Atlanta Fashion Week is officially underway. The opening day shows have set a high bar—Adidas handing its platform to HBCU student designers, a live performance changing the room’s energy, and a persistent call for more national press attention.
But the real story is always on the runway. Beyond the major brand activations, three Atlanta-based designers have emerged as the names to watch this week. Here is who they are, what they showed, and why they matter.
1. KINSHÉ (Kaya Richards)
Why she is on the list: KINSHÉ is coming off a Paris Fashion Week invitation. That alone would put her on any watchlist. But the question heading into AFW was whether she could translate European buzz into a hometown moment. Based on her Wednesday showing at Ponce City Market, the answer is yes.
The collection: Richards showed her Spring/Summer 2027 line—the same collection she will take to Paris in September. The aesthetic remains signature KINSHÉ: deconstructed suiting, raw hems, unexpected draping, and a neutral palette punctuated by a single saturated color (this season, a deep cobalt blue). The standout piece was a blazer that can be worn seven ways. It is a technical feat that also solves a real problem for women who travel for work.
What to watch: Whether wholesale orders follow. Richards has two stockists currently (RSVP Gallery in Chicago and The Webster in New York). AFW is her chance to add regional accounts—specifically Southern independent stores—before Paris.
Her quote: "I stopped trying to get to Paris. I just tried to make the best clothes I could in Atlanta. And Paris showed up anyway."
2. Cortney Nycole
Why she is on the list: Cortney Nycole is the rare Atlanta designer who has already dressed a major celebrity for a major awards show (Quinta Brunson for the Emmys). But until this week, she had never done a full AFW runway. Her Tuesday night show was her debut.
The collection: Nycole designs for a specific woman: someone who needs to look polished but not stuffy, expensive but not flashy. Her Spring 2027 collection leaned into soft tailoring—blazers with rounded shoulders, trousers with elasticated waists that still hold a crease, and dresses that move. The color palette was warm: cream, taupe, rust, and olive. Nothing screamed. Everything convinced.
What to watch: Her transition from custom work to ready-to-wear. Nycole has built her reputation on one-off pieces for clients. This collection suggests she is ready to scale. The question is whether she has the operational capacity to fulfill wholesale orders.
Why she matters: She represents the Atlanta designer who does not need a gimmick. No viral moments. No celebrity drama. Just consistent, sellable clothes.
3. Wolé
Why he is on the list: Wolé has shown at AFW before, but his Fall 2025 show was the most talked-about of last season. The expectation for his Spring 2027 collection was high. He delivered.
The collection: Wolé is a menswear designer who does not think like one. His suiting is deconstructed—jackets without structured shoulders, trousers that pool slightly at the shoe, and shirts that are cut wide but not oversized. The new collection added a collaboration with a sneaker brand (name still under embargo). The footwear was the commercial hook, but the tailoring was the art.
What to watch: Whether the sneaker collaboration is a one-off or the beginning of a new category for the brand. If Wolé can sell sneakers, his addressable market doubles.
His quote (from a previous interview): "I am not designing for a man who wants to look like he is going to a wedding. I am designing for a man who wants to look like he is going to a studio session."
The Common Thread
Three very different designers. One common thread: none of them is waiting for permission.
Richards went to Paris because Paris found her work online. Nycole dressed an Emmy winner because her craftsmanship spoke for itself. Wolé landed a sneaker collaboration because his runway shows built enough noise to attract a partner.
That is the Atlanta advantage in three examples. The infrastructure is not fully built yet. The press attention is not where it needs to be. But the talent is already working at a national level.
We Will Follow Up
Atlanta Fashion Report will track these three designers beyond the week. We will report on their wholesale signings, their next collections, and whether any of them uses AFW momentum to land a New York or Paris slot.
For now, the headline is simple: Atlanta has more than three designers worth watching. But these three are the ones setting the pace.