acne jeans
founded in stockholm 1996, acne’s ambition was to create and develop their own products as well as helping other people to build their brands. this ambition led to numerous assignments in advertising, graphic design, internet games and tv production. as a part of the creative collective acne, acne jeans started in 1997 when the company designed 100 pairs of jeans distributed to friends, family and clients. soon, several stores and boutiques wanted to carry the line, much to do with the characteristic bright-red stitching on raw denim. in 2003 the company opened their first acne jeans studio in central Stockholm. the second studio opened in copenhagen in december the following year. acne is today recognized internationally as a creative collective, unique for its corporate diversity such as fashion design, graphic design, film production and advertising, as well as product, business and concept development.
alexander wang: the parsons graduate is just one of those designers who hit the ground running. at 18 he moved from san francisco to new york city to attend school. His sophomore year he was already designing his first collection. by 2007 wang launched his full womenswear collection and was received by national acclaim. In 2009 he was chosen as the winner of the 2009 vogue/cfda fashion fund award for emerging designers. wang’s objective has always been to keep one’s originality and breaking the idea of the predictable uniform. “a t-shirt and jeans can be just as stylish as an evening gown”
all black
aall black designer colin lin has an awareness of the environment, which becomes evident in her use of innovative materials that compliment today’s casual but fashion forward style. she uses dramatic yet soft color tones, combining the newness of today with a touch of the past. since introduced to the north American market in 2006 colin lin’s shoes has become a great alternative for the environmentally friendly. all black use materials such as newspapers, traditional leather, but also feature eel skin, snakeskin and a break through use of fish skins.
andrew harmon
designer andrew harmon is a native of new jersey. having always been interested in art, he studied sculpture at the massachusetts college of art. andrew has worked for susan cianciolo, betsey johnson, and then miguel adrover. he launched harmon in 2003 and since has become a part of the downtown new york art and fashion landscape. recently adding denim to his collection, andrew is doing true seventies with an 11” rise. a combination of elegant form and retro content have become the harmon signature.
april 77 records
bric partouche, founder of april 77, rather calls himself a “youth culture nerd” instead of a fashion designer. due to his passion for early punk and new wave bands such as the ramones and joy division he decided to design a collection of jeans inspired by his idols. for each style he created he namned them after one of his rock’n’roll heoros, one style is for example called “joey” after joey ramones. additionally, partouche has added the smart and fun detail of an April 77 branded guitar pick neatly placed in a dedicated “pick pocket”. partouche’s passion for anything to do with music-influenced style also spills over into his genius cross-marketing effort april 77 records, where new and up and coming bands get a chance to make their mark on the scene.
band of outsiders:
from his carefully curated brand website made of washed-out polaroids, to his nonchalant (albeit beautiful) presentations during fashion week, scott sternberg, has a counter-culture vision in mind. his brand, band of outsiders, calls up the boyish suiting (his women’s line is named boyy) that reminds us of that era in paris when drink-swilling authors like hemingway and fitzgerald banded together in disheveled, gentlemanly attire and did what they wanted without apprehension.
bed|stü
the shoe brand bed|stü’s philosophy is not about where you came from, it’s about where you’ve decided to go. since the start the brand’s purpose was to create a footwear line inspired by the tough and resilient streets in bed stuy, brooklyn, hence the name bed|stü. fundamentally based in nature with a thorough understanding of craftsmanship and endurance, bed|stü footwear is handcrafted of the finest materials available.
b. son
this upstart label from san francisco is a design collaboration between rebecca beeson and brandon scott. It includes understated, yet elegant and sophisticated basics. these affordable designs are heavily inspired by japanese fashion magazines. designer brandon scott said he began designing because he couldn’t afford the clothes he wanted. when asked what he would be doing if he wasn’t designing clothes, he simply said, “selling it.”
carlos falchi
carlos falchi began designing unconventional clothing and bags for himself and his musician friends. soon miles davis, elvis presley and mick jagger began wearing his leather designs on stage. Falchi has with his distinctive way of designing remained relevant and competitive for over 37 years. the 1983 Coty Award winner and CFDA award nominee in 2004 and 2006 has been an influence to the handbag market since 1980 when women’s wear daily stated that his Buffalo Satchel was “the most copied bag in the industry”. today his handbags and accessories can been seen as compliment to the runway creations of designers such as donna karan, catherine malandrino, vera wang, ralph rucci and bill blass.
