This Year's Best Fashion Designers

Check out this cool article that I found from WMagazine.com:

"Assembled for this story: 11 aspiring fashion designers representing seven upstart companies, all determined to parlay their considerable talents into viable businesses. Recent history indicates that under any circumstances, this group would face overwhelming odds; the past quarter century has launched relatively few designers working under their own labels to rock-solid security, let alone household-name status. Now, given the recession-wrought havoc, the likelihood of success is even slimmer. Whereas once the fashion world’s obsession with what’s new and what’s next included endless musing about the future generation’s potential superstars, today conversation is more likely to focus on whether there are still enough moneyed, interested customers out there to support the legions of already established houses.
Yet the economy has no stranglehold on creativity. To the contrary, tough times have often led to great artistic bursts, in fashion as in other arenas. And if tough times have discouraged some onetime designer wannabes from forging into the fray, those who remain are likely the Darwinian stalwarts, the most ambitious, their devotion to fashion genuine and fierce. For this story, W editors reviewed scores of collections, ultimately choosing the designers not because they’re all great-looking themselves (although clearly they are) but for their work. The group represents considerable aesthetic diversity, if less diversity where price is concerned, a matter we discussed at length. We ultimately went with the collections we found most distinctive, fashionwise. (In the crowded contemporary area, there are plenty of appealing clothes, but too many lines lack design distinction.)

The collections selected range from Matthew Ames’s regal draping to Bibhu Mohapatra’s lavish ladylike clothes to Bensoni’s standout feisty contemporary, and from innerwear (The Lake & Stars) to outerwear (Nonoo Lyons). The designers are just as diverse. Though they’re primarily based in New York, they hail from Maryland (Michelle Ochs) and Nepal (Prabal Gurung) and cite references from Japanese warriors (Mohapatra) to the Battle of Waterloo (The Lake & Stars) to an erotic novel (Bensoni). But we found similarities as well, starting with designers they admire—Alexander McQueen (Mohapatra, the ladies of The Lake & Stars and those of Nonoo Lyons), Marc Jacobs (Gurung, the Bensoni duo), Proenza Schouler (Mohapatra, Gurung) and Geoffrey Beene (Ames, Gurung). But the biggest similarities are that they all claim dedication to their craft and are ready to face the myriad challenges ahead.

THE LAKE & STARS It’s not surprising that Maayan Zilberman and Nikki Dekker of The Lake & Stars chose lingerie for their entrée into fashion. The partners exude cool-girl glamour, an aura apparently not lost on the mutual friend who introduced them when each was working elsewhere designing undies. Is the friend in the industry? “No, he just likes the ladies,” Dekker says, giggling. “He thought we’d hit it off—our affinity for underwear and all that.”

Hit it off they did, and if they haven’t exactly hit the big time yet, they are on an upward trajectory, selling at Barneys New York, Lane Crawford and Holt Renfrew. They have also created a collection for the Smile, on Bond Street in Manhattan, and they’re launching swimwear this summer. Yet they didn’t rush into a professional partnership to please their randy friend. Rather, the alliance took a couple of years to form once they realized that they shared a vision of lingerie that “wasn’t so boudoir and that was more geared toward sportswear,” Zilberman explains. The two approach design as if working in ready-to-wear, creating a different look each season. Their fall collection incorporates military and armor motifs, the items named after battles fought at night—Barnet, Franklin, Sedgemoor, Waterloo. “There’s definitely a darker, more mysterious feel than in previous collections,” says Dekker. “It’s called A Shot in the Dark.”..."

Check out the rest of the article regarding young fashion designers

Fashion and Clothing for Men

If I'm going to buy a pair of jeans, I'll try on jeans. If I need a shirt, I'll look at shirts. I know what I need and that's what I'll shop for. You don't need to spend copious amounts of time and energy in the fashion world to be fashionable. Another reason why guys do not need to spend a lot of time shopping for clothes is that we usually have a good hunch about what's going to work and what isn't.

Online shopping has for the most part cured my mall issues. Not only do I do most of my shopping online because I'm lazy, but the sales that I find are incredible. I've never been one to buy designer clothes full price anyway, but I do tend to overspend on unnecessary things. Men and clothes usually don't mix. As a guy, I do go out of my way to at least look like I know what I'm doing. Hair wax, check. Skinny jeans, check. Slim fitting shirts, check. Cool sneakers, check. All the usual for a guy that tries a little.

Being fashionable as a man has it's ups and downs. For one thing, chicks dig it. That is probably the biggest plus out of them all, if not the only. Yes it sucks taking more time in the morning getting ready, and yeah it sucks actually having to match what you wear (but not too much cause that's not fashionable). But, there are positives to taking care of yourself. For one thing, my confidence has gone up. It feels good to feel good in what you're wearing, get me? Kind of like a new haircut, stylish clothes bring out the brighter you.

Being a fashionable man is very easy. All it takes is a little consideration, a little advice from your better half, and the willingness to care a little. Trust me, you'll notice a big difference in how your friends and family react to you. You might even be able to land a date with the fashionable girl in lecture.

