Who: Jonathan Saunders
Backstory: Raised in industrial Glasgow, he studied at the city's School of Art in 1999 to gain a B.A. in printed textiles, before studying for an M.A. at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in 2002.
Mentors: One of his earliest gigs was designing prints for Alexander McQueen (spring/summer '03's bird-of-paradise design, if you must know).
Weapons of choice: Saturated hues coupled with truly innovative prints. These are combined with sporty touches, ultra-feminine silhouettes and just a hint of country-club primness.
Special power: It has to be the kaleidoscopic use of colour, with an insane ability to make the most improbable combinations look utterly awesome.
A-list army: His fan base is nothing if not eclectic: From Samantha Cameron, Kate Middleton, and Princess Beatrice to Ronnie Wood, Pixie Geldof, and even Dita Von Teese, this man fans transcend the usual stereotypes.
Awards and accolades: Scottish Fashion Designer of the Year at the Scottish Style Awards in 2005 and British Designer of the Year at the Elle Style Awards in 2008. To top is all off he was named 2012 BFC/Vogue Fashion Fund winner.
Got the goods? Clearly in for the long-haul, Saunders has slowly and steadily built a pretty impressive fashion empire. Last year, he added a menswear line, and he's also introduced pre-fall and resort to his repertoire. This designer has also shown that he can expand his reach thanks to collaborations with the likes of Debenhams, Target, and Topshop. Honestly, if this résumé doesn't impress François-Henri Pinault, we don't know what will.

Photos: Courtesy of Jonathan Saunders