates wants her menswear pieces to help question the world around us, break down stereotypes, and expose the true nature of our societies.

In the space between childhood pop culture and arts-and-crafts class, you’ll find Maya Golyshkina’s imagination. The 19-year-old artist both makes and models her up-cycled fashion creations, the beauty and uniqueness of her designs even catching the eye of fashion icon and designer, Marc Jacobs.

Sabrina Lousoir asserts that knitwear can be figure-hugging, sexy and empowering. From cut-out tops to dresses and crops, Sabby Lou Knit, which Lousoir founded five years ago, is the Black-and-female-owned business that wants to make it clear that Black women can be whoever they want to be. And while wearing an SLK piece; who’s to say you can’t be?

Kaiwen Shi is the Chinese designer and Parsons graduate who looks way back for inspiration, right towards her infancy from the days of dressing up dolls. “I like to maintain the childish feeling in my work,” she shares. “It makes me feel warm and authentic.”

Described by Hong Kong-born, NYC-based jewellery maker Clare Ngai as “small-batch custom nostalgic & whimsical goodies”, the BONBONWHIMS business is a one-woman show inspired by all things ‘kawaii’ and ‘kitschy.’

24-year-old photographer Joshua Onabowu will not let one style alone define him. An avid fan of Tumblr and Megan Thee Stallion, his fashion and portrait work toys with human emotion and dependency, all with the goal of uncovering the truth.

First-year Central Saint Martins student, Mia Coco Chambers, was inspired to create a universe of influential women that go back and forward in time to save other women in need. “Women who had power or an opinion, and were seen as mad or a threat to society. We have to stick together in order to help our own kind.”