Sincerely,

Rag Dynasty

So You're a Young Aspiring Designer in the Fashion Industry...

Have you ever wondered what it would take to become a fashion designer? Maybe when you were younger, you thought that you had an eye for fashion trends or are at the age now where the fashion industry interests you.

You may be thinking how hard it is to get started and that it is impossible to be successful in this industry, but the greatest thing about fashion and art in general is that there are no barriers to entry; anyone can become a designer in their own home!

Some of the most famous designers in the fashion industry started at a very young age in their own home creating outfits from simple materials with their amazing imaginations. Don't get me wrong, it's not an easy road to travel. As you probably know from Project Runway, the world of fashion can be a very harsh place. It doesn't matter if you're young or old, being criticized as a fashion designer comes with the job. Starting out, you will always here from at least one person that you will never make it and that your designs will never become popular. If every designer had listened to their skeptics, we'd still be wearing the animals that we ate for dinner last night (no offense to any vegetarians out there).

The point being that to be a successful designer, you need thick skin from a young age. Just like any other industry, the fashion industry has its thorns and needles. And, just like any other industry, it takes hard work and dedication to rise to the top of your field. Whether your creating jeans or measuring tapes, to be at the top in fashion, especially as a designer, takes hard work. There are a lot of young people out there that aspire to conquer the fashion industry but simply don't have the drive to do so.

Good luck to all you aspiring young designers in the fashion industry! Remember to stay creative and always remember to dream.


Rag Dynasty

Young Mens Designer Fashion

One young designer might specialize in t-shirts while another competing young designer might specialize in jeans. On top of that, there are different designs in one category. Jeans, for example, have hundreds of different styles from faded threads to new and fairly young skinny jeans.

Many young designers have tried, but the fashion industry seems to be one of the hardest even though styles continue to evolve, and anything old is considered either vintage, which is good, or outdated, which is bad. Sometimes, styles come back into fashion such as vintage jeans with holes in them, or worn out t-shirts, but for the most part, keep you bell bottoms and platform shoes in your closet where they belong.

Young designers have taken notice to this fashion trend and thus are coming out with vintage clothing lines featuring faded jeans, worn out t-shirts, tarnished belt buckles, and other clothing accessories.

Rag Dynasty

Young Designer Fashion

There are a lot of designer brands out there in today's market that are available to young men. Guys fashion has come a long way in the past ten years--especially for the younger crowds. As designs mature and clothing becomes more fitted, the demand for young men's apparel has skyrocketed. But as we find ourselves approaching our first decade in this new millennium, mens fashion has once again become a little stagnant.

We not only want you to feel great in our clothes, we want them to stand up for you. Our dye house works very hard to perfect each item. Garment dyed with an enzyme silicone wash ensures that you'll feel good in our shirts. Every item has thick stitching on all the seams so that our garments will keep up with your active lifestyle.

The next time you're in a store, take a minute to compare the actual materials of the designers you might purchase. Ask the young person helping you if they can isolate some enzyme silicone washed items for you (just for kicks). Even though we're young, we can't let our clothes fall apart immaturely. So if you're ever searching for new designer fashion for men, make sure you know what you're actually buying.

Check us out in the upcoming months as we launch an entire Winter line.

Premium T-shirts, button-ups, flannels, and sweaters will be available soon.



Rag Dynasty, fashionably classic and durable.

Classically Durable Fashionable Apparel

Fall Flannel Mania!

Flannel Fever is in full swing here at Rag Dynasty. Our Plaid Flannel shirts are in and we

couldn't be more pleased.

We present to you our new lumberjack inspired

flannel shirts.

Done in rich cotton fabrics and classic plaid patterns they are a high quality tribute to the

rugged work shirts of years gone by.

They come in sizes S-XXXL so everyone will be

keeping warm in style.

The 2 pocket button version sports pleated pockets and shoulder tabs.

The western style has pearl snaps and cowboy yokes.

Check our website for more information.

Your local fashion shop doesn't carry Rag Dynasty?

Tell them to get us!!!

Today we got a treat- Flash flooding on our street,
as you can see the downtown Los Angeles drainage
system has not been updated since the 1930s.

Just inches from our design
studio and computers there was a raging river of dirty
water flowing into the LA river.

But the truckers love plowing through it at full speed
so it makes for a good show.

Rag Dynasty @ MAGIC Premium Mens Fashion Show

Hello All!

We here at Rag Dynasty have been working hard in the past few months to bring to you some amazing designs. We are debuting our line at this years MAGIC market place in their new category Premium. Feb 17-19 we will be at booth PR-21511 so come by and check out or stuff.

Our categories include T-shirts, v-necks, Polos, Woven dress shirts, thermals, hoodies, sweaters and denim for the sophisticated fashion savvy male.

The garments have been designed in LA, Custom cut and sewn by carefully chosen contractors, the feel of the the shirts is super soft and cushy, just like your favorite vintage tee.
Embellished with artwork from multiple dynasties from around the world.