Photographed by Louie BanksStyled by Sophie PeraWords by Tish WeinstockWELCOMETO THECI RCUSAnother year, and another cast
of New Debutantes assemble –
this time for two days of circus-
themed high jinks, hysterical
laughter, acrobatics and, naturally,
a human cannon.
Some of the 23 cultural disrupters
knew each other already, either
through their online personas or as
friends in real life, while others were meeting for the first time.
Among them were artists, activists, models, musicians and muses.
There was Jordan Vickors, whose multihyphenate career has
just seen him setting the City of Light ablaze with his DJ skills
at Paris Men’s Fashion Week, and fashion student Nicolò
Pablo Venerdì, who might just be the chicest person in London.
Elsewhere, designer Mimi Wade showed off her peroxide locks,
and model Iris Luz ran amok with mountains of tulle, while
photographer Oli Kearon was fired out of the aforementioned
cannon. Add to this, club kid Josh Quinton; designer Matty
Bovan, accompanied by his fabulous muses Lucas Nettleton-
Tate and Gigi Hari; and fashion’s freshest new face Lily Jean
Harvey, and you have yourself a party. Different in back-
ground, experience and outlook, what unites this group is a
renegade spirit and a refusal to be classified by staid stereotypes
of generations past. Instead, they’re defined on their own terms,
by what they do, what they create and what they say.
They are unabashedly outspoken. With politics in turmoil
and the planet in decline, creativity, fearlessness and self-expression
have never been so important, which is why it’s down to these
vibrant young things to speak up, speak out and effect change.
As the charming designer Harry Freegard summarises, ‘Being
creative in the current political landscape is an act of heroism and
possibly stupidity, but so necessary.’ What could be better than
work that brings about a sense of hope and escape? ]09-19WELL-NewDebs.indd 101 08/07/2019 11:10