3.1 phillip lim
bringing “madness” to menswear, phillip lim designs with personality and distinction. his highly individualistic pieces serve to redefine the classic new york style, giving it an imaginative sense of escapism. lim's widespread recognition as an artistic talent in the fashion industry began with the launch of his popular woman's line in the fall of 2005, which served to establish him as both a critical and commercial success. from there, he went on to create his own men's collection and has since expanded his name to include a boutique on mercer street in new york, a children's line, and even eyewear. recipient of the emerging designer prize from the council of fashion designers of america awards, phillip lim is sure to be a long time success in the fashion world.

3:33:
treading confidently beyond the dilapidated definitions of a fractured culture in the digital age, los angeles, california-based 3:33 footwear culls the essence of order from amidst the splintered chaos to offer a transcendent framework for individuality built on effortless simplicity.

5ep by denimafia
“godmother” and “hitman” the duo behind the new york based company denimafia, launched 5ep for fall 2004. with more then 20 years experience, “godmother's” resume reads like a who's who of the fashion industry. she has designed for double rl, ralph lauren, calvin klein, dkny, diesel. along with her partner “hitman” (who has been building custom race motorcycles for over ten years) they presented their debut collection at the winter 2004 to be confirmed show in new york. 5ep is based on the concept that there are five easy pieces in every person's wardrobe: a chino, a jean, a jacket, a tee shirt and a woven shirt. firm believers in the “less is more” approach, 5ep is an unadorned and tightly edited collection of vintage inspired men's knits, outerwear, jeans, pants and shirts made from custom woven japanese selvage denim, dead stock twill, and antique yarn dye patterns.

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 herchcovich
brazilian designer, alexander herchcovich, is one of the first designers to incorporate an elaborate origami styling to his ready-to-wear designs. with ease and delicacy, herchcovich embraces bold colors and even bolder silhouettes making him stand out amongst a crowd of the everyday.

alexander wang: alexander wang, age 24, is one of those designers who hit the ground running. his womens wear line, launched in 2007, was received with international acclaim and since then he has earned an ecco domani emerging designer award and been nominated for a cfda womens wear designer of the year award. his aesthetic pivots on downtown luxe, where personality and styling are as important to the brand as are the individual garments. in wang's world, you truly have the freedom to interpret his refined, androgynous silhouettes and make them your own—this, more than anything, explains why he's garnered such a massive following.

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.

anna corinna
a prized favorite handbag designer seen on every “it girl” and not so “it girl” around the world. mixing vintage details with modern conveniences, anna corinna, scoured stores for beautiful vintage bags and melded them with personal desires to make perfectly cool handbags that also sport a much underrated functionality.

anntain
when anne hilken and christian kurt were coming up with a name for their berlin-based fashion label, they decided to go at it the old fashioned way and combine their names until the imaginary word sounded just right. what sprouted from their imagination was neither chrisken nor kurken but annetian. in fact, their name says quite a bit about their brand aesthetic. never without a playful, careful sense of imaginative inquiry is a collection made. their designs are geometric, artistic, and innovative.

a peace treaty
born as a personal treaty between farah malik, a pakistani muslim, and dana arbib, a libyan jew, a peace treaty creates employment for skilled artisans working in places of socio-political strife, effectively supporting their craft while elevating their products to the level of high design for and exclusive, international audience. inspired by the hand-crafting cultures of the middle east, asia, europe and africa, a peace treaty was first conceived when arbib and malik met while living in rome. the two discovered that they shared both a love of high fashion and a desire to increase awareness of ancient, disappearing crafting traditions. intermingling arbib's strong back ground in graphic, textile and product design with malik's history of developing multimedia marketing campaigns for social justice and human rights, they set about connecting discerning fashion connoisseurs with cache, boutique-level artifacts from places typically seen only negatively through the media lens. in addition to supporting the craftspeople in these selected locations, a peace treaty also donates to “counterpart international”, helping bring medical supplies to darfur. each collection, focused on both a particular region and accessory, is comprised of a small selection of limited edition pieces in specifically style-unique colorways. “a peace treaty's” 2008 collection focus on uplifting traditional, finely woven/handloomed scarves, stoles and handkerchief pocket squares from the punjab province of southern asia.

a-z collection: this new york based menswear label focuses their design efforts on the geometric and everyday. though that may sound like a drag it's actually been one of the more refreshing offers from a contemporary line in recent years. a-z re-imagines classics like the rain poncho or oxford shirt and looks at them from a playful, intellectual vantage point. texture, color blocking, and tailoring are what bring these pieces out of the ordinary.

