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New fashion designers have been making waves in an industry once ruled by 20th century iconic brands. But the rise to the top isn’t as easy as it looks. By Diana Pearl
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ominated by long-standing names like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Yves Saint Laurent, the fashion industry has cultivated a reputation for its cutthroat atmosphere. At the helm of these legendary brands sit design powerhouses like Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs, and Miuccia Prada, whose successes in the industry have not been challenged in years. Until now. The opportunity for young designers to break into this designer-eat-designer world was once slim to none. Yet some talented few have managed to rise to the height of their established counterparts’ pedestals. Young designers such as Prabal Gurung, Alexander Wang, Jason Wu, and Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez
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