How Unique: The Indie Luxury List of Brands and Buys You Don’t Know Yet

To be in the know when it comes to fashion can vary from person to person, but the usual tell-tale signs are that brands like Khaite and Toteme are in their vocabulary. And presumably hanging in their wardrobes.

While they have deservedly become household names, the mark of a true sartorialist is staying across the emerging designers of note. The luxury independent fashion brands to know, if you will. As a fashion writer working at Who What Wear, it is not only my passion, but within my job description to be at the forefront of the zeitgeist and be across this upcoming cohort to ensure that you, our readers, are also in the know.

Finding the next Proenza Schouler or Peter Do or Phoebe Philo does take commitment; trawling multi-brand retailers like Dover Street Market, keeping a close eye on the new generation showing at smaller fashion weeks in Copenhagen and Sydney, seeing what celebrity stylists like Dara Allen, Danielle Goldberg and Jamie Mizrahi are dressing their clients in. As I’ve built a profession around identifying the luxury independent fashion brands before they make it mainstream, it would be remiss of me to gatekeep.

These niche brands might not be new to you, though they may be for some. Which is why I’ve also included the designers' It items that everyone is currently impressed by. What you’ll find below is a curated list of the top 11 independent brands and buys you're probably not across yet. These designers all operate from around the world—including the outskirts of Istanbul, the dreamy Northern Rivers region of Australia, Italy’s mills and even here in the heart of London—yet still have one thing in common. All discerning, minimalistic, designed for the modern woman and crafted with the highest quality fabrics, these buys will last you a lifetime. Uncover them all, ahead.

The 11 Luxury Independent Fashion Brands and Buys to Know

1. St. Agni

Style Notes: Hailing from the languid beaches of Byron Bay, St. Agni is one of Australia’s foremost contemporary fashion brands. The brand’s silhouettes are contemporary, unfussy, infused with a ‘90s fashion sensibility and functional for both city and coastal settings, which is why you’ll see designs like Carrie Bradshaw-esque mini dresses rendered in a TENCEL™ Lyocell fabric (a type of regenerated material that has a lower environmental impact) alongside sleek lambskin halter neck tops, deliciously light-weight silk camisoles jackets, woven leather bags and trousers with built-in cummerbunds. The brand’s pieces have been worn by the likes of Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, Jennifer Lawrence and Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex.

Shop the Brand:

ST. AGNI

Organza Camisole

St. Agni's designs also evoke a sort of "off-duty" sensibility that bridges practicality with taste, as seen in this semi-sheer top.

St Agni

90s Splice Panelled Pants

The brand's pieces are the perfect building blocks of a chic capsule wardrobe or refined uniform, like these two-toned trousers.

ST. AGNI

Leather Wedge Sandals

Don't ignore St. Agni's accessories either. Their jewellery, handbag and footwear are always classic in shape but still offer a point of difference that makes them so covetable.

2. The Row

Style Notes: If you’re going to be familiar with a luxury independent fashion brand on this list, it’s going to be The Row. Founded by Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen in 2006, The Row silently helped pioneer the market of well-finished and expertly made staples that whispered wealth. According to the Olsen Twins themselves, the brand began with the simple mission of creating the perfect white T-shirt. This idea then spiralled into a capsule collection of just seven pieces, including cashmere, before becoming the elegant titan we know it to be now. With the brand’s name deriving from Savile Row, The Row’s boutique in Mayfair (which includes mid-century furnishings, a James Turrell light installation and a strict "no pictures" policy) is a must-visit while in London.

Shop the Brand:

The Row

Marlo Large Leather Tote Bag

THE ROW

Sharka Cotton and Cashmere-Blend Twill Wide-Leg Pants

Something that makes The Row so unique is the brand's ability to elevate everyday essentials like white jeans. These aren't just any denim, but an expensive blend of cotton and cashmere for the utmost comfort, structure and polish.

The Row

Dune Leather Flip Flops

3. Dear Frances

Style Notes: You can’t take a wrong step when wearing Dear Frances. An intentionally slow fashion brand, the London-based label is unique in its commitment to Italian craftsmanship and covetable accessories. The brand first piqued interest in 2021 with the Balla style, a mesh slipper style that puts a sensual spin on woven ballet flats. Designed for a glove fit, it’s the perfect vessel for showcasing a sophisticated pedicure and embracing the naked dressing trend in a more subtle way. Since then, the brand has expanded into handbags with the launch of its first-ever mesh bag, the shopper-style Sachetto, begun toying with mesh trainers and even celebrated its tenth anniversary. As an Australian myself, I adore how the brand’s founder and creative director, Jane Frances, comes from down under, too. But even more so, I love the fact she trained as a shoe designer in a family-owned factory outside of Milan, so you know the styles are made for the well-travelled woman.