New Fashion Stars on the Horizon

By Katlean de Monchy

Last week I attended what felt like a genuine glimpse of fashion’s future: the 2026 Rising Star Awards from Fashion Group International. More than an awards ceremony, it was a celebration of emerging talent, fresh ideas, and the creative energy shaping what comes next.

Fern Mallis, Mindy Grossman, Alyce Panico (CEO of the FGI board) and Maryanne Grisz (Photo by Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Under the leadership of CEO Maryanne Grisz, Fashion Group International continues to do what it has done for three decades—spot talent early, champion originality, and create the kind of community where careers are launched and ideas gain momentum. In attendance were fashion luminaries like Fern Mallis, Ken Downing, Nicole Miller and Frederick Anderson, a former winner of a Rising Star Award. Other winners have included Tory Burch, Jason Wu, Brandon Maxwell, Malan Breton, Proenza Schouler, Thom Browne and Joseph Altuzarra.

Mindy Grossman, the partner and vice-chair of Consello, received the lifetime achievement award. The dazzling Coco Rocha was host for the event — she seems everywhere these days in addition to being the mother of three young children. She stated the theme for the evening: “We all rise because someone believed in us, guided us and gave us a chance.”

Coco Rocha with her husband, the artist James Conan. (Photo by Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

The designer and fashion illustrator Ruben Toledo gave the keynote speech. His belief is that fashion is “the language of modernity.”

“Fashion illustration fascinates and charms the viewer in its momentary suspension from reality. It allows you to dream and see, in your mind’s eye, what is not there.” Toledo, reflecting on his late wife, Isabel Toledo’s, early business instincts, underscored a recurring theme: people must grab any opportunity that comes their way, especially early in their careers.

The awards included fine jewelry, beauty, mens- and womenswear, evening and sustainability — a newer award dealing with a growing issue. The audience showed its appreciation for the winner of the eveningwear award, presented by Bibhu Mohapatra to Jeanette Limas, who dressed up for the occasion.

Jeanette Limas received her award from the evening wear designer who nominated her, Bibhu Mohapatra (Photo by Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Limas, born in the Dominican Republic, is on a fast track as a designer. After attending prestigious schools in her home country, then Parsons and FIT, then becoming a finalist on Making the Cut, she decamped from New York to Philadelphia to open Jeanette Limas Studio. She is wearing a dress from her fall 2026 Dahlia collection of cocktail and dramatic evening dresses. Her prices run from $275 for a shirt to $7,500 for a Dahlia gown. The pieces are available online.

One of two accessories winners, Erin Saluti, designer of wooden handbags, with Nicolle Miller (Photo by Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Other winners included a tie: Nicole Miller presented accessories awards to both Erin Saluti of Eittem, which makes wooden handbags that are collector’s pieces ($6,000 to $7,000), and to Sarah Fiszel & Maxwell Federbush of Brave Pudding, source of the lace “sock shoe” ($240).

The beauty award was given to Ashunta Sheriff-Kendricks by Romero Jennings, director of makeup at MAC cosmetics and a former Rising Star winner. Ms. Sheriff-Kendricks has already had one career as a celebrity makeup artist for Alicia Keys, Rihanna and others and for film and television. Her brand, Ashunta Sheriff Beauty, is a vegan, cruelty-free line of lotions and beauty products for all skin shades.

Ashunta Sheriff-Kendrick with Romero Jennings of MAC cosmetics (Photo by Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

The awards for the most commercial categories, ready-to-wear menswear and womenswear, went to Wangda Chen from China, who wore a t-shirt because he thought he was not going to win, and Aiste Hong from Lithuania. Ms. Hong’s dresses, sold online under the Aiste Hong label, are made in Europe and have been shown during New York fashion week. The designs favor extra-long sleeves, and include evening gowns (up to $7,500). All are available online at Aiste Hong.

Mr. Chen’s suits are close-fitting, his trench coats are long and swash-buckling. Mr. Chen includes some smashing women’s designs. All signal young. He does like brown. He controls the line of his clothes, even his sweaters, and makes pencil drawings (which would please Ruben Toledo). All are available online at Wangda: a shadow-stripe hoodie shirt is $150, and an oversize coat is $1,050.

The judge of these two winners (the path to winning involves nominations, finalists, then winners announced at the event), Frederick Anderson, gave an impassioned speech about the need for creativity to wake up the clothing business, because, he said, “Everything’s screwed up.”

Wangda Chen, Frederick Anderson and Aiste Hong  (Photo by Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Mr. Anderson, whose clothing is sold at Saks Fifth Avenue, in Dubai, and at his boutique on East 31st Street in Manhattan, practices an upscale version of ready-to-wear with an online store selling $900 brushed silver handbags, a white fringe three-quarter coat ($4,500) and a red-and-white floral cotton-silk dress with deep decolletage for $1,600.

Chuks Collins and Jason Schupbach (Photo by Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Other winners included Chuks Collins for sustainability, although his press materials are a little short of explaining his methods, and the fine jewelry category. Brooke Brinkman of Simon G. Jewelry and Alina Cho, the jewelry-loving media personality, presented an award to Jamie Books of Mason and Books. The retailer has popularized everyday diamonds, their “lovebug” design, and their appeal to mothers and daughters. Some of Mason and Books pieces are now at Bergdorf’s.

Jamie Books, Brooke Brinkman and Alina Cho (Photo by Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Ms. Brinkman, who is head of marketing for G Simon Jewelers in Los Angeles also handed the award for fashion jewelry to Ashley Moubayed of Don’t Let Disco. The brand, which involves hand-made necklaces, beaded vests (called aprons), tassels and earrings, bag charms, and pieces simply called “Keepers & Totems” ($295 to $695). The items represent unique finds, something small to be treasured. The name of the company is a play on words: Don’t Let This Go.

Remember when Junya Watanabe was a hard name to spell and remember? Here is proof that New York has a global draw, and is a place that attracts young people from China and Lithuania and the Dominican Republic who want to make a career in fashion. Names like Ashley Moubayed, Jeanette Limas, Wangda Chen and Aiste Hong may not be familiar now.

But when a young fashionista friend talks about buying a new overcoat, the name Wangda Chen might come to mind. And so you will let them know that you are in the know.