Can you imagine running a fashion brand in high school? That’s just what designer and founder of Gigi C, Gigi Caruso, is doing. In fact, we spoke with her between final exams. In a day and age when everything seems to be controlled by Amazon, there’s nothing quite as refreshing as speaking with designers who may not be old enough to drink or even vote, but are running budding empires with designs already sold at retailers like Carbon38 (seems like just yesterday they were a baby) and editorial features in The New York Times.
Young fashion entrepreneurs are players in every part of the fashion game. Alexandre Daillance’s line NasaSeasons is a simple selection of tees and hats, but he already has a celebrity following that includes Wiz Khalifa, Rita Ora and Rihanna. Frankies Bikinis designer Francesca Aiello is already a Miami Fashion Week Swim vet. While most people were busy choosing classes and voting for Prom King and Queen, these kids were building their businesses from the ground up.
Learn more about these precocious entrepreneurs in our slideshow above.
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These Fashion Brands Are Run By People 25 or Under!
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Gigi Caruso, 18, Founder of Gigi C
It's hard to believe that the appreciation of quality and tasteful design came from the creative mind of an 18-year-old, but that's just the case with Gigi C, now stocked at Carbon38. Specializing in swim and activewear, the brand's signature is architectural cutouts.
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Maggie Marilyn, 24, Founder of Maggie Marilyn
New Zealand-based designer Maggie Marilyn maintains a transparent ethical supply chain by working with all local manufacturers and developing innovations with sustainably sourced and recycled fabrics. In 2018 she was worn by The Duchess of Sussex and dispensed with e-commerce and wholesale plastics (instead she uses fully biodegradable materials), among a long list of other accomplishments. It's also worth mentioning that her brand, launched two years ago, is stocked at retailers like Net-A-Porter, Saks, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.
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Shadi Kord and Natalie Khoei, 25, Founders of Meshki
Meshki was started by two architecture students and in just a few years has blossomed into a major Australian brand with worldwide delivery. They stock day looks, evening wear, swim, intimates, outwear and continue to grow their RTW footprint.
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Francesca Aiello, 23, Founder of Frankies Bikinis
Frankies Bikinis may be helmed by a 23-year-old, but the brand is already six years old. Designer Francesca Aiello got her start in high school when she didn't feel like she could find swimwear that fit her body. Just last year the brand — which regularly shows at Miami Fashion Week Swim — launched ready-to-wear.
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Nicolette Kordos, 25, Founder of Nicky Kay
Nicolette Kordos, the Austrialian designer behind Nicky Kay, says she started her brand because, as a law student, she found herself struggling to find on-trend, high-quality activewear pieces at affordable price points. Today the brand is a favorite of celebrities like the Kardashians.
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Taofeek Abijako, 19, Founder of HEAD OF STATE+
At 19 years old, the designer behind HEAD OF STATE+, Nigerian-born Taofeek Abijako, became the youngest designer to present a collection at Men's New York Fashion Week. The retro-styled streetwear-inspired collection is best known for its print tees and fitted separates.
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Alexandre Daillance, 22, Founder of NASASEASONS
NASASEASONS founder Alexandre Daillance was already featured in The New York Times before he was old enough to legally buy beer in the U.S. His designs — which consist mostly of slogan tees, hoodies and hats — have also been worn by a long list of celebrities, including Rihanna.
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Noa Beny and Neta Alchamister, 20, Founders of Bananhot
Starting a fashion brand takes guts and hard work, but doesn't hurt that Bananhot founders Noa Beny and Neta Alchamister have nearly two million Instagram followers combined. The two Israeli models — best known for their skimpy bikini pics — have astutely turned their Insta-fame into a popular swimwear brand (sold worldwide) and a brick-and-mortar shop in Tel Aviv.
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Moziah Bridges, 16, Founder of Mo's Bows
Mo's Bows designer Moziah Bridges instantly melted everyone's heart when he appeared on Shark Tank in 2013. Today he continues to grow his bowtie business, which has expanded to include neckties, pocket squares and more. He even signed a reported seven-figure, one-year licensing deal with the NBA to produce bow ties for all 30 professional basketball teams.
