Chris Peters and Shane Gabier, Creatures of the Wind, Swarovski Award for Womenswear

The duo named their brand after a lyric in the Johnny Mathis hit “Wild Is the Wind” which has been covered by everyone from Cat Power to Nina Simone to David Bowie. Their pieces have proven to be just as popular as the tune, with their first collection garnering a WWD cover and a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund nomination last year. Gabier was formerly the assistant to boutique owner Ikram Goldman; he and Peters met at The Art Institute of Chicago, where the former was a professor and the latter, a student. Creatures of the Wind has also dipped its toe into accessories, collaborating on shoes with fellow CFDA nominee Tabitha Simmons.

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