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“I feel that I should have been a fortune teller, because my job is to predict the future. So, my focus first is colors and materials, mixing style and shapes. With that in mind, I embark on a great adventure in design. Trips to the museums and to Central Park are required to soak up all those beautiful colors, textures and nature; then I come home, get the water colors and the trip begins”
chrishabana
named after its free-spirited Brooklyn based designer, chris habana, the contemporary jewelry brand is famous for its playful yet subversive pieces. habana takes inspiration from everything such as pop icons, cartoon characters, occult imagery, pornography, victorian charm, hippie culture, raves, rock anthems, love songs and poetry. habana has developed his own style with his original unisex pieces. dark, gothic elements – from asteroids, drowning girls and the “fly trap” – to geometric shapes, shocking colors.
chronicles of never
sydney-based designer gareth moody was first known for being a founder of the brand tsubi. after six years with the company, moody made the decision to go solo and created his brand chronicles of never, which includes men and women’s clothing, footwear, and accessories. sleek, clean, and attention-grabbing, the brand is influenced by mathematics, architecture, and geometrics, yet moody reveals his inspiration is more expansive than that, coming from “everything and everyone.” moody’s use of industrial materials and his dream-like inspiration in designing contribute to the uniqueness of his avant-garde brand. by ignoring the traditional rules of fashion design, chronicles of never establishes itself as a leader in the fashion industry.
clu
inspired by the lax west coast lifestyle, clu candidly personifies the ease and breeze with jersey and woven separates in a truly unique manner. founded in 2004 the line centers around deconstructed silhouettes and feminine shapes for perfect wardrobe staples that are far from everyday.
commes des garcon: founded (and still solely owned) by rei kawakubo in the 1970’s, commes des garcon, in its many incarnations (there are approximately twenty divisions to be made), is brand synonymous with nonconformist attitudes and experimental ideas. commes des garcon is responsible for many of fashion’s most shocking and intellectual moments and this spirit is carried from guerilla pop-up, to perfume, to overcoat, in subtle and interdependent ways.
complex geometries
this montreal based brand is making a huge impact on the fashion forward woman and man. Pieces are multi-faceted and made to be worn several different ways proving that complex isn’t always a bad thing
corpus
though jerrod cornish and keith richardson live in los angeles, there clothing line, corpus, isn’t without a feeling of east coast conserve. in their collections, crisp collared shirts and neat suiting is occasionally punctuated by an unconventional print or denim wash. never is their clothing hurried, never is it unwise. noticing a lack of mid-range options for men that didn’t fall under the umbrella of street wear, back in 2003, the pair decided they had something to say. now, having launched women’s line and expanded their business to a wide range of consumers, it’s clear that corpus is cognizant of its importance, and moving confidently forward each season.
dunderdon
dunderdon was established in 1997 in the Swedish port city Gothenburg by per-ivan hagberg. as a former carpenter, hagberg felt the need to create workwear that had superior construction and smart design. it started with a small line of pants which became to be the standard clothing for swedish artistans, builders and craftsmen. eventually, dunderdon developed into a clothing brand with a full collection of clothing for working women and men. the collection included different stylistic highlights and styles, which were individualistic and distinct but also clearly part of one related family. like from the start, dunderdon designs every article of clothing with a purpose and has seamlessly integrated both form and function.
dunlin
with a distinctly urban aesthetic and penchant for unisex design, shiho nagashima and ramana goldstein set about forming their handbag line, dunlin, back in 2006. their design sense rightly pivots on the space that a handbag does or does not inhabit, rather than on its superficial form. the signature qualities of a dunlin bag, therefore, are the folding and expanding compartments that are as functional as they are discreet. using traditional artisian techniques, a muted color palate, and luxurious leathers, dunlin bags have become a thoughtful response to the ever-growing culture of ‘it’ bags and their mass-produced likenesses.
double identity
double identity is a uk-based sneaker brand that uses high quality durable materials, lightweight rubber soles and stitch paneling construction. taking inspiration from vivienne westwood and post punk era and the lace-free design, double identity sneakers truly manages differentiates themselves in the sneaker market. additionally, the sneakers are made out of mix of fur, suede and leather.
