Top New Fashion Designers: New York

Abigail Lorick

Abigail Lorick is a local young designer from New York who was chosen as a costume designer for the show “Gossip Girl”. Her designs are going to become international, as the hit show is traveling across the pond to Britain in March.

Abigail Lorick is age 25. She grew up on Amelia Island in Florida, but she knew from age 12 that she wanted to live in New York, where she is currently. As a child she either wanted to be a social worker or a fashion designer - she was reading Vogue from the age of 11. Abigail was a model represented by Ford before becoming a fashion designer.

Lorick made a name for herself when her pieces started showing up in “Gossip Girl” as the Eleanor Waldorf Collection.

In fact, Abigail was roommates with the assistant stylist on the set, Meredith Markworth Pollack, so she had the in when the show was looking for a designer.

Abigail says the best place she’s been to so far is India, and she loves Dunkin Donuts. She once sang “Proud Mary” with Jamie Foxx during karaoke.

In September, Gossip Girl designer Abigail Lorick debuted her Spring '09 collection. Her first collection is 'Lorick Lady'.

Young designer Abigail Lorick Profile:

The mastermind behind Lorick is Abigail Lorick. Born on Amelia Island, Florida, Abigail knew the South couldn't contain her. At the age of 18, she moved to Paris and Milan to model for designers such as Alberta Ferretti and Mossimo while appearing in acclaimed magazines French C'osmopolitan, American Elle and American Harper's Bazaar. Working as a model only enhanced her love of fashion and led her to move in 2003, to New York City to study at the Fashion Institute of Technology while working simultaneously at T.S. Dixin. By 2004, Abigail was designing T.S. Dixin's entire collection. After proving her vision over a few seasons, Abigail's production manager in India, Verma Singh, approached her to createa collection of her own. Quickly thereafter in the Spring of 2007, she conceptualized and launched the Lorick brand.

Jennifer Wannarachue

Jennifer Wannarachue grew up working in fashion retail surrounded by a skate and snowboarding culture. With these influences she started designing streetwear apparel in 1999 before moving to New York City in 2000 when she headed the accessories division of the leading streetwear brand Triple 5 Soul. Her experience and design skills grew while developing collections for Zoo York and Berlin-based Aem’Kei. Adding to her freelance roster, Jennifer has also played an integral design and development role for collections such as Blue Marlin, Staple, House of Dereon, and Rocawear.

In 2006 Jennifer founded her design studio and online New York-centric trend newsletter, Worship Worthy. Design, production, brand consulting, marketing and art direction are some of the areas of expertise that the seasoned fashion designer lends her knowledge. Clients of the popular design and trend counsel include Nike, Camel No. 9, Wish ATL, Haze, and Camp Beverly Hills.

Worship Worthy’s online presence as the premiere lifestyle newsletter targeted towards women has a growing audience and has received praise from several publications, including NYLON Magazine, Fader Magazine, LTD Magazine, and Wearethemarket.com.

With Worship Worthy Holiday 2008 collection, geometric prints and sequins join the graphic tees and leggings of the debut collection. Perfect for layering, Jennifer Wannarachue’s mix-and-match pieces are at once sexy and casual.

Gareth Pugh

When Gareth Pugh complained, a year ago last spring, that despite healthy press attention and consistently crowded shows he had yet to sell a single dress, one couldn’t help but wish British avant-garde fashion icon Isabella Blow had lived long enough to champion this young, somewhat nutty designer. Blow could have demonstrated that it is entirely possible to wear Pugh’s rather out-there ideas (water wings, Perspex chain mail, and fabrics made from condoms and balloons) to, say, lunch. Until recently, the Central Saint Martins graduate (class of 2003) wasn’t much concerned with wearability; his work was conceptual, exploring and distorting the human form. This season, however, Pugh left London to show in Paris. It’s where the serious business is. Unpack this spring’s dynamic, robo–Queen Elizabeth looks and there are some wearable, even minimalist pieces.

First pet: A budgie, Hoppy.

Favorite childhood toy: A rocking horse my grandpa made.

Worst vice: Staying up way too late; bedtime is circa 2 a.m.

Favorite song: “Daddy Cool,” by Boney M.

Favorite book: Manhood, by Michel Leiris.

Favorite season: Fall: fur-and-sunglasses weather.

Color you can’t resist: Black, of course.

Christopher Kane

Christopher Kane tends to pick themes for his collections, and some are more successful than others. One of the launching points this season was Planet of the Apes (seriously), but that’s almost incidental. The clothes were exciting and original, ethereal and origamilike in their deft, light, precise layers. They were sometimes paired with a clumsy jungle print, but that didn’t distract from Kane’s evident skill. Kane, who’s not yet 30 and designs with his sister, still has time to sort through the universe of influences he’s so enamored of to develop a personal signature. In the meantime, the experimentation is fantastic to watch.

First pet: "I have had boxer dogs all my life. My first puppy was called Clyde."

Favorite childhood toy: My sisters’ Cabbage Patch dolls!

Your muse: Right now, Helena Bonham Carter.

Worst vice: Not knowing when to stop eating. I love to indulge.

Designers who most inspired you growing up: Gianni Versace and Helmut Lang.

Cocktail of choice: Espresso martini.

Favorite book: Lolita.

Trend you wish would go away: Neon, for a little while.

Color you can’t resist: Black. I have to wear it every day.

Source: Nymag, Rightpundits, Loricknewyork, Missomnimedia