Men’s fashion week may be in full swing, but you don’t need to look to next
season to find a swath of up and coming brands. As the menswear
collections respond to the desire for truly wearable items, there are
plenty of new brands who’s beautifully executed and luxury workwear come to
the fore.
Thoughtfully designed details and weighty fabrics contribute to these
collections, feeling expensive and far from throw-away fashion. These are
investment pieces for a new generation.
A common theme among these brands is their minimal use of graphic prints
and branding. This means that fabrics are the key interest in these ranges.
The upscale brother of Carhartt’s WIP brand, Over All Master Cloth is
designed in Paris and developed in Milan. OAMC is about what’s culturally
relevant now, with workwear elevated to premium status via beautiful
fabrics and specially developed Loro Piana fabrics ensuring a luxe message.
The collection is already stocked at End Clothing in the UK and Barney’s in
the US.
Hailing from New Zealand but fast becoming truly international, I Love Ugly
continues to attract attention thanks to Valentin Ozich’s ambitious vision
for the streetwear brand and its interesting campaigns. Sharp product
messages with well-conceived graphic prints are key to the brand’s growth.
Riffing on subversive grunge and punk themes while referencing Vivienne
Westwood and Raf Simons, Shane Gonzales’ US streetwear label is amassing a
cult following. Continuing to think big, the designer’s ambition to put on
a catwalk show demonstrates his vision for the brand.
Awarded Best Menswear Designer in America by GQ in 2010, Stampd’s
‘avantstreet’ brand ethos touches on iconic styling cues executed in
premium fabrics and finishes. A neatly curated lifestyle offer and
collaboration with Puma have helped create a well-rounded, credible brand
to be reckoned with.