The Rising Stars of New York Fashion Week Fall 2025: Meet the Designers Redefining American Fashion

Every season, New York Fashion Week delivers the brilliance of industry veterans Michael Kors, Tory Burch, and Thom Browne, among others. Their craftsmanship and consistency remain the bedrock of the event. Yet, beyond the household names, a new wave of designers is steadily reshaping the landscape of American fashion. The magic of NYFW often lies in its emerging talents those who push boundaries and redefine aesthetics, setting the stage for the industry’s future.

This season, beginning February 6, four promising labels will make their debut on the official CFDA calendar, marking a significant milestone in their journeys. Some, like Zoe Gustavia Anna Whalen, have already made waves among fashion insiders and celebrities, while others, such as LeBlancStudios, are fresh exports bringing a new cultural narrative to the global stage. From sculptural art-infused pieces to experimental knitwear and bold streetwear, these designers bring a compelling vision to Fall/Winter 2025. Before the frenzy of fashion week begins, get acquainted with the names poised to dominate conversations and social media feeds in the coming months.

Zoe Gustavia Anna Whalen: Where Art and Fashion Collide

Zoe Gustavia Anna Whalen resists conventional labels. “I joke that I’m a fashion designer whose medium is art,” she explains. Whalen, 30, has gained recognition as a designer with an artistic approach reminiscent of Susan Cianciolo and Eckhaus Latta, the latter of which she worked with before earning her MFA. She operates at the intersection of art and fashion, crafting ethereal yet thought-provoking pieces from deadstock materials.

Growing up in a literary household in suburban Boston, Whalen was an avid consumer of fashion magazines and a self-taught seamstress. However, upon arriving at the Fashion Institute of Technology at 18, she realized that her vision for fashion extended beyond traditional industry structures. Whalen critiques the mass-market approach to clothing, advocating for garments that hold deeper emotional and artistic value. “The current model of wholesale and retail devalues the individual labor and work that goes into each garment,” she says. Her brand is an effort to challenge that cycle, placing the creative process at the forefront.

A firm believer in sustainability, Whalen operates a small-scale, DIY atelier, partnering only with retailers that align with her ethos. As her reputation grows, she faces the challenge of balancing expansion with her values. “I’m still figuring out how I can fit into this space without compromising my ideals,” she admits.

Her debut runway show on February 10 will reflect her brand’s philosophy melding pre-industrial-era silhouettes with modern sustainability. This season, Whalen introduces heavier textiles and earthier hues, dyeing fabrics with tea and iron to achieve moody grays and rich browns. While she remains coy about the format of the presentation, she hints at an immersive experience involving 15 to 20 models. “I want to leave room for mystery,” she teases, ensuring her debut will be as unconventional as her approach to fashion itself.

LeBlancStudios: A New Vision for Latin American Fashion

Yamil Arbaje and Angelo Beato’s journey began long before LeBlancStudios made its way to the NYFW calendar. The duo, both from Santo Domingo, were connected in 2015 when Beato—then 19—invited a 14-year-old Arbaje to collaborate on a design contest. What started as a shared interest quickly turned into a creative partnership, leading them to explore factories, experiment with textiles, and eventually launch their label.

LeBlancStudios emerged from a desire to amplify Latin American youth culture on the global stage. With few Dominican designers achieving mainstream recognition—Oscar de la Renta being the most notable—the duo felt a responsibility to represent their heritage. Initially catering to a local audience, they later expanded internationally, with Arbaje relocating to New York while Beato remained in Santo Domingo. Their creative process, largely conducted via WhatsApp, reflects their deep trust and understanding. “We both know our strengths and respect each other,” says Arbaje.

For Fall/Winter 2025, LeBlancStudios presents “Other People’s Money,” an exploration of work, power, and identity in an evolving economy. The collection speculates on the future of workwear through bold prints, experimental dyeing techniques, and a conceptual approach to tailoring. “Most of our work is a thesis in that way,” Beato explains, emphasizing the intellectual underpinnings of their designs.

Their debut at NYFW marks a significant step not only for their brand but for Caribbean fashion representation on a global platform.

Gabe Gordon: Weaving Stories Through Fashion

For Gabe Gordon, fashion is more than an aesthetic pursuit it’s a form of storytelling. At 26, Gordon is making his NYFW debut with his eponymous label, blending handwoven and machine-knitted textiles with deeply personal narratives. “I always picture my collections as little worlds,” he says, explaining how each piece reflects an intricate storyline.

Gordon’s journey with knitting began as a coping mechanism following his father’s passing while he was studying at the Rhode Island School of Design. The therapeutic process evolved into a design signature, with hand-knitted textures forming the core of his brand. His work often juxtaposes fragility and resilience, capturing themes of grief, queerness, and American identity.

For Fall/Winter 2025, Gordon’s collection draws inspiration from the 1950s and 1980s, centered around an imagined dance team that kidnaps a wrestling squad and transforms them into fashion muses. The collection, blending sportswear and fetishism, features knitted wrestling singlets and a collaboration with designer Timothy Gibbons, known for his corseted sweatshirts. Gordon embraces the fantastical nature of his narratives, acknowledging that while they may be unconventional, they fuel his creative process. “I struggle with direct references sometimes,” he admits, preferring to let his imagination lead the way.

As he steps onto the NYFW stage, Gordon’s intricate storytelling and unique textile manipulations position him as a designer to watch, weaving his way into the industry’s future.

The Future of American Fashion Unfolds

New York Fashion Week has always been a platform for reinvention, and Fall/Winter 2025 is no exception. As these four debuting designers step into the spotlight, they bring with them a collective vision that challenges tradition, celebrates craftsmanship, and redefines what American fashion can be. From Whalen’s wearable art to LeBlancStudios’ Latin American narratives and Gordon’s deeply personal knits, the next generation of designers is here—and they’re ready to shape the future of fashion.

Content courtesy of  W Magazine & NFH Digital Team