Designer Leaf Landed Collaboration With KidSuper

The 13-year-old designer secured a partnership with KidSuper and Slawn ahead of ComplexCon in Los Angeles.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Fashion

Designer Leaf Landed Collaboration With KidSuper

Live Poll

Should established brands actively collaborate with and support young local independent designers?

Thirteen-year-old designer Leaf has landed a high-profile collaboration with KidSuper and artist Slawn. The project features a custom t-shirt designed by Leaf and follows the young creator’s successful effort to secure a booth at ComplexCon 2026.

Why it matters

This partnership highlights a rising interest in youth-driven fashion design and direct-to-industry engagement. By leveraging a handwritten letter to reach decision-makers, the designer has bridged the gap from an aspiring student to a featured creator at a major streetwear event.

Leaf is 13 years old and will showcase his work at a booth during the two-day ComplexCon event. The collaboration centers on a t-shirt featuring his original designs.

The players

Leaf

Leaf is a 13-year-old fashion designer who secured a collaboration after writing a letter to Complex.

KidSuper

KidSuper is a creative brand and artist collective known for its vibrant and collaborative streetwear designs.

Slawn

Slawn is an artist who is partnering with KidSuper and Leaf for the upcoming design collaboration.

Complex

Complex is a global media platform that covers youth culture, music, and fashion trends.

The details

Leaf caught the attention of the industry by sending a handwritten letter to the editorial team at Complex expressing his passion for fashion. His persistence led to a booth space at the upcoming event, where KidSuper surprised him with the news of the collaborative partnership.

ComplexCon takes place in Los Angeles on October 3 and 4, 2026.

Culture Shift

This move reflects the fashion industry's growing reliance on 'prodigy' collaborations to maintain relevance with younger demographics. Such partnerships shift the creative power balance away from legacy institutions toward individual social-media-savvy youth creators.

Attendees at the upcoming Los Angeles event can expect to view and potentially purchase the new apparel during the two-day showcase. The collaboration serves as a practical example for young aspiring designers on how to utilize direct correspondence to access professional fashion networks.

The takeaway

Leaf demonstrates that direct, personalized outreach remains a viable strategy for breaking into competitive creative fields. Aspiring designers should focus on creating original work that can clearly showcase their unique artistic vision to potential partners.