Style -- 5 days ago
In association with
In association with
We get it, menswear can get a bit stuffy. Stiff shirts and too-tight chinos. But Le Alfré has a different idea. The brand, which was started in 2021, wants to inject some playfulness into menswear. 27-year-old Brandon Snower, the CEO of the label and a former Wall Street banker, wanted to revive the fun that he felt was missing from modern day wear. He felt there was a gap in the market for a brand that had a European quality of craftsmanship with a more playful touch.
From working with the oldest shirtmaker in Portugal, to the finest button supplier and knitwear factories, Le Alfré has dedicated itself to only producing its products with the best manufacturers. Founded in 1946, the shirtmaker it uses is located in Felguerias, Portugal and has been producing some of the world's best men's shirting for more than 75 years. Le Alfré also uses a circular knit factory which has been in operation since 1989, while the mill it uses currently maintains Europe's strictest environmental certifications. All the brand's partners have decades of experience creating the highest quality clothing that's made to last.
As for the clothes themselves, the brand focuses on a preppy vibe, worthy of the Italian Riviera as much as it is the Ivy League schools that make the American education system famous. Oxford shirts are crisp and proper, while caps are evergreen in colour and stamped with the the brand's collegiate logo. Chino shorts are cut just above the knee.
But there's fun to be had, which is what Le Alfré, seriousness of getting properly dressed aside, us all about. Sure your shirt can be made with eco-conscious fabrics, but that doesn't mean it needs to be boring, right? T-shirts have playful graphics on them. "Le Fun" Striped Oxford Shirt comes in an array of contrast stripe and block panel designs, instantly updating a wardrobe classic without taking it too far. Check out any "best shirts" list, whether it's the Wall Street Journal or elsewhere, and Le Alfré's name will be there.
Le Alfré has three main core values: quality, playfulness, and elegance. And that is what Snower wants to stick to. But it isn't just a brand. Le Alfré is setting out to create a community of likeminded individuals, and Snower has partnered with the likes of Instagram lifestyle account Gentleman's Gram to create collaborative capsule collections of sleek separates.
And Le Alfré is taking things a step further, and inviting its community and beyond into its brand new bricks and mortar store in New York City. Situated at 129 W 27th St, Le Alfré's Manahttan outpost is where the brand really comes to life. In the sleek suite, which has walls lined with vintage French posters and is decorated with director chairs and mannequins, you can shop the entire collection, as well as chat to Snower, who frequents it on the regular.
Up next? Probably more stores. But for now, Le Alfré strives to continue on its mission to deliver really nice menswear, that isn't boring. It's not often that a new brand comes a long and we get really excited, but Le Alfré is well on its way to being cast among the preppy yet playful greats like Drake's and Aimé Leon Dore.
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