fifth avenue shoe repair
this swedish men’s and women’s clothing label, founded by astrid olsson and lee cotter in 2004, has since the start been dedicated to the craft of tailoring, focusing on construction, cutting, and fabrics. while grounded by basic, well-made pieces in neutral colors, fifth avenue shoe repair is known as one of the more avant-garde scandinavian labels. deconstruction is a recurring theme, as is the use of elegant, mathematical curves and shapes.
fremont
designer trio devin carlson, brittany pham, and jessica loria teamed up to create fremont, a brand inspired by the luxurious lifestyles evident in the late 1960s and early 1970s. the brand derives its name from fremont street in las vegas, which at the time was a hollywood playground filled with stars. defined by over-the-top pool parties, martini brunches, and the fabulous resort experience, the life of excess was embraced at this time and place. this is the feeling that fremont is trying to recreate in their brand: the freedom to live luxuriously. their designs reflect their attitude as well, offering almost an escape from reality, a vacation.
f-troupe
british based f-troupe has finally made the trip across the ocean to provide america with it’s line of quirky and imaginative line for men’s and women’s footwear. fun, fashion forward and surprisingly affordable this line is bound to capture the hearts and feet of everyone.
general idea
with a mix of avant-garde and preppy, the korean brand general idea creates styles that manages to remain wearable. general idea’s collection is influenced by military wear with bold colors and powerful patterns.
gestuz
gestuz is a danish based company that launched in 2008 and have since then aimed to create high level designs with a femininity. with inspirations such as patti smith and marilyn monroe gestuz collections consist sculptural, melancholy silhouette, in which raw power goes hand in hand with a delicate touch.
giles & brother
new york based giles & brother is a diffusion jewelry line, created by brother and sister philip and courtney, featuring seasonal collections of costume and sterling silver. the jewelry line consists innovative craftsmanship with rhinestones, vintage beads, and sterling, blackened silver, and vermeil.
gitman bros. vintage
established in 1978 Gitman with a tribute to well-made American sportswear, the design team has begun their own interpretation of the past by recreating vintage fabrics and fusing retro details like double-track stitching, chalk buttons and locker loops.
h by Hudson
h by Hudson: the errant younger brother of London based Hudson shoes. heavily influenced by past and present youth culture and music, the collection picks up trends and gives them their own idiosyncratic twists.
henrik vibskov
henrik Vibskov, danish born, grown up in the middle of the countryside of jutland, denmark. creative in visual art, music and fashion from his base in copenhagen. he graduated from central saint martins college of art and design, london, well known for graduating the world’s most talented designers and artist. after graduating, vibskov courted acclaim by a host of style and modern culture magazines around the globe like the face, brutus (japan), dazed and confused, i-d, wallpaper, purple, selfservice, numero, vogue plus many more etc. (portraits, editorials, interviews and photos). he has been exposed in the english newspapers the guardian, the independent, the times, the japanese newspaper senken and hit the front page of the major danish newspaper politikken.
hellz
hellz launched in new york 2005 with an aim to reintroduce strength, individuality, and sexual empowerment to every type of women. with attention to details, use of color and emphasis on form, function and durability in addition to the powerful, independent, fashion savvy female philosophy, hellz culminates in a refreshing take on modern fashion.
hortensia
hortensia was founded by three generations of french women raised in peru with love for knitting. hortensia is entirely handmade in peru by skilled knitters, lifelong craftswomen, who collaborate on a design by suggesting a stitch, an embroidery or a special crochet finish. It’s hip and sophisticated, with infusions of traditional peruvian knitting techniques.
hyden yoo: wanting to eliminate that eponymous ‘after-hours’ look where men in suiting un-tuck their shirts and have them dangling, all wrinkled, down by their knee-caps, hyden yoo started his line with a collection of collared shirts that were slim-cut and only slightly longer than waist. today the line has grown to include knits, trousers, and outerwear and is described as wall street meets brooklyn hipster. the two stereotypes couldn’t have done better by each other.
jeffery cambell
since launching the line in 2000 inside his garage, campbell has slowly morphed the collection into a brand of genius. he and his team continue to dazzle the market with fashionista faves, including: conceptual vintage recreations, reworked runway looks, and re-amped current trends, alongside his continual best selling ballet flats and boots.
juma
juma was founded in toronto, canada in 2003 by the brother and sister team aila juma and jamil juma. their contemporary ready-to-wear line has since the start been focusing on creating styles with great quality, comfort and innovation.
