MODELS TO WATCH for the Fall 2022 Season: The Freshmen and Some Returning Sophomores

“I look at it all through the models…

The boys who were always picked last in PE class … they are now the first (and only) choice for Fashion Week runways.” —Chad Thompson

For this third edition of “Models to Watch,” we resumed the conversation we started back in August 2021 with casting agents Chad Thompson from Communa-k (communa-k.com), and Maurilio T. Carnino of MTC Casting (mtccasting.com). Chad and Maurilio are among the fashion industry’s top casting agents in the US and Europe. Chad and Maurilio spoke with Fashion Reverie about the direction modeling is going in and who we need to be watching this season.

The topic of diversity was one of the first subjects we touched on. Both agents concur that brands are still going to embrace diversity going forward this season as the campaigns and shows they’ve been working on reflect this cultural shift. Maurilio points out that diversity is a way for designers to reach out to their customers.

Maurilio is following castings for the fall 2022 season in New York and Milan but is sitting the show season out. Instead, he has focused his energies on a campaign OTD (On This Day) for John Varvatos’ new brand for men and women. “The first is out and we just finished shooting the second one. It’s younger than the John Varvatos brand [presents]. John likes to use the term ‘unisex,’ which is more elegant, not gender-bending.”

This is right in line with the much talked about “new masculinity.” Models, celebrities, and kids on TikTok have adopted a gender fluid look that had a big moment when singer Machine Gun Kelly opened and closed the Dolce & Gabbana fall 2022 menswear show on January 15. Maurilio continues, “Vuitton was really pushing boundaries in that direction. It’s a moment where we want to explore everything in diversity; the customer wants to be represented.”

The women’s boards are also undergoing changes. Maurilio opines on what fashion is currently looking for from female models. “There isn’t a specific nationality that is in vogue now, what appeals is confidence. What makes for a perfect girl?  The measurements, yes, they are super important, but if the confidence is there, it overrides it. Models like Mica Arganaraz have it all.” The same goes for male models, such as Cherokee Jack who is 6’ even (two inches shy of the ideal runway height). Plus-size girls, he believes, should have their own platform if the designer is interested in making the clothes for them.

Chad has observed “new energy on the runways,” namely creativity with the outdoor location show venues like Proenza Schouler’s show at Little Island at Pier 55, and Rodarte’s show held in a West Village courtyard. Although most castings are still virtual due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Chad told Fashion Reverie, “Things are heating up again now that we have some live shows to look forward to in the coming weeks.” This season, he’s been doing more traveling to see models as clients are very much on board with seeing vaccinated talent, and in New York, most of the models are fully vaccinated. Los Angeles and Elite Toronto (now that the Canadian border has opened) are big feeder agencies for girls who come to New York. Maurizio also finds the castings to be a little more open than last season due to designers taking precautions. Fashion houses such as Gucci do COVID-19 testing before the castings even begin.

Yet another change is that the pace of a model’s career has also slowed down, a far cry from the frenzied pre-Pandemic pace when models needed to book a dozen top shows to have a successful season. Agents are employing a “velvet rope” method of growing a promising model’s career; the model only does a few select shows to avoid overexposure in the crucial first and second seasons. Tindi Mar (one of Chad’s models from last season) walked for Altuzarra in New York and Alberta Ferretti in Milan. This approach has led to some models having an extended “first season” of one year, rather than a mere six months. Consequently, Chad and Maurilio named some of the same models they had their eyes on in August. This is notable because, pre-Pandemic, many models didn’t survive more than one season. Maurilio concluded our conversation by remarking on Naomi Campbell, a model with seemingly endless longevity. “Naomi will never go away, being on the runway makes her feel alive. Maybe she will become the next Grace Coddington as Grace did—[transitioning] into a magazine editor.”

And now, meet our class of fall 2022 — the freshman with some returning sophomores mixed in.

THE WOMEN

India

Instagram: @india.sampson – 1.5k followers

NEXT Model Management

India Sampson just graduated from high school. She is an example of the success of the velvet rope approach agencies are using to cultivate a model’s career. Last season, she walked for the exclusive Tom Ford show. India was a model Chad suggested to photographers for test shoots. “Testing is a good tool to see who’s good and who’s popping. India came through on a test and her height is in the range.”

