The fashion industry is bursting with creative talent, and there’s nothing more exciting than spotting the fresh creatives that you know are set to become household names. Every year, the British Fashion Council selects fifty of these rising stars, crowning them their NEW WAVE: Creatives, and looking back, they’ve hit home run most of the time!

The selected creatives work in all corners of the industry, with trailblazers in nine categories that span everything from nail art to cultural commentary. We’ve highlighted some of the London-based standout voices that we’re pretty sure will be on everyone's lips in no time. 

Anastasia Vartanian | @fatannawintour

Cultural Commentary 

If you don’t already know Anastasia Vartanian, then we have just one question for you: where have you been? The Central Saint Martins graduate is currently a writer at Glamour and a columnist at Polyester Zine, where her witty, analytical criticism is welcomed not only by her readership but also by her 107,000-strong Instagram following. Anastasia’s bio - ‘if you love & hate fashion, you’re in the right place’ - absolutely says it all, as she marries her clear eye for style with an astute cultural vision. Unafraid to speak her mind in an advertiser-driven industry, Anastasia is a refreshing voice in today’s fashion climate. A fan favourite, and the judges clearly agree!

Ejatu Shaw | @ejatushaw

Photography

After obtaining her MA in Photography Arts from the University of Westminster, it became clear that Ejatu Shaw was one to watch. Using both analogue and digital photography, she explores different ways of challenging institutions, uplifting the black gaze, and the intricacies of identity. Beyond the camera, she also leads her own creative studio in Hackney, and has worked with an impressive assortment of clients, including Nike, Wonderland, Dazed, Adidas, and Hypebeast. Ejatu’s work is uniquely evocative, built upon the dynamics of her surrounding world - we can’t wait to see what else she inspires!

Taiba Akhuetie | @taibataiba

Hair Styling

It’s safe to say that when it comes to hair, Taiba Akhuetie can literally do it all. A London-born-and-bred hair stylist, Taiba is the Director and founder of Keash, which began as a braiding bar and has now transitioned into a bespoke service near Primrose Hill. She is also the co-founder of a luxury hair-themed jewellery brand, HairWear jewellery, but you’re most likely to know Taiba from her spectacular designs, where she uses both real and synthetic hair to craft shoes, clothes, furniture, and even umbrellas. Her grandest undertaking? A 4.66mx1.65m hair wall, displayed at Old Sessions House in April 2024. Hugely impressive, but we certainly wouldn’t want to be the ones to de-knot it…

Angelica Wolansk | @angelicawska

Movement Direction

As a classically trained dancer, it's no surprise that Angelica Wolanska excels at movement direction. She’s worked for a collective of impressive names, with it-girl attracting it-girl; she’s even choreographed for the woman of the moment, Olivia Dean, in her ‘Time’ music video. Angelica’s work considers dance as a tool for expressing embodied perception and contemporary lived experience, taking an intellectual approach to her corporeal art. She’s made a strong mark in the industry, so we are excited to watch her achieve even more!

Douglas Miller | @douglaswamiller

Styling

Douglas is a Scottish stylist, based in London, whose work is imbued with the rich visual traditions of his heritage. His standout artistic quality? Douglas uniquely uses fashion to integrate modern and traditional, drawing on historical portraiture and his Scottish roots to inform present-day depictions of inclusive sensibility. His approach to fashion celebrates a valuable marriage of heritage, queerness, and contemporary style, with this transhistorical approach appealing not just to us, but to some pretty impressive names too; he’s worked with British GQ, L’Officiel Hommes China, and Celeste, to name a few. 

The Fashion Awards 2025, presented by Pandora, will be hosted on December 1 2025 at The Royal Albert Hall. If you want to learn more about this year’s winners, then you can find more information here.