kai-aakman
kai-aakman is a genderless, seasonless casual brand aspiring harmony of animas and anima, inspired by carl jung. as a result, kai-aakman’s clothing line is unisex and androgynous where avant-garde dresses meet masculinely-tailored blazers, which could be matched with comfort baggy pants. every color, fabric and item you could find in kai-aakman collection is odd and fun, sleek and chic.
kris van assche
balancing a nostalgic historical sense with radical modernism, belgium-born kris van assche has created a distinctive, refined world of nonchalant elegance. van assche’s work is characterized by attention to detail, a strong feel for ritual and his designs arise from a sophisticated approach that breaks away from the uniform quality of sportswear.
ksubi
ksubi formally “tsubi” is an australian team comprised of three sydney-based designers, dan single, george gorrow and gareth moody. the brand was launched in sydney at the mercedes australian fashion week 2001. they have been gaining popularity since then and have developed a dedicated following on an international level. ksubi has become a scene for unique and colorful denim and fashion.
lindsey thornburg
lindsey thornburg comes from the mountains of aspen colorado where the terrain of snow and elevated land first inspired her interest to couple purpose and fashion. influenced by her transient new york city life and travels to south america she began to design cloaks. combing the duality of acclimating to both city and country, “one needs to protect themselves from certain surroundings, elements and social situations”.
the pieces themselves are timeless and unattached to any trend: more conceptual art blended with versatility and function.
mary meyer
mary meyer grew up in los angeles,ca and graduated from the california college of the arts with a degree in painting. while in school, mary studied extensive types of printmaking, weaving, dying, welding and woodwork and discovered her interest for fashion. after graduation, starting production out of her living room, she began to make custom shirts and dresses for her friends and peers. in 2005 she founded her own company, mary meyer clothing, that has become famous for her paint-like prints, unfinished hems and unique sense for detailing.
matt brenson
matt brenson is based in tribeca, and designs luxurious sandals for women, which are hand produced in an artisan workshop factory in the south of brazil using the highest quality craftsmanship, eco-responsible materials, and advanced comfort-engineering.
neurotica
intricately hand printed clothes designed by the london-based victoria rose mcgrane and made from the highest quality natural fabrics. neurotica explores the paradox between the sophisticated and the gentle, the fragile and tailored, remaining essentially feminine yet strong and assertive.
nudie
nudie is a swedish based jeans company sharing the same soul and attitude as music. as a true jeans brand, nudie is not looking for the short-term trends straying from glamour and catwalks. the collection is tight, like a rock band, reflecting the feeling of everyday life. design goes beyond creating just a product that serves to fulfill a need or a function. the philosophy of nudie jeans is to become part of your dreams. jeans have a natural built-in dream and attitude. nudie will stay true to jeans and all about jeans.
oak
in 2003 jeff madalena and louis terline concepted a small women’s store called canary located at 145 ainslie street in williamsburg brooklyn. prior to the opening of the store louis, a native new yorker, had studied graphic design at the pratt institute in brooklyn. after a year of freelancing and exploration post-graduation, terline was asked to serve as wardrobe stylist for a small independent film. having enjoyed his first taste of the industry, he went on to work on a number of new york independent films, including paper soldiers, produced by rock-a-fella records. in 2001, terline was introduced to an intriguing side of fashion, when a friend asked him to style a fashion show for plus-size women’s clothing for curvestyle in manhattan. after, recognizing an underserved market, he designed and produced a small collection of designer denim called seventy washington which is specifically proportioned to flatter fuller figures.
jeff born and raised in california attended the university of california at berkeley. not satisfied with academia he moved to new york in 1998 to study fashion at parsons school of design. his first job in the industry was with ddc lab, a small denim line with a store in the lower east side. while at ddc jeff picked up a tremendous knowledge of denim, fabrics, and intricate construction. after leaving he continued on designing and launched a full clothing line called jack with denim and t-shirts as the core. the collection sold to barneys its first season out and immediately made it into top us retail doors. after jack madalena transitioned into styling and met terline. terline and madalena opened their first store canary and one year later they decided to set up shop across the street with another store for men. this store was named oak.
canary and oak on ainslie st have been closed and re-located into one men’s and women’s store called oak on north 8th st. oak has progressed into a full lifestyle brand with a clothing line, magazine, and three retail locations .
