In its 13th year, Fashion Scout’s Ones To Watch 01 returned to London Fashion Week SS26 as a defining platform for fresh global voices — a stage where cultural identity, emotion, and innovation collide. Known for launching creative powerhouses like Eudon Choi, Susan Fang, and Angel Chen, the initiative once again proved its instinct for spotting the next generation of design visionaries.
This season at LFW became the moment where fashion’s future revealed itself. The showcase brought together six rising designers from across the world, each turning their heritage, imagination, and conviction into something transformative.
Jaoka Jaokha
Jaoka Jaokha brings an entirely new kind of energy to the runway. Her collection, “Temple of the Mind,” feels deeply emotional yet unmistakably new-gen, street, and sexy. There’s an avant-garde sharpness here, balanced by something raw and intimate. The Thai-born, London-based designer treats the body like a canvas, weaving together storytelling, ritual, and sensuality in ways that feel personal but universal.
Latex, hand-dyed lace, and distressed jersey come together in silhouettes that seem to breathe. There’s a sense of rebellion, but also reflection. The draped fabrics and tattoo-inspired motifs feel like markings of memory, each piece layered with a sense of self-expression and quiet power.
What’s striking is how effortlessly she mixes the sacred and the sensual. You see a mind at work that’s unafraid to explore fragility through confidence. The collection’s raw edge never loses sight of beauty. It feels current, emotional, and perfectly in tune with a generation that finds strength in softness and style in honesty. She’s building an aesthetic language that’s fiercely contemporary.
Ruaa Elmansuri
Ruaa Elmansuri has mastered the balance between culture and modern appeal. Her SS26 collection is both rich with heritage and visually magnetic to a new-age audience. The London-based Libyan designer brings a rare grace to the runway, one that feels rooted and futuristic all at once.
The blend of North African influence and contemporary craftsmanship is seamless. Textured wools, silver embellishments, and vibrant hues combine to form pieces that feel deeply editorial and utterly wearable. Each look is beautifully styled, telling its own story through proportion, shimmer, and softness.
There’s a quiet luxury here, but also a strong sense of identity. Ruaa’s use of upcycled and deadstock materials adds an extra layer of depth, aligning ethics with aesthetics. The designs celebrate the beauty of culture without turning it into costume. Instead, she makes heritage feel aspirational and completely now.
Designz by Minaaz
Designz by Minaaz is made for the spotlight. Her SS26 collection is a burst of texture, color, and confidence. These are statement pieces that are strong yet dreamily girly. It’s a reminder that femininity can be powerful and playfully soft at the same time. Minaaz’s world is one where couture like garments moves, glimmers, and breathes with life.
Each look feels alive, from the vibrant feathered gowns to the soft layers of silk and organza that shimmer as they catch light. The textures are intoxicating with sequins, floral appliqués, sculpted feathers, all layered to tell stories of transformation and growth. The craftsmanship is exact, but there’s freedom in the flow.
It belongs to a woman who is both elegant and unstoppable, someone who wants her clothes to mirror her confidence and energy. Minaaz finds beauty in volume and motion, in that perfect in-between of strength and sweetness. There’s a pulse to this collection, a sense of joy that’s contagious.
Selenee
Selenee’s ‘Reach’ is a collection that commands attention through subtle strength. It’s made for a woman who knows her power but doesn’t need to say it aloud. The silhouettes are bold, sculpted, and confident, yet there’s a quiet sensuality that runs through every look. The balance between ethereal and strong makes this one of the standout collections of the season.
Designer MT Yang explores the beauty of movement — sleeves that extend like wings, structures that seem to stretch toward possibility. Each piece feels like a moment caught mid-transformation, sculptural yet fluid. The tailoring is clean and precise, but the emotion within it feels organic and alive. The hero piece, the Virelle dress, embodies this sense of turning — a pivot, a change in direction, and a quiet reclaiming of self.
The palette stays clean and neutral, letting the shapes take focus. There’s something incredibly sexy about this kind of restraint. The collection never tries too hard. It moves with controlled poise. Its clear that Selenee creates for the modern woman.
KimLin
KimLin’s SS26 collection “Skylines” feels like a quiet revolution. There’s structure, purpose, and a sense of freshness that makes it stand out. The stunning green that anchors the palette immediately catches the eye, it’s perfectly current. Every silhouette feels considered, blending streetwear edge with refined craftsmanship in a way that feels effortlessly commercial yet artistic.
Founded by Yeva Hovhannisyan and her mother Lin, the Armenian brand creates designs that bridge generational creativity. The architectural inspiration from Zvartnots Airport gives the pieces a sculptural rhythm, while the eco-leather details add polish and depth. The tailoring is sharp but never rigid.
What makes this collection special is its accessibility. It’s fashion that looks like it belongs on both the runway and the street. You can see its potential everywhere, in editorials, in wardrobes, in the real world. It’s conceptual without being difficult. It shows that being edgy and being practical don’t have to be opposites.
SONAIS
SONAIS’ ‘Siesta’ collection feels like a deep exhale. It invites you to pause and see nature through a new lens. Armenian designer Sona Hovsepyan reinterprets organic forms with thoughtful precision. Inspired by Spain’s afternoon rest tradition and Armenia’s sense of endurance, it brings together two worlds
The textures are what pull you in. Airy organzas meet structured wools, while curved silhouettes evoke a sense of movement and rest at once. The dotted motifs, echoing sunlight and bubbles, give each look a soft rhythm. The positioning and styling are impeccable, enhancing the collection’s poetic flow. You can see hints of Gaudí’s influence in the organic curves and the way fabric bends rather than breaks. The palette, a soothing mix of whites, greys, and touches of coral and denim blue, feels grounded.
There’s a tactile honesty in these clothes, a celebration of form and material that feels both crafted and free. SONAIS captures serenity without losing energy.
Fashion Scout’s Ones To Watch has always been known for spotting the next generation before the world does, and this season reaffirmed why. These designers aren’t just part of the conversation; they are the conversation.
All Credits
Show Venue and Production: Fashion Scout @fashionscout @mrfashionscout
Show Styling: Rebekah Roy @rebekahroy_
Makeup By Mandy Gakhal For AOFMPro Using Dermalogica UK: @aofmakeup @mandygakhal @dermalogicauk
Hair by Diego Miranda at BTS Talent: @diegomiranda @btstalent
Show photographer: Chris Yates @itschrisyates
PR & Media: I.DEA PR @i.deapr
Ayerhs Magazine 