The 10 most influential designers of the last 10 years

July 20, 2020 8 min read

The 10 most influential designers of the last 10 years

 

In retrospect, the last 10 years have truly revolutionized the fashion world. It is without a doubt the period that has seen the greatest transitions in the history of modern fashion.
Time has passed very quickly, but that hasn't stopped the past decade from being full of new waves of fashion that have made their mark to this day.

Do you know the figures that have marked fashion in the last 10 years? The ingenious designers who found the most stylish trends and promoted the urban style ? 

If you don't know them, or only hear about them by name, we invite you to read this article to discover the greatest current designers. When a new fashion trend is launched, expect the credit to go to one of them !

The impact of modern designers on current fashion

The past decade has seen a huge shift in clothing style. What is fashionable today had no chance of being fashionable ten years ago. Where you can really feel the decadence is when you compare the importance of streetwear and the diversity of men's fashion from those two eras.

In the last 10 years, street fashion has finally been recognized for its true worth. The emergence of street style as a fashion statement was completely unexpected. No one would have thought that many streetwear brands would be known, and that even the most luxurious brands would get into it as well.

The popularity of fashion and urban culture has exploded, and it would never have been possible without the creativity of the decade's influential designers with the support of big celebrities. Streetwear went from being a little known fashion style devalued by the big brands to a true modern fashion phenomenon.

This decade is also the one where men's fashion has experienced a qualitative leap. Based on the men's fashion of 2010 that lacked boldness, men now have access to a wider variety of styles. We've gone from formal and classic styles to more casual genres. Who says you can't be stylish and casual at the same time? Today, you have the freedom to dress the way you want to without the social stigma of being dressed up..

2010 to 2020: the 10 greatest designers of the decade

The fashion industry has been marked by many personalities. Between 2010 and 2020, many designers embodied urban fashion and abstract modern style. Fashion as you know it today is largely due to the contributions of these 10 well-known designers.

Without further ado, we present to you the top 10 designers of the last 10 years :

 

1. Kanye West

 Kanye West

Will there ever be a more controversial figure than Kanye West? We doubt it. One thing is for sure, no criticism can pierce his bubble. He never lets these stories impact his growing success, on the contrary, they reinforce his dominant influence in the streetwear world. Kanye West improvised himself as a designer and became one of the founders of modern luxury streetwear.

After numerous collaborations and partnerships (especially with Nike in 2012), and the support he received from Givenchy's artistic director, Riccardo Tisci, he eventually withdrew from all these brands. He turned his back on them and even invited his fans to boycott Louis Vuitton. Today, the American rapper invests almost exclusively in his partnership with Adidas.

The launch of Yeezy Season 1 in 2015 marked the beginning of a new era in urban fashion :

  • His luxurious tracksuits
  • oversized hoodies, sweaters and giant T-shirts
  • trendy leggings and jogging pants
  • not to mention Yeezy sneaker boosts, the foundation of athleisure and the centerpiece of his collection 

With the neutral tone colors, a palette sometimes inspired by nature and sometimes military style: his super original and modern designs are a real success. It really manages to stand out from the crowd. 

 Kanye West

Thanks to the help of Kim Kardashian who shows off her creations, her sales are taking off. The Yeezy Season 8 fashion show that took place recently was phenomenal. You should definitely check it out, you'll be amazed by its new designs. 

2. Alessandro Michele

Alessandro Michele

Gucci's promoted Italian designer has been making a lot of noise! Since he took over the reins of the brand in 2015, they've adopted a whole new vision that we can't help but love. Maximalism, a mix of chaos and romance: this is Gucci's new emblem.

Before he got to this point, Alessandro Michele was just an assistant. As you can guess, his genius did not go unnoticed. He quickly rose through the ranks to his current title of Executive Director. He went from designing the house's bags to being responsible for every design in every Gucci collection. The entire image of the brand rests on him.

Gucci is one of the most insane brands of the decade, yet their formula is not lost on anyone: revisiting old designs with a modern, futuristic twist.

Alessandro's new approach is literally their secret weapon: by staying true to their dedication to accessories and logos, and straightening the brand's trajectory towards non-gendered streetwear fashion, he has doubled their revenue for two consecutive years (in 2017 and 2018). His influence in the fashion world is immense.

 

3. Virgil Abloh

Virgil Abloh

Have you ever heard of the brand Off-White? It is one of the biggest Italian streetwear brands. Its founder Virgil Abloh is one of the most famous black designers of the last 10 years. He interned at Fendi in 2009 with his homie Kanye West, then embarked on several projects, including a few collabs with him.

You may have discovered him when he became the first black designer designated for a position of responsibility at Louis Vuitton. The men's fashion department where he was assigned took a real breath of fresh air: he gave Louis Vuitton a modern perspective to meet the expectation of young people still craving luxurious urban fashion.

Virgil has turned streetwear into a refined art form that is the focus of major brands. He is an influential designer who has truly marked the 2010-2020 decade. 

