There are designers who follow trends, and then there are designers who create entire worlds. Mowalola Ogunlesi definitely falls into the latter category, with a brand famous for its bold, boundary-pushing, and unapologetically experimental designs.
Mowalola combines streetwear grit with high-concept art, serving up striking silhouettes, provocative prints, and innovative materials. If you love fashion that makes a statement, challenges norms, and feels like wearable art, you're in the right place. Here are 18 other brands that capture a similar avant-garde spirit.
Known as the master of dark, dystopian chic, Rick Owens blends a minimalist aesthetic with gothic, avant-garde silhouettes. Think draped fabrics, elongated shapes, asymmetrical cuts, and a mostly monochrome palette. His clothing and iconic footwear create a powerful visual statement that is both luxurious and edgy.
While Mowalola brings a provocative, colorful rebellion, Rick Owens offers a more subdued, minimalistic version of boundary-pushing fashion. If you love dark, artistic pieces with a high-concept feel, Owens captures that same spirit in a more sculptural, refined way. You get all the edge without the bold graphics.
Shop now at rickowens.eu
From Yoon Ahn, AMBUSH started as an experimental jewelry line before expanding into incredible ready-to-wear collections. The brand is known for mixing utilitarian, futuristic, and rebellious elements, seen in its oversized chains, geometric shapes, and unexpected details. It has a gritty yet luxe vibe perfect for true fashion risk-takers.
While Mowalola's focus is on daring clothing silhouettes, AMBUSH channels a similar avant-garde energy through both statement apparel and killer accessories. Both brands are favorites among a young, creative crowd that wants to break style rules.
Shop now at ambushdesign.com
Get ready for a dose of vibrant, theatrical, punk-inspired fashion. Charles Jeffrey's label, Loverboy, is an explosion of bold prints, exaggerated silhouettes, and a brilliantly fearless color palette. This is where you find oversized, paint-splattered blazers, dramatic ruffled tops, and patterns that will never let you blend in.
Compared to Mowalola's sexy, gritty edge, Loverboy leans into a more flamboyant, almost carnival-like chaos. However, both brands share a deep love for disruptive, statement-making fashion that lets you express your individuality loud and proud.
Shop now at charlesjeffrey.com
Pyer Moss is where high fashion and social commentary collide to create pieces that are profoundly conceptual yet incredibly wearable. Designer Kerby Jean-Raymond is known for bold graphics, sculptural shapes, and a use of color and texture that tells a story. Each collection is rooted in exploring identity, culture, and activism.
While equally committed to making a bold statement, Pyer Moss's work is often more rooted in a specific social narrative than Mowalola's more abstract rebellion. If you want your clothes to not just look amazing, but also say something important, Pyer Moss is essential.
Shop now at pyermoss.com
A true master of avant-garde design, Yohji Yamamoto is celebrated for his oversized, deconstructed silhouettes and a philosophy centered around the color black. His designs have a poetic, sculptural beauty that challenges traditional ideas of form, often creating voluminous shapes that drape and move in fascinating ways.
Unlike Mowalola’s provocative, often-colorful graphics, Yohji’s aesthetic is more intellectual, conceptual, and rooted in a quiet rebellion. Both appeal to those who see artistry and emotion in fashion and appreciate a silhouette that breaks from the norm.
Shop now at yohjiyamamoto.co.jp
British designer Craig Green is celebrated for his conceptual, almost utilitarian take on high fashion. Often featuring layers, padding, and structural strapping that resembles modern armor or kites, his pieces are as much sculptural art as they are clothing. The look is both protective and deeply emotional.
Where Mowalola’s designs are often provocative and sexy, Green’s are more intellectual and structural. Both designers, however, are adored by an avant-garde crowd that sees clothing's potential to be so much more than just protection from the elements.
Shop now at craiggreen.com
Bethany Williams beautifully marries high-concept fashion with a powerful commitment to sustainability and social change. She creates bold, oversized pieces from recycled and unconventional materials, working with community projects to produce her collections. Her style features layered textures and a streetwear lean, but with a deeply conscious core.
While sharing a love for innovative, boundary-pushing design, Bethany Williams’ approach is rooted in an environmental and inclusive mission that sets her apart. It's statement fashion you can feel good about on every level.
Shop now at bethany-williams.com
Lutz Huelle excels at avant-garde, sculptural pieces centered around unique cuts and interesting deconstruction. The brand is known for taking familiar items, like bomber jackets or denim, and reimagining them with architectural shapes and dramatic details, creating a vibe that feels both futuristic and artistic.
While Mowalola leans into provocative streetwear, Huelle's aesthetic is more oriented toward high-concept, experimental tailoring. It's the perfect brand for someone who wants to stand out with a sophisticated but totally unconventional silhouette.
Shop now at lutzhuelle.com
Recognizable by her iconic crescent moon print, Marine Serre offers futuristic, eco-conscious fashion that brilliantly merges sportswear, couture, and streetwear. She is a pioneer of upcycling, transforming everyday materials into highly coveted, innovative pieces with a unique, sci-fi-inflected aesthetic.
