Introducing The S/S20 Edition Of NET-A-PORTER's Vanguard Mentorship Program

Global luxury e-commerce brand NET-A-PORTER has just announced the launch of the fourth instalment of its designer mentorship program The Vanguard and this season the prestigious program features nascent designers Christopher John Rogers, Gauchere, Ioannes and S. Joon.

The sought-after mentorship program offers emerging brands the chance to work with NET-A-PORTER's global team of specialists to aid them in becoming successful, sustainable businesses that thrive in the long run. As always, the brand have been hand-picked for their unique aesthetic and remarkable potential and will retail exclusively on NET-A-PORTER for the Spring-Summer 2020 season.

“Since launching The Vanguard in September 2018 it's been an incredibly rewarding process to witness the 16 young talented brands we've brought into the program grow towards enduring success. We are truly committed to providing long-term support and continuously develop and enrich the mentorship to ensure we are offering an ecosystem for emerging talent to thrive. For Spring Summer ’20 we are pleased to announce the latest four designers Christopher John Rogers, Gauchere, Ioannes and S. Joon to join the alumni in February 2020,” said NET-A-PORTER's Global Buying Director Elizabeth von der Goltz.

Christopher John Rogers

Known for his vibrant use of colour and opulent silhouettes, Brooklyn-based Christopher John Rogers' designs offer a whimsical outlook on eveningwear drama.

"The Spring/Summer 2020 collection was inspired by a twisted amalgamation of Italian pierrots, the work of Gauguin, and the Triadisches Ballett by Oskar Schlemmer. I'm always inspired by individuals that take up space and use fashion to communicate unique, individual parts of themselves. That's what I set out to do with this most recent collection - provide work for people to play with and discover themselves with, and I'm excited that now people will have that opportunity with this exciting NET-A-PORTER partnership."

Gauchere

Parsons School of Design alum Marie-Christine Statz's contemporary aesthetic is influenced by her unique left-handed take to fashion design which embody a minimalistic take on Parisian sophistication.

"The Spring Summer 2020 collection is inspired by the neo-concrete art movement that builds on the interest in abstract forms and the use of colour of concretism but was calling for a greater poetic feeling and a sense of freedom and flexibility into their work. I took a particular interest in the work of Lygia Clark: The body as a central aspect of her practice, Clark’s “organic lines” and her ability to simultaneously draw the attention to the image’s edge as well as its boundlessness."

Ioannes

At less than a year old, this Paris-based label by Johannes Boehl Cronau is already making waves for its quirky take on contemporary femininity. Featuring an unreproducible application technique for its prints makes its pieces truly one-of-a-kind.

"The 2020 Spring Summer collection was a turning point, a reflection of the past year, followed by a selection of what was worth of staying and what I needed to be refined, in order to achieve a more focused yet poetic vision. The collection consists of a plethora of references, an eclectic mix that became inherent to the brand. From 90s minimal mini dresses, our signature knitted double slip dresses to old Milanese “sciura” glam to woodcut floral panels I bought in Japan. I love the idea of building a wardrobe that a woman can treasure and keep her entire life, and how all these different stages of her life create one wardrobe."

S. Joon

Designer Sahar Asvandi's Italian-made sculptural bags are timeless statement pieces that radiate a refined, luxury aesthetic. Sculptural shapes and clean lines elevate each handbag to deliver head-truning pieces that are versatile, elegant and built-to-last.

“Inspiration for our collection can come from all directions, it doesn’t have to be something necessarily new, it can be a memory, a place or something that’s caught my eye. Whatever inspires me, I always try to thread it carefully in to the collection so it fits with our overall ethos of buying well and buying less.”

All images courtesy of NET-A-PORTER