‘Next In Fashion – A Valid Platform for Up-and-Coming Talent?
Netflix Competition Reality TV show ‘Next In Fashion’ returned back on screens on 3 March 2023. The show features up-and-coming designers in which they compete to impress expert judges, hoping to win a career-changing prize money and a chance to become the next big thing in fashion. MA Luxury Brand Strategy & Business student, Kevin De Silva explores whether shows like this are a viable launch pad for up and coming fashion design talent.
About Next In Fashion
Gigi Hadid joined Tan France as the face of this Netflix Competition show. Tan France is a fashion designer and TV personality best known as the fashion expert on Queer Eye. Whilst Gigi Hadid is an American model, having appeared on the covers of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar to name a few. Gigi and Tan welcomed a new group of twelve up-and-coming designers onto the show and set up challenges in hopes for the contestants to win $200,000 (£165,000) and a fashion deal with ‘Rent the Runway’. Guest judges including Donatella Versace, Emma Chamberlain, and Hailey Bieber also featured on the show. Nigel Xavier won the grand prize of $200,000 along with the opportunity to launch a collection on Rent the Runway.
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“All I wanted was to create art and leave a legacy that will inspire others! This moment is just another steppingstone in my journey to reach my goals! I’m so appreciative of all the love and support around the world!” – Nigel Xavier
Who is Nigel Xavier?
Nigel Xavier (aged 24) is a fashion designer and winner of Next In Fashion Series 2, he was born in Venezuela and then later moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 2010. Nigel used to play for his school football term but later down the line he decided he wanted to pursue a career in fashion design. He later went to Savannah College of Art and Design in 2016 where he completed his B.F.A. in Fashion Design.
In 2016, Nigel Xavier began to showcase his fashion skill to the world where he designed clothes for musical clients like 2 Chainz. Later moving on to designing clothes for the brand Levis. His work is liked by many musical artists and adds many popular celebrities to his list of clients. Nigel is influenced by popular celebrities including A$AP Rocky, Playboi Carti and Travis Scott. His design is very distinguishing from the rest as he focuses on Patchwork and Textile Manipulation and draws inspiration from the ‘90s and early ‘00s fashion and the music industry’- often mimicking this style onto his designs. His big win from Netflix has now made him the most super demanded fashion designer of all time!
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Is Next In Fashion a viable launch pad for Fashion Designers?
Nigel Xavier on Instagram celebrates his big win by saying “Such an incredible moment that I will never forget! We had only a few days to create 8 showstopping looks that told an inspirational story! I poured everything I had left into this collection! Being inspired by Woodstock I wanted to create a world of nostalgia and togetherness! Something we are fighting to keep in this society today!” Overall, Xavier proved the nation and showed the world his unique, cutting-edge style with patchwork and textile manipulation.
‘Next In Fashion’ is a key example of bringing light to up and coming designers and has currently made its way to the list of most-watched shows on Netflix! It is refreshing as the viewer to see new, innovative designs we may not have probably seen in mainstream fashion. Self-expression is considered as the highest form of achievement in fashion. Here it can help identify perhaps the serious problem fashion is facing right now, with too many brands and collections being out there – fashion can be seen to lose all of its meaning, there is a fine line between wanting to express yourself and having something to say.
By Kevin De Silva – MA Luxury Brand Strategy & Business