Both Mowalola and Marine Serre are pushing fashion into the future on their own terms. Mowalola does it with a provocative, graphic edge, while Serre does it with her signature prints and a sustainable vision. Both are go-to brands for trendsetters who want unique, forward-thinking designs.
Shop now at marineserre.com
London designer Martine Rose is a master of subverting classic menswear tropes, renowned for her oversized, rebellious streetwear with a distinctly luxe feel. Her collections are filled with bold silhouettes, unexpected fabric combinations, and an effortlessly cool attitude influenced by subcultures.
Compared to Mowalola, Rose’s style is more grounded in the reality of streetwear while still being highly conceptual. They share a passion for playing with proportions and creating unconventional, statement-making pieces that feel both familiar and entirely new.
Shop now at martine-rose.com
Koché expertly fuses the techniques of haute couture with the energy of streetwear. Designer Christelle Kocher is known for using intricate embroidery, bold prints, and rich textural layers to create pieces that are athletically inclined but exquisitely detailed. The vibe is rebellious but incredibly refined.
If Mowalola represents raw, unapologetic edge, Koché is a more polished but equally artistic take on avant-garde style. It's the perfect choice when you crave experimental design with the delicate touch of couture craftsmanship.
Shop now at koche.fr
The work of Fausto Puglisi is a masterclass in maximalism. His designs are all about bold prints (especially animal prints), vibrant colors, and daringly sexy cuts that demand to be noticed. With intricate embellishments and a rock-and-roll glam edge, his clothes are made for the spotlight.
While Mowalola has a gritty, urban feel, Puglisi's aesthetic is more about high-octane, unapologetic glamour. What they share is a core belief in statement pieces that are fearless, eye-catching, and a challenge to conventional taste.
Shop now at faustopuglisi.com
Often considered more of a conceptual artist than a fashion designer, Hussein Chalayan uses clothing as a medium to explore ideas around technology, transformation, and identity. His collections feature highly innovative textiles, modular garments, and sculptural forms that are often breathtaking in their creativity.
Mowalola’s rebellion is visceral and street-level, whereas Chalayan’s is more cerebral and intellectual. Both designers, however, are absolutely essential for anyone who believes fashion’s highest purpose is to be an art form.
Shop now at husseinchalayan.com
Gareth Pugh delivers a dark, fantastical, and highly theatrical version of avant-garde fashion. He's famous for using sculptural shapes, slick metallic fabrics, and undeniably dramatic silhouettes that feel like they belong in a futuristic film or on stage. His pieces aren't just clothes, they are wearable art meant to challenge perception.
Both Mowalola and Pugh elevate fashion into the realm of performance. Mowalola brings a sexy, street-cast energy, while Pugh creates high-concept, gothic sculptures for the body. The shared vibe is an uncompromising artistic vision.
Shop now at garethpugh.com
Helmed by Glenn Martens, Y/Project is famous for its deconstructed, multi-layered, and often gender-fluid designs that combine historical references with a modern streetwear attitude. The silhouettes are often wildly experimental, featuring extra-long sleeves, twisted seams, and unexpected fabric manipulations.
While Mowalola's boldness is often delivered through a direct, provocative graphic or cut, Y/Project's experimentation is in the complex construction of the garments themselves. It's another flavor of edgy, avant-garde style that seriously pushes the envelope.
Shop now at yproject.fr
Offering a more polished and elevated take on experimental fashion, Lafayette 148 is known for its incredible craftsmanship, modern tailoring, and innovative use of fabrics. While known for luxe staples, the brand consistently offers artfully printed pieces and unique silhouettes that feel both thoughtful and bold.
Compared to Mowalola's raw energy, Lafayette 148 is more refined and understated. It's the perfect brand for someone who loves Mowalola’s artistic spirit but wants to incorporate it into a sophisticated, modern wardrobe.
Shop now at lafayette148.com
Founded by Matthew M. Williams, 1017 ALYX 9SM blends luxury with a sleek, industrial, and utilitarian aesthetic. The brand is instantly recognizable by its signature hardware - like the rollercoaster buckle - and its polished integration of high-fashion construction with edgy, functional design and graphics.
Alyx shares Mowalola's love for disrupting streetwear with bold, statement-making details. Where Mowalola brings the playful provocation, Alyx delivers a slick, industrial-strength edge that's just as impactful.
Shop now at alyxstudio.com
Canadian designer Vejas Kruszewski is celebrated for his highly experimental and thoughtful approach to fashion. Relaunched as "Vejas Fall/Winter" the brand incorporates deconstructed garments, innovative layering, and a conscious approach to materials, often with a conceptual, art-world narrative behind the collections.
Like Mowalola, Vejas appeals to a fashion crowd that craves authenticity and an escape from the conventional. Vejas delivers this through a conceptual, eco-conscious lens, while Mowalola hits it with a provocative, bold rebellion.
Shop now at vejasfw.com
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