Net a Porter has named Kallmeyer, Colleen Allen, and Heirlome as the three New York based labels selected for its 2026 edition of The Vanguard, the retailer’s global mentorship program for emerging designers. The announcement reinforces Net a Porter’s strategy to use its platform not only as a sales channel but as infrastructure for nurturing the next generation of fashion brands.
Three Brands, One City
This year’s cohort is entirely New York based, underscoring the city’s ongoing role as a live lab for independent design. Kallmeyer, founded by Daniella Kallmeyer, focuses on modern tailoring and everyday wardrobe staples filtered through a blend of masculine and feminine codes, described by the brand as architectural elegance.
Colleen Allen is known for sculptural silhouettes, refined minimalism, and a studio practice that treats garments almost as object studies, which has attracted attention from directional retailers and editors. Heirlome, founded by Stephanie Suberville and Jeffrey Axford, builds collections around textiles and craft, collaborating with artisans in Mexico and Latin America on weaving, knitting, and embroidery each season.
How The Vanguard Works
The Vanguard is Net a Porter’s global mentorship and accelerator program, pairing a small group of emerging brands with senior industry figures for tailored business and creative guidance. Each participating label receives bespoke mentorship, strategic advice on areas such as merchandising, production, and international growth, and campaign support around its Spring/Summer 2026 collections on the Net a Porter platform.
Mentor pairings are designed to reflect each brand’s ambitions. Kallmeyer will work with Net a Porter CEO Heather Kaminetsky and Toteme CEO Johanna Sjöberg, reflecting its focus on sharpening a scalable, tailored, ready to wear business. Colleen Allen is paired with Rick Owens CEO Elsa Lanzo and AnOther Magazine fashion director Katie Shillingford, bringing together operational experience and editorial vision. Heirlome will receive mentorship from designer Gabriela Hearst and sustainability advocate and creator Aditi Mayer, a combination that aligns with its craft focused and sustainability minded positioning.
Why this Cohort Matters
Net a Porter describes the three brands as fast emerging as influential voices in fashion, recognised for their distinctive creative perspectives and growing cultural impact. The retailer’s Chief Buying and Merchandising Officer, Brigitte Chartrand, has framed The Vanguard as a vehicle for identifying and investing in talent with clear brand identity and growth potential, while helping them scale thoughtfully and build durable global businesses.
The program offers more than exposure on a major luxury e commerce site. It provides direct access to decision makers across retail, design, editorial, and sustainability, at a moment when navigating wholesale, direct to consumer, and international production demands can make or break a young label. For Net a Porter, the 2026 cohort underscores a broader shift in role: from pure distributor to active partner in building the fashion ecosystem it depends on.
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