When it comes to designer brands, the words that come to mind are “expensive” and “luxurious”. But, what makes these clothing and product brands gain notoriety and be sold for such impressive prices? Most designer brands use high-quality materials and require expert craftsmanship, unlike more generic brands that have factories making millions of items a day.

However, in my opinion, when buying something that is considered designer, it should have a high quality and creative design. It shouldn’t just be from a brand that has high prestige, but also be eye-catching and unique.

When I was in California, I visited the Newport Centre Mall. While walking through the mall, my eyes were drawn to stores like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga, and many more. All these brands are very renowned, however, as I looked into the windows, every product seemed basic and boring. I understand that the materials are quality, making the cost so expensive, but it  seems like there’s no more character in these big brands. They’ve focused too much on simplicity and convenience over design.

Where big brands are under-performing, smaller brands that are more based on social media platforms have focused on modern designs that are eye-catching, unique and much cheaper than larger brands. Brands like Yuremane, 4hawthorn, and k-two bring unique styles of denim and upper-wear that are curated to a more design based culture.

These newer brands bring a strong sense of creativity. As time goes on, and more small brands drop clothing, new products will not only be using quality materials, but will also have thought-out design people are looking for in a world where big brands aren’t.