Womenswear designer LaQuan Smith is a juggernaut in the fashion world. He’s making a name for himself, displaying a daring looks that reflect a “refined approach to classic tailoring”

He can even make tweed look cool! “I found these awesome, incredible, sick tweeds from Italy and I wanted to experiment with them,” he tells Fashionista.

Find out what three most important things you need to know about LaQuan Smith right now.

His Fabulous Designs Are Inspired By Bold Women (And Powerhouse Celebs)

From Kim Kardashian wearing a yellow ochre sweater dress, or Rihanna wearing a long, mesh frock, LaQuan Smith’s designs are in your daily news feed whether you like it or not.

“I think that’s the world we live in today — everything is truly driven by celebrities, social media, the ‘popular’ girls of the world, and the influence they have on the world, especially women and young girls,” Smith tells Refinery 29.

“And, despite what anyone might think about these celebrities, or about the Kardashians, they are truly influential in our society right now.” He continues: “Whatever they do and wear, their fan base is genuinely interested.” Smith adds “and I think that, at least for the LaQuan Smith brand and clientele, that they buy things from us because it feels authentic to them — it doesn’t feel forced, or like I’m trying to fit in. They buy it because they genuinely like it.”

He Battled Cancer At 17, All While Embarking On A Fashion Career

The Queens-native inherited his grandmother’s Singer sewing machine at age 13, igniting his “passion for fashion and design.” But after being diagnosed with cancer  at 17, Smith pressed forward with his career goals. He is now cancer free.

“He’ll stay in [his room] all day and all through the night,” Smith’s 65-year-old grandmother told New York Daily News regarding his design routine.

“I would be making fab dresses with Walmart fabrics,” he’s said, adding, “It was all I had. I didn’t have the Garment District.”

LaQuan Is All About Accentuating Curves

“I enjoy the curves of a woman’s body—it’s the ultimate inspiration,” Smith tells Vogue. “I like to think of my brand as a celebration of a woman’s form. Without curves, there would be no sex appeal.”

Jacqueline Colette Prosper, yummicoco.com

All Photos: Erin Yamagata