obey
Shepard fairey graduated from rhode island school of design with a degree in illustration. He discovered screen-printing and has been a street art phenomena ever since. his iconic images served as the base for his clothing line which launched in 2001 and is now sold in over 20 countries worldwide. With the help of designers mike ternosky and erin wignall, Shepard has imbued his own style in to looks that aim to be classic yet fashion forward.
pleasure principle
pleasure principle is a fashion label founded in 2002 and is a collaboration between new york based artists/designers adrian cowen and diva pittala. their idea is to bring a conceptual artistic approach to fashion design particularly to the area of sportswear. this initially took the form of developing garments from jersey that can be worn in multiple ways and yet are restrained in construction by the parameters of the simple t-shirt.graphic elements offer glimpses of an imagined identity, and often reflect the dark side of pleasure – hence the freudian ‘pleasure principle’ name.
pour la victoire
french inspired/brazilian made, Pour La Victoire was created by david giordano and jay adoni and continues to produce high end looks at reasonable price points.
rick owens drkshdw
rick owens drkshdw collection celebrates the versatility of blue collar staples like denim and jersey cotton and reinterprets them with his notorious dark and gothic edge. pieces retain a deconstructed elegance reliant on extreme treating, abrasion, bleaching, dying and waxing. each garment is very limited edition and has a quality of abuse all its own.
salvor
salvor is the new york-based graphic designer ross menuez who decided to transition his designs into fashion and clothing. salvor’s collection includes shirts, jackets, scarves, belts and bags with his signature prints of puzzle-like designs and cubic checks in both subtle colors and neons. styles follow a simple and utilitarian standard design along with environmentally friendly materials such as the durable polyurethane.
something else
former founder of cult-label Sample, Natalie Wood breathes new life into something else with her signature street edgy chic along with the sophisticated fabrics and cuts that she’s known for.
super sunglasses
worn by the likes of daft punk, kanye, sienna miller and the kills comes super, the most buzz-worthy and color –conscious shades around.
super, the newest project from pig magazine’s sean beolchini and the beckerman brothers, has taken the classic wayfarer-style sunglasses and upped the ante with a virtual rainbow of unisex options—turquoise, cream, red, yellow, and blue—not to mention superior construction. handmade in the legendary sunglass factories of Italy, each pair of slightly oversized frames is reinforced with zeiss lenses and a gold-plated brand stamp inside. achieve true technicolor vision with a pair of super’s retro style sunglasses.
surface to air
what started as a collective of designers and artists with a clever graphic identity and ties to the fashion world has evolved into a global creative force with operations in both paris and new york city. known as darlings of the coolest underground scenes across the continents, Surface to Air creates enviable collections drool-worthy amongst the fashionable elite. Wearable, sexy and hip… what more could anyone want?
take off your clothes
benjamin reingold earned a bachelors in anthropology before studying at fit and has dedicated his life to deconstructing garments. his first collection was entitled slaughterhouse and was showcased in the duchess county arts festival. his quirky yet stylish pieces have caught the attention of various fashionistas.
teamo
rafa and roberto, once devoted fashionistas, started this Latin based clothing line in hopes of creating not just clothes but a lifestyle. not for the shy or introverted, teamo claims their customer is not afraid to be themselves and is well aware of what fashion truly is.
unconditional
unconditional is designed by philip stephens and is now 4 years old – it started in A/W 2003 as a menswear luxury basics line for his first shop, the concrete shop, soho, london. for the past two years it has included womenswear and currently shows on schedule in london fashion week. the appeal and success of unconditional centers around a strong style identity: laidback, edgy, often androgynous pieces in high quality fabrications. clean, strong silhouettes that are also intentionally quite sexy, and a focus on the wearer. with a core of luxury basics, the collection increases its collection of more special pieces each season, all combined with a realistic price point. philip has environmentally friendly tendencies and the collection almost exclusively uses natural fabrics produced, dyed and manufactured as ethically as possible.
under.ligne by doo.ri
doo-ri chung’s new lower-priced line, under.ligne, is exactly the kind of fare we would expect from the draping expert: effortless jersey tops, dresses and t-shirts. the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winner’s new line includes 12 pieces – all in black, white and gray. apart from doo.ri’s main line, under.ligne’s silhouette’s are less complex and more casual.