Five Names Bringing Fresh Energy to Fashion’s Next Chapter

Here at the Box, discovery is not limited to what comes through the speakers. Sometimes it arrives in a silhouette, a surprising texture, or a piece that makes getting dressed feel like a small act of invention.

The CFDA’s newly announced 2026 Google American Emerging Designer of the Year nominees give us five names worth getting to know: Colleen Allen, Emily Dawn Long, Julia Ferentinos for Juju Vera, Julian Louie for Aubero, and Zane Li for Lii. The winner will be announced at the November 2 CFDA Fashion Awards in New York. For now, consider this a discovery list, not a prediction. Meet the official nominees.

Colleen Allen: a little everyday magic

Allen’s design world brings romantic shapes together with tactile fabrics and expressive color. Her LVMH Prize profile describes the witch as a touchstone for intuition and independence, with clothing made in New York. That is an intriguing invitation: dressing as an expression of your own inner world, with room to move. Explore Colleen Allen’s LVMH Prize profile.

Emily Dawn Long: personality in the everyday

Long described her brand as timeless in the CFDA’s Fashion Fund introductions, and singled out hats as an underrated pleasure. Her own collection offering stretches from knitwear and vintage tees to accessories, including A Hat Named Wanda. We like a discovery that gives us several ways in—start with the detail that feels like you. Read the CFDA introductions. · Explore Emily Dawn Long.

Juju Vera: objects with a story

Before founding Juju Vera, Julia Ferentinos worked as an antiques dealer. Her studio draws on architecture, decorative arts and history, translating those interests into sculptural forms. Even the name carries a family connection, honoring her grandmother Vera. For readers who move happily between fashion and art, this is a particularly appealing doorway. Discover the story of Juju Vera.

Aubero: texture takes the lead

Julian Louie founded Aubero in 2022 after studying architecture and working in womenswear. The menswear label’s LVMH Prize profile emphasizes craft and the meeting of expressive materials with recognizable silhouettes. Think of this as a prompt to look closer at fabric and construction, not just the outline of an outfit. Explore Aubero’s LVMH Prize profile.

Lii: room to be yourself

Zane Li’s CFDA Fashion Fund introduction points toward an independent-minded wearer, with Faye Wong named as a major inspiration and a poplin shirt as a personal essential. That combination offers a useful starting point: individual attitude does not always need an elaborate costume. Read Zane Li’s CFDA introduction.

Three of these nominees—Long, Ferentinos and Li—are also finalists in the separate 2026 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. These are distinct programs, but together they offer a tangible reason to pay attention. See the Fashion Fund finalists.

Our invitation is simple: explore a name you do not know yet. Follow the materials, the stories and the ideas that pull you in. Fashion gets more interesting when discovery becomes personal.

Featured image: Colleen Allen in the CFDA’s official 2026 emerging-designer nominee graphic. Source: CFDA. Used for editorial coverage of the nomination.

Written by Chetuno