Aubrey

 

Instagram: @aubrey3rin – 1.4k followers

Wilhelmina

Aubrey Hill hails from West Virginia and began her career with long hair last year. Like models before her, a haircut helped propel her career forward, as it famously did for supermodel Carolyn Murphy in the 1990s when she cut her hair into a pixie for the Prada show and instantly became a supermodel.  After the New York shows, Aubrey walked in the high-profile Gucci Love Parade show on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles.

Aviana

Instagram: @avi_ously_ – 6.6k followers

Muse Management

Aviana McClish is an African American model whom Chad describes as recently having grown into herself. She has walked for Bibhu Mohapatra and Tom Ford and has the elegance of a young Sade.

Pricela

Instagram: @pricela.pj – 5.6k followers

Ethos Model Management

Chad saw Pricela Januario at a casting and soon after she worked with him and Greg Lauren in Los Angeles. She has also worked with Maison Martin Margiela. This Berlin-born and raised model has roots in Mozambique and is an emerging artist.

Mika Arganaraz

IG: @micarganaraz – 375k followers

DNA Models

Mika is Maurilio’s favorite female model.  “It is all personality with Mika.”  Though Mika has been on the scene for several years, Mika is still a favorite of fashion designers and brands.

This Argentinian beauty has swiftly risen to supernova star status and is ranked as an “Icon” on models.com. She has a multitude of campaigns in her credits including Zara and Chanel. Mica covers all the bases and has strong editorial runway credits such as a cover with Vogue Ukraine and ID Magazine. As for runway shows, Mika has walked for Chanel and Versace, to name just a few.

 

THE MEN

Cherokee Jack, returning Sophomore

IG: @itscherokeejack – 20.6k followers

Ford Models

Cherokee Jack is doing very well in the editorial sphere. Maurilio finds him to be an interesting case because although his 6’0” height limits his exposure for the runway, his hauntingly beautiful face makes him perfect for editorial work.

 

Hudson Primo

IG: @hudsonprimo – 2k followers

IMG

Chad is enthusiastic about newcomer, Hudson Primo Schaetzke, who has the prestigious Louis Vuitton virtual show under his belt. His other credits include the Helmut Lang look book. Although he’s young, Hudson’s face is notable as it already has character, despite his youth. Add his long hair and mustache, and the combination is arresting.

The Vuitton show that took place in Miami served as an incubator for a lot of other new male talent, namely Aashish Takur and Joshua Navarro, who both have the multicultural look and long hair the agents say clients are focused on this year.

 

Aashish

IG: @aashishrthakur – 1.1k followers

ONE Management

Aashish Takur is from India and has started off strong, also having done the Miami Louis Vuitton show.

 

Edem Oueslate

IG: @edem_oueslate –1.6k followers

Boom Models

Edem is a compelling mix of Turkish and Albanian parents and was born and raised in Italy. He’s shot the Louis Vuitton look book and has an exclusive agreement with Bottega Venetta.

 

Joshua Navarro

IG: @nastynavvs – 2.3k followers

Like Hudson and Aashish, Joshua has also walked the Louis Vuitton Miami show, and Gucci Love in Los Angeles. He did his first show in Milan, Philip Plein fall 2022, on January 15.

 

Niccolo Geuna, returning Sophomore

IG: @011.nico – 1.5k followers

Elite Milan

Niccolo was one of Maurizio’s selections from last season who has done very well since then.

The handsome seventeen-year-old did Sandro in Paris and Jil Sander (he had the third look before the finale look), and Vogue Portugal. He continues to be requested and will come to New York for the summer for editorials and advertising work.

—Vivian Kelly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image credits

• india-sampson.jpg — Editorial image.
• aubrey-02.png — Credit/source: Instagram.
• aviana-mcclish-onemanagement.jpeg — Credit/source: One Management.
• pricela-januario.jpg — Credit/source: Instagram.
• mika-arganaraz.jpg — Editorial image.
• cherokee-jack.jpg — Editorial image.
• hudson.jpg — Editorial image.
• aishish-amiri.jpg — Editorial image.
• models-to-watch-for-the-fall-2022.jpg — Editorial image.
• joshua-navarro.jpg — Editorial image.
• niccolo-geuna.jpg — Editorial image.
• models-to-watch-for-fall-2022-season.jpg — Editorial image.