10 cool menswear brands you should be taking notice of

There’s nothing wrong with the occasional Prada purchase. Trust us, we know. But, if you want to keep your wardrobe up to date, try diving into some of the more under-the-radar menswear brands every so often.

Easier said than done, right? With new labels popping up faster than you can say ‘Supreme’, it’s hard to tell the good from the bad. Luckily for you, we’ve done the hard work by compiling an ultimate list of clothing lines that you should be clocking before they become mainstream. These threads deserve your attention – so buy now and thank us later.

Whenever you’re in a style rut, Sweden’s Arket will be on hand to lend a hand. Thanks to its collection of reasonably-priced staple pieces (think crewneck T-Shirts and timeless sweatshirts) in a massive range of fits (there are 15 available), this Scandi brand will become your go-to online outfitter no matter the season. Our pick of the offerings? The versatile white T-Shirt, made simply and effectively from Egyptian cotton.

With the goal of crafting artisanal shoes as good as any other on the market – but at half the price – Sons of London is shaking-up the British footwear scene. By cutting out third-party costs, setting up its own warehouse in the Le Marche region of Italy and hiring a team of master craftsmen, this fledgling British brand offers a definitive range of designer-quality men’s shoes – from brogues to Chelsea boots – but at high-street prices.

For those who want to look great, but not sacrifice their economical ideals, look no further than Sir Plus. With all of its garments crafted from cabbage – the industry term for fabric leftovers – this eco-friendly menswear brand is championing both style and sustainability in its bid to make us reconsider where our clothes come from. Today, Henry Hales’ label sells British workwear classics such as wool trousers and grandad collar shirts: quite the step up from selling solely boxer shorts not a decade ago.

With his elegant garments and wardrobe essentials, Luca Faloni has brought a dash of Italian sprezzatura to our shores. Having grown up amid the fabric mills of Turin, northern Italy, Faloni can consider himself an expert in fabrics such as cashmere and cotton, and his aptitude becomes evident after even a cursory browse of his range. On his site, you’ll find a selection of knits, Mediterranean-style linen shirts and vegetable-tanned travel bags – all of which are perfect to don during any city getaway you have planned.

If you live near London’s Regent Street, you’ll have noticed that the H&M empire is slowly on the rise. Across a 100-metre stretch, Weekday, COS, H&M and, most recently, Arket dominate the prime retail space. And it’s the latter that’s causing the biggest stir, with another branch having recently opened in Covent Garden.

With a focus on anti-fast-fashion pieces that’re made from durable materials, Arket won’t just guarantee that your recently-bought khaki trench coat looks great, but that it’s also made for the long-run. With a cult-like following already amassed, this new menswear sensation will be here for years to come.

Although we’ve descended into the dark depths of winter, the forward-planning gentleman has probably already got next summer’s wardrobe sorted. But, with sticky August months and scorching heat, a list of potential sartorial hazards also appears. Enter Patrick Johnson, a tailor from Australia who specialises in lightweight, made-to-measure summer suits. Thanks to his Antipodean take on Italian formalwear, men the world over can now battle the sun on their way to work in the most dapper way possible.

Earlier this month, luxury e-tailer Mr Porter launched its very own in-house line, aptly labelled ‘Mr P’. Using its unique customer insight, the fashion juggernaut has concocted a 53-piece collection of evergreen items and seasonal, of-the-moment pieces, including cashmere-blend overcoats, double-breasted corduroy blazers and merino wool zip-ups. But that’s not all. With almost all products being affordable for the modern gent, customers can now enjoy some retail therapy on Mr Porter without having to succumb to the high price tags often associated with the site.

Castore is the brainchild of brothers Tom and Phil Beahon. As former athletes (in football and cricket), the siblings know what makes a quality sports kit, and with that experience they hope to bring a new level of performance to men’s sportswear – by creating the lightest and most durable garments on the market.

To this end, all their products go through six testing samples – twice the industry standard – and are also sent out to athletes to try-on before they’re released to the market. Better still, each item comes with a two-year guarantee.

Not every gent can wear formalwear every hour of the day, no matter how much he wants to. So, if you’re on the hunt for some casual classics, Axel Arigato is the place for you. After exploding onto the scene thanks to its sleek and simple ‘Classic 90s’ sneakers, the Swedish-based brand has now branched out into off-duty apparel with plenty of fuss-free hoodies and tapered joggers on offer.

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