Inside New Wave's Community-Led Top 50 Celebration, Closing the Year at Known Source

New Wave’s Top 50 Creatives event culminated a fitting close to our campaign for the year, bringing our community together in celebration at Known Source in Mayfair. The space has become a quiet cornerstone of London’s cultural calendar, hosting a range of creative gatherings throughout the year, particularly within the vintage fashion subculture. Its walls have seen designers, collectors, stylists, and storytellers converge, making it a natural home for an event rooted in recognising culture-makers. As the final activation of the year for the space, the evening carried a sense of both reflection and anticipation, a full-circle moment for everyone involved.

Photography by Victoria Soy

The event welcomed an inspiring mix of guests from the New Wave private community alongside nominees and finalists from this year’s Top 50 list. Creatives across disciplines filled the room with artists, musicians, models, directors, photographers, researchers, and cultural practitioners, all connected by a shared commitment to craft and community. The atmosphere was warm and intentional, setting the tone for an evening that prioritised conversation, recognition, and genuine connection over spectacle.

The first of two panel discussions opened the programme, offering an inside look at the inner workings of New Wave itself. Featuring Editor-in-Chief Derrick Odafi, Music Editor Shenead Poroosotum, and Deputy Fashion Editor Leah Fan, the conversation unpacked highlights from the year, hosted by Johannes Agboifo. From landmark stories to community-led moments. Central to the discussion was New Wave’s ongoing focus on quality over quantity, and the importance of building platforms that centre people rather than trends. The panel also reaffirmed the purpose of the Top 50 campaign as a living archive of creative impact and cultural contribution.

Photography by Victoria Soy

After a brief interval, the second panel brought the spotlight to three finalists from this year’s list, consisting of brilliant talents such as Casting Director Marvellous Ellyone Fayose, Researcher and Cultural Practitioner Maia Ardalla, and Chef / Interdisciplinary Artist Chick Achike. Hosted by Elisheba, the discussion explored each panelist’s experiences over the past year, moments of growth shaped by their creative passions, and the goals that continue to drive their work forward. The panel offered rare insight into the day-to-day realities of their respective practices, from research and casting to food as artistic expression, grounding their achievements in process, persistence, and care.

Photography by Gravis & Victoria Soy

The room remained full and attentive throughout, with guests listening intently before flowing naturally into conversation with one another afterwards. There was a palpable sense of exchange in the building. Many ideas were shared, introductions made, and connections formed across disciplines. It was a reminder that community is not just something New Wave documents, but something we actively nurtures through shared space and dialogue. As the evening transitioned into a mixer, celebration took centre stage. Nominees from this year’s 7-day voting process who gathered the most votes were gifted on-site, recognising the support and enthusiasm of their communities. Model Bianca Kei, Movement Director Liam John, and Interdisciplinary Artist Teddy Opong received gifts from Dr. Martens, Neutrogena, True Religion, alongside Fenty Skin Lip Oils and TIRTIR Milk Toners, adding to the sense of collective recognition and joy in the room. Additional recipients included talents such as Odeal, DJ EJ, and Chelsea Uchenna as some of the top 10 most voted talents during the campaign.

Photography by Victoria Soy & Gravis

Ultimately, the Top 50 Creatives event stood as a joyful and celebratory way to close not only the campaign, but the year as a whole. It was an evening rooted in gratitude for the community that continues to show up, for the creatives shaping culture in their own lanes, and for the relationships that grow when people are given space to connect. As conversations lingered late into the night, the energy carried forward a shared sense of hope and inspiration, setting the tone for new endeavours, collaborative efforts, and creative milestones in the year ahead.

See the full 2025 Top 50 list HERE