Fashion has always been one of the cult of youth’s most valuable subscribers. And if 40’s the new 50 and 30’s the new 40 and so on, it’s not surprising that so many of the industry’s most game-changing designers are not much older than the models walking their runways.
From Olivier Rousteing, who caused media hysteria when he was appointed to the head of Balmain at just 25, to equally buzz-worthy names you might not have put such a wrinkle-free face to, here are the most talented designers yet to reach the ripe old age of 30.
1. Esteban Cortázar (29)
At the age of 17 Cortázar became the youngest ever designer to show at New York Fashion Week, and at 23 was appointed creative director of Parisian fashion house Emmanuel Ungaro. A dispute with management two years later over sharing creative duties with Lindsay Lohan turned out to be a blessing in disguise; Cortázar has now designed two capsule collections backed by Net-a-Porter, full of structured, athletic-inspired separates and fluid satin and stretch-cady dresses.