28 American Fashion Designers to Buy Now and Wear Forever

Photo:

Courtesy of Proenza Schouler; Courtesy of Rick Owens; Courtesy of Sergio Hudson; Courtesy of Rodarte

Courtesy of Proenza Schouler; Courtesy of Rick Owens; Courtesy of Sergio Hudson; Courtesy of Rodarte

When you think of famous fashion designers, who comes to mind? French powerhouses such as Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel and Thierry Mugler? Or how about iconic Italian designers such as Donatella Versace and Miuccia Prada? An endless list of prolific designers can easily fit the bill. But even I’ll admit that it’s easy to fall into the trope that influential designers “only” exist inside the borders of Europe. Don’t get me wrong here. There’s nothing I love more than French style, and I have a profound respect for La Dolce Vita. But talented designers can be found everywhere, including in the United States. American fashion designers have played a prominent role in changing the world (and fashion) as we know it. That’s why there have been two whole Met Galas dedicated to exploring the lexicon of American style, why New York continues to be one of the world’s fashion capitals, and why red carpet fashion dominates our newsfeeds. 

American fashion has woven itself into the zeitgeist and history itself. But if you find yourself wondering which American fashion designers have been able to take up such an enormous task, you’ll want to keep reading. Ahead, I’ve done some research and identified the fashion designers who were mavericks in their own right as well as the next generation of designers who are redefining what American fashion is today. From cementing the Americana look into the cannon to popularizing gothic grudge and streetwear, these 28 American designers are worth knowing about and shopping year-round.