The Hypebae Best: The Top Fashion Brands, It Items and Collaborations of 2023
Featuring names like Nike and Martine Rose, Sinead O’Dwyer and more.
Another year has passed which means another opportunity to look back on 2023’s biggest trends, it items and most memorable fashion moments. An evolution of our desire for prints and playful pieces in 2022, this year saw us having arguably more fun with fashion than ever before.
As a result, we’re back with the latest edition of our year-end series Hypebae Best, where we round up some of the biggest brands, designers and collaborations in fashion this year, according to our editors. We can’t talk about collabs without mentioning Nike‘s major moments in 2023, teaming up with both Martine Rose and Jacquemus for two very different, but equally impressive collections. Elsewhere on our top list of team-ups is inevitably the adidas and Wales Bonner collection, resulting in chrome silver track jackets and matching pants, along with hits of icy blue.
Outside of collaborations, 2023’s it items undoubtedly include the Alaia Mesh Ballet Flats, Maison Margiela Tabi shoes (we’re looking at you, Tabi Swiper) and the ever-viral Uniqlo shoulder bag.
Elsewhere, we’re also highlighting a range of new and up-and-coming names within the fashion space, from emerging designers to rising labels. This year, it’s names like Sinead O’Dwyer and T LABEL who top our list, with their inclusive design and distinctive approach to fashion making them ones to watch not only next year but till the end of time.
Continue scrolling to see the top fashion brands, designers and collaborations of the year, and stay tuned for more from our Hypebae Best 2023 roundups in footwear, sex and dating, beauty and music.
COLLABORATIONS
Nike x Jacquemus
Since Nike and Jacquemus first teamed up last year, the anticipation for what was next to come just got bigger and bigger. The duo’s Air Humara sneaker dropped in 2022, followed by a slew of new colorways this year and a fully fledged apparel collection which featured crop tops, mini skirts and dresses in hues of beige and navy. What stood out the most was the delicate co-branding, landing in the form of gold-toned Swooshes and wraparound lacing.
Wales Bonner x adidas
As soon as Wales Bonner laid eyes on the adidas Samba, the collaboration was destined for greatness. While the Samba’s already made its name as the shoe of 2023, it’s the accompanying apparel that we’re shining a light on this time around. Paying tribute to Jamaican culture, the collection featured track jackets, knitted vests and shorts in hues of striking silver and icy blue, exploring the significance of the humble trefoil.
Aries x Juicy Couture
As a whole, Aries has had a pretty big 2023, joining forces with everyone from Mia Khalifa to Crocs. But one team up in particular stood out to us this year, and that’s the rhinestoned cowboys of its Juicy Couture collab. The limited-edition capsule collection merged the signature aesthetic of both brands to create something even more enticing. Merging Juicy’s classic velour fabrics and rhinestones with Aries’ edgy aesthetic and prints, the collection took cues from the OG rhinestone cowboy and American tailor, Nudie Cohn.
Nike x Martine Rose
Another well-deserved mention for Nike comes courtesy of its Martine Rose collaboration. Unveiled during the peak of the women-fuelled blokecore movement, the sportswear collection merged smart tailoring with athletic prowess, resulting in highly covetable shirts, blazers and trousers, alongside new versions of the Shox MR4 sneaker.
Jennie x Calvin Klein
Anything Jennie touches turns to gold. That’s a fact, and one that was only exemplified by her first collaboration with Calvin Klein, resulting in a limited-edition capsule collection of underwear and loungewear styles. Not only did the collab come with a suite of Jennie-filled campaign pics, but it also appeared to mark a new era for the BLACKPINK star as it coincided with her acting debut in HBO’s The Idol.
BRANDS AND DESIGNERS
Sinead O’Dwyer
After multiple seasons on the London Fashion Week calendar, Sinead O’Dwyer continues to be one of fashion’s most inclusive designers, if not the only one. Alongside showcasing different body types on the runway, the Irish designer focuses on spotlighting models with different abilities and backgrounds and aims to support the rising stars who don’t often get the same opportunities as others. Offering a celebration of the female form, O’Dwyer’s made a name for herself through showcasing sexuality and empowerment through a female lens.
Sinead Gorey
New kid on the block Sinead Gorey made her fashion week runway debut this year, after a stellar presentation at her self-made strip club saloon back in FW23. Featuring Britpop references like Kate Moss at Glastonbury and the Spice Girls’ Union Jack dress, the collection offered a refreshing take on pop culture trends, showcased through playful, figure-hugging designs and contemporary clubwear — a welcome addition to the LFW schedule.
Paolina Russo
Similarly, London-based label Paolina Russo made its runway show debut at Copenhagen Fashion Week, again showcasing a wide array of models diverse in ability and background. Merging Y2K style with folklore fashion, the eclectic presentation proved that it’s young designers like founders Alex Russo and Lucile Guilmard who are the future of fashion.
T LABEL
Rising UK brand T Label strives to promote inclusive, romantic-wear created from deadstock materials. With a distinct focus on details, the emerging label takes items like old beads and lace from vintage pieces and upcycles them into striking garments. Making its runway debut at LFW this season, T Label’s collection featured a skirt emblazoned with the words “FASHION WEEK GIVES ME ANXIETY.” Already, we can’t wait to see what they do next.
Sami Miro
Vintage curator and designer Sami Miro has been on the scene for a little while, but it’s 2023 that saw the rising creative really taking things to another level. SS24 saw the debut of Sami Miro Vintage at New York Fashion Week, and her celebrity fanbase has grown to include the likes of Karrueche and Bella Hadid, to name a few. As Miro’s career goes from strength to strength, she continues to promote vintage fashion as a viable alternative to newness, and put sustainability on the map.
IT FASHION ITEMS
Alaia Mesh Ballet Flats
If 2023’s sneaker of the year was the Samba, then the shoe is undoubtedly Alaia’s mesh ballet flats. Featuring in Lyst’s Year in Fashion report, the delicate silhouette made its mark amidst the rise of Balletcore, following in the footsteps of brands like Miu Miu, Sandy Liang and Maison Margiela.
LOEWE Anagram Tank Top
Carrying on from 2022, LOEWE’s anagram emblem continues to be one of the most coveted. Also evidenced by Lyst’s report (which dubbed LOEWE’s logo as the biggest in 2023), desire for the simple black trademark is still on the rise. Seemingly stemming from the growth of “Quiet Luxury” the classic staple was seen everywhere this year, on everyone, and will likely make more than a few appearances in 2024 and beyond.
Sandy Liang Hair Bows
As explored in our recent trend spotlight on bows on the runway, the cutesy, coquette-inspired accessory has made its way into virtually every 2023 hairstyle and fashion week fit. Most notably, it’s designers Sandy Liang and Simone Rocha pioneering the trend, whose bow-shaped hair accessories and earrings have hit the top of every it-girl’s wishlist.
Maison Margiela Tabi Mary Janes
We couldn’t dissect the biggest it-pieces of 2023 without mentioning Margiela Tabi shoes, so we won’t. Naturally, as a result of the Tabi Swiper story, searches for Maison Margiela Tabi silhouettes skyrocketed this year, and paired with the resurgence of the humble Mary Jane, it meant that the Maison Margiela Tabi Mary-Janes were more covetable than ever before.
Uniqlo Shoulder Bag
Last but not least, the viral Uniqlo shoulder bag continued to find its way into our hearts, our wardrobes and our wishlists throughout 2023. Set to arrive in more colorways and fabric compositions than ever before, the affordable accessory is likely to maintain its popularity in 2024 thanks to its functional nature and growing versatility.
