Forget speculation—L'Officiel USA asked five of this year's most exciting designers to give us a little insight into their mindsets; from their design processes and how they unwind after NYFW, to the one thing they wish they’d known before they started their brands.

After splitting ways with co-founder Michelle Ochs in February, Carly Cushnie has made sure that her first collection was a personal one, celebrating easy living and saluting her Jamaican roots.