COURTESY

To lead or not to lead? That is the question that Net-a-Porter set out to answer when it launched the Vanguard, a program for dawning designers who receive mentorship from and have their labels stocked by the e-commerce site. In the Vanguard's third season, Net-a-Porter has announced the four new brands it plans to catapult into the fashion limelight in the upcoming fall/winter season. For the first time since the program's genesis, the site scouted for new Vanguard representatives through Instagram, sifting through the endless cache of online brands by focusing on sustainability.

The fruit of its foraging? We introduce to you Le 17 Septembre, BITE Studios, The Sant, and Naturae Sacra.

"Over the past two seasons, we have loved witnessing the positive effect the Vanguard mentorship program has on these emerging brands. It's so important for us to be able to share our insight in a meaningful way and aim towards a shared goal of long-lasting success," said Elizabeth von der Goltz, the site's global buying director, in a press release. "One year after launch, we are thrilled to announce the next wave of exciting new designers who all offer something completely unique to the market."