Carven Taps Kai Nesselrath as Design Director
Carven has confirmed Kai Raffael Nesselrath as its new design director, following a WWD report in April that the Paris-based house was set to bring him over from Saint Laurent’s studio. Italian-born and of German descent, Nesselrath studied at Polimoda, the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma, and took courses at Central Saint Martins before a short stint at Chanel and then nearly a decade at Saint Laurent, where he rose to womenswear head designer. He will debut his first collection on the runway during spring 2027 Paris Fashion Week. Carven CEO Shawna Tao said the house was “very pleased” to welcome him, adding that “a new generation’s perspective on the world feels especially important today.” Nesselrath said he came into the role “with lightness and optimism.” His predecessor Mark Thomas left the role in April after a one-year stint. [WWD]
Labrum Wins the 2026 BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund
Foday Dumbuya’s Labrum London has been named the winner of the 2026 BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund, taking home a £100,000 grant alongside a year-long mentorship, pro-bono legal services from Sheridans, and access to a network of specialist advisors. Founded in 2014 and built on Dumbuya’s formative years in Sierra Leone, Cyprus, and London, Labrum has always been rooted in the stories of the diaspora, merging African values with British tailoring into something that is both wearable and distinctly its own. Dumbuya beat out a shortlist of four that also included Clothsurgeon, Derrick, and Harri. “It’s bigger than me. The win is also for every immigrant kid who grew up between cultures. And it’s a win for Sierra Leone. It’s a big win for London and it’s also a win for the community – for everyone who loves storytelling.” Dumbuya said in his acceptance speech. Previous winners of the fund include Bianca Saunders, Wales Bonner, and Nicholas Daley. [GQ]
Saint Laurent Appoints Anouck Duranteau-Loeper as Deputy CEO
Saint Laurent has named Anouck Duranteau-Loeper as deputy chief executive officer in charge of product, effective July 1. She joins from Isabel Marant, where she served as CEO for nearly a decade, and brings more than two decades of luxury industry experience across strategy, product, and brand management. In her new role she will oversee the house’s end-to-end product organisation, covering studios, collection development, merchandising, and product operations, working in close partnership with artistic director Anthony Vaccarello. She will report to CEO Cédric Charbit. Before Isabel Marant, Duranteau-Loeper served as managing director of fashion at Rabanne from 2013 to 2016, where she helped return the brand to the Paris retail scene after a 14-year absence. She also holds the position of president of the Womenswear Committee of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode. [Vogue Business]
Dione Davis on the Art of Restraint in Styling
“I always loved clothes, but growing up in Alabama, I didn’t really have access to fashion outside of vintage, so I learned to get creative through limitation,” says fashion stylist Dione Davis. For the next Behind the image, Davis shares more about her story and career. Living between New York and Paris, the former ballerina states that movement direction plays a big role in her career and is drawn towards restraint, having worked with magazines like Vogue Netherlands, Heroine, and LOVE. Learn more about her process of conceptualizing a look, advice for new stylists, and who’s one to watch. Read the full interview here.
MDC Selects: These New Faces Were Scouted When They Least Expected It
These new faces were discovered when they least expected it. Hailing from different corners of the world, these four rising rookies share more about their hometowns, how they got their start in modeling, and the experiences that shaped them along the way. From Spain to Slovakia, get to know the next generation of talent here.
And don’t forget the new additions to the Hot List & Top 50 rankings, Alaina Rae, Elliot Belot, Emaan Zishan, Jesse Rinderknecht, Saliou Gueye, Yuliana Perez, Achol Kuir, Cheikh Diakhate, Chen Yang, Fatou Kebbeh, and Liu Qinzheng.