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.

bernhard willhelm
former assistant to alexander mcqueen and graduate of the royal academy of antwerp, this german designer created his brand in 1999 (in association with jutta kraus). starting with womenswear, he debuted his collection at the paris fashion shows in march of 1999. a year later, in october, he was already working his way into menswear, creating samples and putting together his work. but it wasn't until january 2003 at the menswear fashion week that he would allow his first menswear collection to be showcased. willhelm's versatility as a designer has continued throughout the years; this year, he launched his first shoe line. bernhard willhelm's off-the-wall designs showcase his love for oversized volumes, flashy colors, and audacious prints. it is precisely this daring attitude that has afforded him relatively quick success and a recognizable name.

bless
cheeky but talented french based design duo bless like to capture the imagination of their audience. known for using brilliant design techniques the designers develop covetable pieces far removed from the norm.

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.”

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.
common projects: based in new york and milan, common projects blends artisan workmanship and streetwear sensibilities in their paired down sneakers. made from italian leather and suede, primarily in neutral colors, the only branding you'll find is an elusive model number, stamped to the back of the shoe. common projects rises above latest loud and fleeting limited edition incarnations while still keeping the basic shape and structure worthy of a little street cred.

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.

diesel black gold
designed by a team headed by diesel's creative director wilbert das, the new “black gold” line offers an alternative to contemporary, premium brands. defined most notably by refined fabrics, unexpected detail, and special treatments, this men and women's line communicates a sense of casual luxury, all the while maintaining diesel's signature design elements of “active living.” currently the “black gold” collection is being sold in 150 of diesel's premium stores and can also be seen in department stores, independent contemporary stores, and online.

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.

eairth
juxtaposing the insanity of the fashion with a futuristic organic style, philippine born and based melissa dizon creates an edgy and sustainable collection inspired by and crafted in her native country. production revolves around a fair trade system where indigenous mangyan and ifugao tribes tribes supply natural pigments derived from leaves, fallen wood and bark, roots, flowers and even coconut husks that are used to dye the 100% organic cottons and trims sources in the Philippines. dizon describes the concept behind eairth as “an effortless sensibility of comfort with an artful edge”.

endovanera
founded in 2005, this california-based label offers sleek menswear designs that are simple, smart, and classic. founding designers david hershberger and mitch mosley offer well-tailored, all-american basics, making their clothing collections cohesive and wearable. after finishing an internship at st. john, moseley decided that the corporate fashion world was not for him. he met hershberger, who at the time was hand-sewing custom jeans for work, and was immediately inspired to channel his talents in a similar independent way. eventually, the two launched their own line together, which was a mixture of hershberger's hand-sewn creativity and moseley's practical perspective. both designers highly value designs done by hand, and their old-fashioned way of doing things undoubtedly contributes to the high quality and originality of their work.

filippa k
filippa k, a sweedish based fashion company, is about the cool, relaxed chic of contemporary classic dressing. the play between masculine and feminine is the cornerstone of the filippa k collection.

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-troup
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.

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.

helmut lang
relaunching spring 07, helmut lang's vision of minimalism is back with basic yet undeniably elegant silhouettes. the line reintroduces with perfect and never fading wardrobe staples in understated colors and lines.

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.

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.

jeremy scott
over his career, the missouri-born avant garde designer jeremy scott has built up a loyal following in the fashion world, thanks to his fertile imagination, and his multiple talents. embracing the controversial, humorous and irreverent, scott develops lines and themes that are as irresistible as they are dramatic.

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.

nicole farhi
french-born algerian designer nicole farhi has emerged as one of the leading london based designers for the past decade. launching her own label in 1993, she is known for her sensual, luxurious and classic designs. her design philosophy is based on comfortable, relaxed clothing with an emphasis on soft structure, subtle colouring and fine-quality fabric. she opened her first store in harvey nichols in 1993 and in 1994 opened a boutique in new york. in 1999, she expanded her new york flagship store to include a restaurant and home furnishings, in addition to the womenswear and menswear. known for using top quality materials and incorporating fine details in her designs, nicole farhi's collections “capture the mood” of the clothes, and not the current fad of the moment. thus becoming timeless in its own right.

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. times struck hard with the collapse of the trade center and jack went under. madalena picked up styling and met terline. after opening their first store canary they decided to set up shop across the street with another store for men. this store was named oak. one year later they opened a second oak in park slope brooklyn which carried both mens and womens clothes. the concept was simple; to bring knowledge of fashion to an unpretentious retail setting. fashion for both madalena and terline is about being informed, obtainable, easy, and a mix between classic designers and up and coming talent.
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. the park slope store still stands. this fall oak will launch a house line of core pieces and fashion pieces. opening ceremony
the unconventional store/gallery opening ceremony devotes its space to promoting international designers from one country per year. every year, they choose one country, feature its designers, and pit them against americans like mary ping, rachel comey, and patrik ervell. next september, they are doing sweden. the acne line has great denim and interesting takes on classic styles. o.c. also has their own line of interesting pieces by one of the store's creators, humberto leon. the opening ceremony line has become known for true wearable silhouettes with a slight twist.

