11 Boston Fashion Designers You Should Know

Boston-based fashion designer, philanthropist, and designer-in-residence, Denise Hajjar packs a lot of experience under her belt. She has received numerous awards and dressed many female Boston executives, Boston sports players’ wives, and designed costumes for television, theater, commercials, and movies, among other things. Cultures around the world inspire her designs, which embody a combination of strength, sensitivity, and imagination.

The history of a company name cannot be more romantic than this. Founder Emily Keneally got married on a little strip of land at the harbor’s edge 16 miles (25.7 kilometers) south of Boston called “Alice Walk.” Clean and classic silhouettes paired with unique fabrics is the inspiration behind the brand, named 2017’s Boston’s Best. If you’re looking to create a fresh yet timeless wardrobe, Alice Walk is the designer for you.

Valentina Oppezzo is an Italian fashion designer now living in Boston, and she creates colorful, fun, and electric garments and bags. Her unique style as a designer comes from her fashion photography background and her love of combining all aspects of visual arts, which include cinema, painting, and drawing.

The phrase “custom wedding gown” is synonymous with the name Daniel Faucher Couture. From designing his first wedding dress when he was just 13 years old to starting his own label in 1985, Faucher knows a thing or two about wedding gowns. He creates around 100 formal dresses a year, with a quarter of them tailored just for brides. If you’re in the market for a special gown that fits your own curves and style, turn to this gown guru for some assistance on adding a little sparkle to your special day.

If you want to skip the customization process but are still looking for a one-of-a-kind bridal collection, then familiarize yourself with Firas Yousif Originals. This Boston couture bridal designer features both classical demure dresses and more avant-garde styles that are sure to turn heads. The Newbury Street Atelier is by appointment only, so make yours now.

Another longtime Boston designer is Betsy Jenney, known for curating a fun and electric collection of Euro fashions and formal wear. First established in Cape Cod, Betsy then picked up and moved to a compact lower level location on Newbury Street. If you want to choose from a variety of designers based around the world, you’ll find it on Betsy’s racks.

Candice Wu is a well-known couture bridal designer based in Boston who has won many awards, including 2016’s Best of Boston. Born in Hong Kong, her designs focus on mixing many cultural influences, blending traditional elements with modern ideas and functionality. Her work has featured in several fashion events, including Boston Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week, and LA Fashion Week, and magazine pages, including Vogue and Marie Claire, among others.

Gina deWolfe, a Massachusetts native who uses local materials and minimalist designs, creates handcrafted leather handbags and accessories using leathersmith tools she inherited from her grandfather who was a leathersmith. When her search for a sleek leather backpack came up short, it pushed her to create her clean-lined leather backpacks—dubbed “Wolfepacks.” She held the title of Best of Boston, 2016 Best Designer, Bags, and she just opened a new shop in Nantucket, so head on over to get your hands on a classic leather companion.

If you’re longing for a hat to spice up your outfit or to transport you to a garden party in the English countryside or the Kentucky Derby, then make your way to Marie Galvin Fine Millinery. Marie Galvin designs hats that range from Tim Burtonesque to cute, demure varieties that are fit for every occasion.

Sara Campbell is a longtime Boston designer who focuses on designing wearable everyday clothes. But what makes Sara Campbell a brand much loved by Bostonians is the fact that they give back. You’ll often find that they donate a portion of sales on specific clothing to various charities. They even host numerous give-back events within their stores for both local and national organizations. So if you need to host an event for a charity of your choice, Sara Campbell boutique will gladly help host.