Meet the 50 Racked Young Guns Semi-Finalists for 2013

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Things that were discovered when sorting through hundreds of noms for our first-annual Racked Young Guns competition: There are, obviously, a ton of people doing amazing and creative things all over the country; the field of jewelry design is hugely competitive; and Man Repeller, name-checked constantly in applications, has become a legitimate advocate for up-and-coming designers.

As previously disclosed, Racked Young Guns aims to identify and highlight the most promising emerging talent in the industry of fashion and design. The criteria for inclusion: talent must be 35 years of age or younger or behind a brand that's been around for two years or less. Aiding in this quest is a selection committee of 30 industry experts (viewable here) whose feedback weighed heavily in the formation of this list, as did the opinions of local Racked editors.

Some of these names will prove familiar; many may be relative unknowns. Aside from youth, what binds them together is talent as discovered and championed by their peers and elders in the industry.

The 50 Racked Young Guns Semi-Finalists for 2013

1. Alasdair: April Johnson
2. Anndra Neen: Phoebe and Annette Stephens
3. Apiece Apart: Laura Cramer and Starr Hout
4. Babe: Colleen Keller
5. Beatrice Valenzuela: Beatrice Valenzuela
6. Building Block: Kimberly and Nancy Wu
7. Carleen: Kelsy Parkhouse
8. Chromat: Becca McCharen
9. Cold Picnic: Phoebe Sung and Peter Buer
10. DEGEN: Lindsay Degen
11. Dusen Dusen: Ellen Van Dusen
12. Edie Parker: Brett Heyman
13. Elizabeth Knight Jewelry: Elizabeth Thompson
14. Erin Considine: Erin Considine
15. Fay Andrada: Fay Andrada
16. FR?DA SALVADOR: Cristina Palomo-Nelson and Megan Papay
17. Gigi Burris: Gigi Burris
18. Grey City: Vikki Andrews and Kyle Grant
19. Houghton: Katharine Polk
20. Howes & Baum: Matt Baumgartner and Craig Howes
21. Jack Henry New York : Lauren Giambalvo
22. Jill Aiko Yee: Jill Aiko Yee
23. Kaelen: Kaelen Haworth
24. Karolina Zmarlak: Karolina Zmarlak
25. Katie Ermilio: Katie Ermilio
26. Katie Gallagher: Katie Gallagher
27. Khai Khai: Haim Medine
28. Khoi Le: Khoi Le
29. Lindsey Thornburg: Lindsey Thornburg
30. Lizzie Fortunato: Elizabeth and Kathryn Fortunato
31. Marissa Webb: Marissa Webb
32. Minimale Animale: Cassandra Kellogg
33. Mociun: Caitlin Mociun
34. Nomia: Yara Flinn
35. Novis: Jordana Warmflash
36. Obesity & Speed: Lyz Olko
37. Orley: Matthew Orley, Alex Orley and Samantha Florence
38. Remi Canarie: Liz Patelski and Lisa Rigney
39. RHIÉ: Rie Yamagata
40. Richards: Sarah Leslie Richards
41. Ryan Roche: Ryan Roche
42. Sally LaPointe: Sally LaPointe
43. Sheila Frank: Sheila Frank
44. Tiffany Kunz: Tiffany Kunz
45. The 2 Bandits: Tamar Wider
46. UNIF: Eric Espinoza and Christine Lai
47. Venessa Arizaga: Venessa Arizaga
48. Wanderluster: Rammy Park
49. Wes Gordon: Wes Gordon
50. WXYZ Jewelry: Laura Wass

· Meet the Official Racked Young Guns Selection Committee [Racked]
· All Young Guns Coverage [Racked]