Albert Ayal is the founder of Up Next Designer, an influential Instagram account highlighting the most exciting emerging designers in fashion. Ayal got his start in fashion PR, and in 2019, he opened an Instagram account to help him keep tabs on all of the new designers he was finding. Soon, he began to gain traction and followers; he had a keen eye for new talent, and people were eager for an injection of something new. Ayal also used his PR skills to advocate for these designers, connecting them with stylists, celebrities, and other resources to grow their brands. Today, the account has over 500,000 followers and is a huge source of education, information, and inspiration. This week, Ayal joins Editorial Director Lauren Eggertsen to talk about the evolution of his career, the impact that Up Next Designer has had on the fashion world, and a few of the emerging designers he's most excited about.

Check out Ayal's current favorite emerging designers below:

Andrea Brocca

Clara Daguin

Mark Gong

Phan Huy

Dickson Lim

Kim Mesches

George Trochopoulos

Zhaoyi Yu

Weiraen

And shop our editor's picks here!