Five Dazed100 names currently making waves in fashion

Over the past five years we’ve curated the Dazed100, an annual list of 100 (duh) creatives who, in their unique ways, are shifting culture in the worlds of art, music, fashion, photography, and more. 

This year’s Dazed100 list features yet more amazing young and upcoming creatives from activists and collectives like 16-year-old Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg, Saudia Arabian women’s rights activist Loujain Al-Hathloul, or Russian-based LGBTQ+ creative community Generation Z. Elsewhere, music sensation and the internet’s new favourite cowboy, 19-year old Lil Nas X is also on 2019’s list – joined by fellow musicians such as Chinese singer and rapper Lexie Liu and South-London singer Cosima.

As always, fashion is well represented too – with models, designers, and make-up artists all appearing. The ecclectic group of talents include Ugbad, the first hijabi model to walk Fendi, model and trans activist Chella Man, Infinite Identities cover star and actress in HBO’s Euphoria, model Hunter Schafer, as well as digital artist Me Love Me Alot and Rick Owens collaborator Salvia. 

To celebrate the end of 2019’s list – you now have under a week to cast your final votes – we’ve rounded-up five of the names making waves in fashion currently. 

AWENG

First scouted aged 16 while working at McDonald’s, South Sudanese model Aweng Chuol has been making waves in the fashion industry since her debut at Vetements’s AW18 show. In two short years in the industry, the 20-year-old model’s unique beauty and intellect has already landed her jobs with fashion mavens, such as Rihanna – recently appearing in one of the debut Fenty campaigns, alongside former Dazed cover star Debra Shaw. Elsewhere, she’s been tapped to walk for the likes of Luar, Gareth Pugh, Junya Watanabe, and Philipp Plein. When she’s not pummelling the runway, you can find Chuol studying politics and psychology in New York. Following her studies, she wants to open up conversations around the mental health of refugees – already planning to speak at the UN’s mental health forum later this year. 

Vote for Aweng on the Dazed100 here. 

SINÉAD O’DWYER

Since presenting her graduate collection at the Royal College of Art in 2018, designer Sinéad O’Dwyer challenging fashion’s body ideals via her distinctive work to explore women’s relationships with their bodies, particularly through her experiences with body dysmorphia. Each piece of her conceptual silicone sculptures are moulded around the bodies of those close to her, celebrating the beauty in body parts that women have been taught to conceal. After releasing her final collection last year, O’Dwyer’s stunning designs have already been worn by the likes of Björk, Arca and drag superstar Aquaria – who wore a corset by the designer during the penultimate episode of Season 10 of RuPaul’s Drag Race. 

Vote for Sinead on the Dazed100 here. 

AARON PHILIP

18-year-old model Aaron Philip has been breaking boundaries since the very beginning of her career. Raised in the Bronx, New York, but born in Antigua and Barbuda, Philip started modelling when at the tender age of 16. Last year, she became the very first wheelchair-using, transgender women of colour to sign with a major modelling agency (Elite Model Management New York). Earlier this year the model made her runway debut, gracing the catwalk of brand new label WILLIENORRIS WORKSHOP’s show. Her biggest goal is to represent people like herself, in the hopes to work towards a more inclusive modelling industry. With a recent beauty campaign for Sephora and an appearance in Miley Cyrus’s music video for “Mother’s Daughter”, she’s already making good progress. 

Vote for Aaron on the Dazed100 here. 

LA’SHAUNAE 

Model and designer La’Shaunae first found fame last year, when her appearance in Universal Standard’s campaign – shot by Ronan McKenzie – went viral. Since then, she’s gained almost 100k followers on Instagram, if you're not one, you should be. The model’s aim is to use her platform as a beacon of inspiration to other plus size black women who want to follow in her footsteps. She’s also continuing her passion for design, creating a wider-fit shoe collection with Jeffrey Campbell. Having recently achieved one of her biggest goals, a magazine cover, let’s hope La’Shaunae’s success can prompt the modelling industry to realise all driven models can be successful, regardless of their size. 

Vote for La’Shaunae on the Dazed100 here. 

BIANCA SAUNDERS

After graduating from the Royal College of Art in 2017, designer Bianca Saunders has proven herself as one of London’s breakout menswear designers with a trio of solo presentations under her belt. Exploring ideas around black masculinity, the designer’s focus on textiles and techniques turn the typical narrative on its head. Saunders’ latest fashion film, ‘Unravelling’ featured a group of her friends discussing their personal experiences of masculinity and shone a light on the importance of community. Moving forward, the designer wants to continuing collaborating with fellow POC creatives in the industry. 

Vote for Bianca on the Dazed100 here.