 4. Rei Kawakubo

Rei Kawakubo

What would fashion be without Rei Kawakubo's work over the past 10 years? If you're interested in all things artsy, you'll love her collections. This Japanese-born designer defies the boundaries of fashion and challenges the limits of what is reasonable. She strays as far as possible from fashion clichés and traditional trends.

The founder of the COMME des GARÇONS brand has really blossomed in the past decade. As the brand name suggests, she is very much focused on androgynous style that is so unusual and artistic that it is bound to appeal.

Rei has explored new trends at the top of originality. Of her countless designs, we especially remember : 

  • His White Drama collection was released in summer 2012
  • His numerous collaborations with Nike: when streetwear meets art, it gives COMME des GARÇONS x Nike Dunk Low. 

 

5. Miuccia Prada

Miuccia Prada

Prada has always been a forward-thinking brand, which is what has made their success last all these years. It's probably a family trait since Miuccia Prada, the founder's granddaughter, predicted the popularity of urban fashion years ago, when no one expected it. It must be said that she has flair, and the refined Prada sense runs in her veins: nothing more natural in a line of outstanding designers.

Prada were the first to create the athleisure trend. This blend of minimalist style and sporty fashion is a gold standard in the fashion industry today. Their hybrid collections became known in 2011 before the word was even invented.

Since Miuccia Prada took the helm, the brand has taken a modern turn while keeping the timeless soul of Prada. It was also one of the first to opt for less formal menswear, make patterned fabrics fashionable and follow the logomania trend. 

 

6. Riccardo Tisci

Riccardo Tisci

Things haven't been the same at Givenchy since the departure of its creative director in 2017. Riccardo Tisci's name has been intimately linked to the brand's reputation over the past 10 years, and we've got to tell you he's really worked hard for it.

By now you know who's behind the current stylish streetwear prototypes. He guided Givenchy towards younger and fresher trends: basketball shorts, printed shirts and T-shirts and their luxury sportswear are all his ideas. 

This famous designer also made : 

  • Madonna's costumes for the 2012 Super Bowl
  • Beyoncé and Jay-Z's ensemble for the 2014 MET Gala. The couple satisfied with his fabulous work does not hesitate to call on him several times thereafter. 

Today, Tisci's career is taking a turn at Blueberry, one of the biggest fashion brands in England. Always inspired by the urban aesthetic, he still has plenty of innovative collections in store for you at their house.

 

7. Demna Gvasalia  

Demna Gvasalia

Hired by Maison Martin Margiela and Louis Vuitton, Demna Gvasalia is the co-founder of the famous brand Vetements and artistic director at Balenciaga. He may not be among the founders of urban style, but since 2015, he has been shaking up streetwear standards.

This designer grew up between the alleys of Georgia, heavily influenced by Western culture. It shows in his creations that are stuffed with western symbols. He has perfected his sensational style and this has earned him collabs with super famous brands like COMME DES GARÇONS and Levi's.

But it's with Balenciaga that we saw him at his best. His huge success is the Triple S Sneakers by Balenciaga. Huge and imposing, super stylish, dreamy colors and texture: it is without doubt the most memorable sneaker model of the decade

 

8. Yohji Yamamoto 

Yohji Yamamoto

Influential Japanese designer for over 30 years, Yohji Yamamoto has not lost his way. He follows modern trends and stands out in streetwear. Fans of Japanese culture love his style, which draws on the history and traditions of his country, revisited in a new contemporary light.

A neutral monochrome tone dominates his collections. If you like shades of black, a mystical and mysterious touch in your clothing style, you will be fascinated by what he has to offer. His beautiful creations have brought him the attention of big brands like Adidas and Mikimoto. Yohji Yamamoto still has a lot to offer: if I were you, I would keep him under my radar so I wouldn't miss any of his releases.. 

 

9. Rick Owens

Rick Owens

Rick Owens is the designer who fused gothic style and streetwear into one of the most aesthetic mixes of the decade. It's not for nothing that his fans call him the Dark Lord: his dark and borderline chaotic style rules the fashion industry.

His fashion shows are very lively and agitated, he plays with shapes, colors and lights like no other. The names of his collections, each more gloomy than the last, reflect the essence of his vision.

Futuristic, his masterpieces have earned him the respect of the world's greatest designers. He is an inspiration to many of them and a favorite of more than one celebrity.

 

10. Phoebe Philo

Phoebe Philo

We can't end this article without telling you about Phoebe Philo. She has marked her years at Celine with her light minimalist style that contrasts with the current trends that go much more towards excess.

Behind the seemingly simple designs are well thought out cuts and the most ingenious ideas. She proved to everyone that you don't have to do a lot to be fashionable, and that sometimes: the less the better!


How many of the fashion icons on this list do you recognize?

Keep an eye out for them, they are very promising.
You'll see that the best designs of 2020 will surely be signed by these famous designers.


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