Most Influential Fashion Designers of the 21st Century
Streetwear, sustainability and spectacle — the designers shaping fashion's current century.
The world of fashion has seen a massive influx of talent and creativity in the 21st century. From the rise of streetwear to the growth of sustainable and ethical practices, designers have been pushing boundaries and making a huge impact on the industry and the world. This page looks at several of the most influential fashion designers of the 21st century.
Four names headline the selection: Alexander McQueen, Tom Ford, Rei Kawakubo and Marc Jacobs — an avant-garde showman, a byword for sleek sophistication, the founder of Comme des Garçons, and one of fashion's great playful innovators.
Illustrative image created for this guide — an artistic impression, not this designer's own garments.
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Alexander McQueen: The Avant-Garde Showman
Alexander McQueen is one of the biggest names in the fashion world. His avant-garde designs and boundary-pushing collections made him a giant in the industry: he tapped into punk and gothic aesthetics to create something truly unique and eye-catching. His work has been featured in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and his legacy continues to influence fashion years after his era. McQueen's influence runs through spectacle as much as silhouette — he proved a runway show could be art, argument and entertainment at once.
Tom Ford and Rei Kawakubo: Polish and Provocation
Tom Ford's signature sleek and sexy style is iconic, embraced by celebrities and fashion followers alike. His modern, sophisticated designs have been seen on the runways of Paris and Milan, and his work has reached mass audiences through major films. Where Ford polishes, Rei Kawakubo provokes: as founder and creative director of Comme des Garçons, her avant-garde designs and unique aesthetic made her a leader of the fashion world, and her willingness to push boundaries and challenge the status quo keeps her among the century's most influential figures.
Marc Jacobs and the Century's Mix
Marc Jacobs brings the fourth mode: whimsy with rigor. His playful designs have been featured in major fashion shows, his collections recognized for creativity and innovation, and his designs worn by celebrities around the world. Put the four together — avant-garde, sleek, conceptual, playful — and the 21st century's range appears: no single style owns the era, which is itself the era's defining trait.
These designers have all left their mark, and their influence will continue to be felt for years — in collections, in museums, in films and on runways. The companion guide to the 20th century's influential designers, linked here, supplies the inheritance they are all spending.
Common Questions
Who are the influential designers of the 21st century named here?
Alexander McQueen, Tom Ford, Rei Kawakubo and Marc Jacobs headline this page: respectively an avant-garde showman, a master of sleek sophistication, the founder of Comme des Garçons, and a playful innovator — four very different kinds of influence.
What themes define 21st century influence?
The rise of streetwear, the growth of sustainable and ethical practices, and designers pushing boundaries — challenging the status quo rather than decorating it. Influence now also travels through film, museums and social visibility, not only through garments.
Are fashion designers more important than fashion brands?
The century keeps testing both answers. Some influence belongs to named individuals whose hand is recognizable anywhere; some belongs to brands and design teams. This page's four names argue the individual case strongly.