Teen and Pre-teen Fashion Designers Energize the Industry

As with any industry, when things need shaking up after slow or no sales, an injection of young, bright upstarts enter the scene. The same is true for the fashion world. Over the last three years new fashion designers, all under the age of 20, have made a name for themselves in good and bad ways. Grown folks need not worry, these young designers cater to the client they know best, themselves. But does this fashion brat pack have what it takes to sustain in the fashion world?

Cecilia Cassini

It's only fitting to begin with the youngest of the fashion brat pack who is a talented 10 years old. At the tender age of six, Cecilia Cassini was gifted with a sewing machine for her birthday and has not stopped sewing since. She has taken sewing lessons, however, her fashion sense is all her own. Cassini designs for girls like her who want fashionable clothing that fits their style.

This kid is also wise beyond her years. Her designs come from her own talent and skill, she is not an heiress nor does she come from rich parents. Cecilia just has a passion for fashion and the drive to do it on her own. Through the media, she has gained exposure and put on a trunk show in which she sold 50 designs. But this young designer also has a heart of gold. According to her website, Cecilia heard the story of an aspiring, homeless designer who made it into the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising but did not have a sewing machine. Cecilia moved by the student's plight gave the student her sewing machine. Such an act of generosity, most adults would be hard-pressed to make.

Kira Plastinina

Russian heiress and fashion designer Kira Plastinina began her fashion empire at the age of 15. Kira was fortunate enough to have her father's, Sergei Plastinin, money to help her make her fashion dream come true. Even with financing to help her get started it still requires an eye for fashion to get people to take notice. Lucky for Kira she has this. She has been a regular at Milan fashion week for the last two years.

The now 17-year old Plastinina, has had her share of controversy when she filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy in the United States on January 2, 2009. Her US stores were unsuccessful, leaving her firm KP Fashion Co. in serious debt. However, just a few months later Kira opened shop in the US again as a part of the Pink Square family with stores in Los Angeles. Hopefully, Kira's second go in the US market will be on par with her success in Europe.

Crystal Audigier

Daughter of French designer Christian Audigier, Crystal followed daddy's footsteps and entered into the fashion world two years ago with her Crystal Rock label. Crystal Rock is pretty much the same as the other items found within the Christian Audigier family of clothing, one of kind pop culture art prints on standard garments such as tees, tanks, hoodies, sweats and jeans. Every item is emblazoned with the Crystal Rock logo should the wearer forget whose line they are wearing.

Where Crystal lacks in design technique she makes up for in promotion. The marketing gene Christian has was passed down to her as she is following the Audigier formula of tweaking a standard product, making it exclusive and charging a high price for it. This fashion writer has a feeling this may work for a while. However, to stay on top of the game Crystal will need to learn some design structural techniques from her father so she can offer different styles of garments to mix up her line.

This fashion brat pack is not limited to these three young ladies other designers are on the move including Little Miss Material Girl herself, Lourdes Leon. These young designers each bring their own approach to the table and with some fine tuning in key areas such as business, design technique and marketing they could see a long career in the fashion industry. Keep an eye out for more fashion brat packers to emerge on the scene in seasons to come. I know I will.

Sources

ApparelNews.net. (2008, November 28). Crystal Audigier: Hollywood Rock Star. Retrieved April 30, 2010, from ApparelNews.net: http://www.apparelnews.net/people_events/Crystal-Audigier-Hollywood-Rock-Star

Coutorture. (2010, March 30). Stella McCartney Inspired Lourdes Ciccone Leon to Become a Fashion Designer. Retrieved April 30, 2010, from Coutorture: http://www.coutorture.com/Stella-McCartney-Inspired-Lourdes-Ciccone-Leon-Become-Fashion-Designer-7943917

Hsu, T. (2009, January 03). A trend Russian teen designer Kira Plastinina didn't see coming. Retrieved April 30, 2010, from L.A. Times: http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jan/03/business/fi-kpfashion3

Moore, B. (2010, April 23). Fashion Diary: Fifth-grade fashion designer Cecilia Cassini. Retrieved April 30, 2010, from L.A. Times: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/alltherage/2010/04/fashion-diary-fifthgrade-fashion-designer-cecilia-cassini.html