palladium: these best selling utilitarian and unisex rubber sole canvas boots are finally back in stock for spring. worn in the 1950's by the french army and now by the hip elite around the world. can be styled folded down and snaped or pulled up changing from a 5 eyelet shoe to an 8…laces can be tied tight and clean or worn loose with a relaxed tongue for that truly “baggy” look.

poetic licence
british based shoe label poetic license first launched in 2005 to provide the fashionable european set inventive footwear for less. now available in the us, the label offers that same service to anyone searching for a collection of shoes that embraces urban vintage styling with sophisticated details at pleasantly affordable prices.

pudel
pudel believes in the androgynous expression. they make gender free garments with clean cuts and conceptual detailing, mainly in monochrome shades. pudel was established during the autumn of 2004 as the result of intensive electronic communication between sweden and the uk and have even collaborated with topshop in london/ oxford circus.

rachel comey
rachel Comey was born in hartford , connecticut. she graduated from the university of vermont concentrating on sculpture. rachel is known for her menswear and recently moved into women's wear as well. her designs have gained attention for their inventiveness and idiosyncratic feeling paired with glam rock stylings. her collection grew directly out of her outfitting of eugene hutz, the over-the-top leader of gogol bordello. she gained real attention after david bowie was seen wearing her line during a televison interview. each season, she focuses on beautifully made clothing often with unusual creative details and handmade touches.

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.

s2vs: debuted in spring 08, this line is part disco queen and part utilitarian loner. as for the disco there are graphic prints and bright colors and as for the utility; toned down basics that act in complement. with the idea in mind to stay conscience of price point, and with such a far-reaching aesthetic, it's pretty clear s2vs has quite a bit to offer.

schmoove
last born of the rautureau apple shoes group, created in 2000, this classical shoe style can be considered “half-basket, half shoe.” schmoove is indeed a one of a kind brand. it combines elements of humor, originality, and artistic devotion to create an alternative brand of funky shoes for men. both nostalgic and modern, schmoove transforms old favorites into new and contemporary classic looks, creating shoes that are both comfortably casual and delicately dressy.

smythe
designers christie smythe and andrea lenczner are the talented duo behind the creation of “les vestes,” an array of outerwear for women inspired by menswear styles. their highly tailored, contemporary jackets showcase iconic silhouettes offering a flawless fit. after obtaining a degree from parsons, designer christie smythe worked in fashion in new york and europe for 5 years, which included jobs at prada and celine. her fashion accomplice, andrea lenczner, worked in investment banking after receiving her MBA and eventually moved on to become the buyer for a boutique department store. this toronto-based design duo offer versatile menswear jackets with a feminine touch, resulting in a clean and classic look that is both timeless and flattering. their pieces are guaranteed to complete any look and are essential to one's wardrobe.

spring court
borne in france in 1936, spring court is a sneaker line originally donned by tennis players because of the signature shoe's renowned comfort and ventilation. over the years, spring court has become one of the world's most iconic footwear brands, with everyone from john lennon to kate moss wearing them at one point as their slip-on of choice. with a classic design that requires little improvement, spring court provides their simple, affordable, comfortable design in a variety of colors and fabrics.

staerk: denmark native, camilla staerk, began her career as a fashion designer fresh out of college in london. after a critically acclaimed graduate fashion show, staerk went on to win three topshop new generation awards and gain support from the industry's toughest players. dark, romantic, and full of unexpected proportions and details, staerk has become a brand known for addressing sexuality and urbanity in unexpected ways.

superfine denim
desperate for an impossible to find “perfect jean”, an edgy london stylist and genius photographer/illustrator started designing their own. in the autumn of 2003 they established superfine wanting to make jeans with a real london attitude: simple, refined and especially skinny. they immediately started gathering a dedicated following, pioneering the skinny jean & sophisticated denim washes. heavily inspired by rock & roll icons and influenced by lucy & flora's fashion backgrounds, superfine has always had a strong sense of identity. a bit punk, a bit purist, the label has led the way with clean looking denim, free from branding and embellishment. all the time embracing denim's effortlessness, the focus for superfine has always been fit & fabric whilst keeping the details hidden.

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?

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.

vena cava
designed with ethereal elegance, brooklyn based vena cava draws upon every women's love of floating silks and handcrafted prints. since their 2004 debut, mayock and buhai have been refining their aesthetic, which revolves around easy, feminine dresses and tops, often with triangle cut-out necklines. the most pleasing aspect about the line is that it is both fresh and familiar... the sort of pieces you could easily imagine hanging cunningly in you own closet.