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Menswear to Watch | Vol. 1
Reflecting on last year’s fashion, a lot of anticipated trends were cut rather short (or didn’t occur). In what was a roller-coaster of a year filled with unpredictable events, the ability to adapt and stand out creatively was what really separated top brands from the competition.
With that being said, we’re looking towards the future and predicting what big trends we’ll see in the coming year. From an ongoing battle between sneaker lines, the growing importance of streetwear, and new ways of interpreting high-end apparel, here are some of our picks for men’s fashion brands to watch.
Stüssy
You can’t talk about iconic streetwear brands without mentioning Stüssy and its lasting impact on the fashion world.
As many brands struggled to engage and connect with consumers in 2020, Stüssy emerged as one of the leaders in style and relevancy, reminding shoppers why they’ll always be a standard. In 2020, Stüssy celebrated its 40th year in business following a complete reboot of the brand over the last several years. They’ve also revived their “Tribe,” a group of creatives that act as ambassadors.
Recent collaborations and partnerships with designers including Matthew Williams of Givenchy, Birkenstock, and Nike show that Stüssy is able to connect with fashion consumers outside of streetwear. Having started the year with a Chinese New Year capsule collaboration with Dior Men’s, they’re sure to remain a classic in 2021 and dominate with their collaborative projects going forward.
New Balance
Arguably the sneaker brand of the year for 2020, New Balance stood out in the enduring battle between sneaker brands due to their revival of popular past models like the 992, as well as their collaborations with other brands and debuts of new silhouettes like the 327.
Simply put, when it came to their lifestyle footwear, New Balance just couldn’t fail the past year and they have no intention of doing so in 2021. As the sneaker battle relies so heavily on hype, New Balance somehow stands out without creating huge noise—and with rumors of exciting upcoming collaborations, it’s hard not to keep a tab on this American brand.
Machus
With their grand opening on 11/11/11, Machus has grown to be a go-to destination for the best contemporary men’s fashion, cementing itself as a staple in the Pacific Northwest. From carrying well-known labels to upcoming, emerging designers, the Portland boutique has maintained a clear focus on carrying the most progressive designers in the market.
Machus’s own private label doesn’t shy away from that same objective. Quality, aesthetic, and affordability have been a consistent theme with their collections, often highlighted by perfectly cut sweatshirts and pants.
After a hectic year in which they had to move all their operations into their brick-and-mortar location, the team at Machus is more motivated than ever to continue providing the best possible menswear pieces available. The Machus private label is ideal for work-from-home ease (see: amazing hoodies) to wearable workwear (see: urban cargo pants). And that’s just a sneak peek for what’s to come in 2021!
Casablanca
With streetwear’s growing influence on men’s fashion and a big focus on tailoring, Casablanca blends elements of the two into one of the hottest brands out right now. In fact, Casablanca expertly fuses many realms of men’s fashion to create versatile, quality-focused apparel that fit into anyone’s wardrobe.
Having founded the brand in 2018, French-Moroccan designer Charaf Tajer had one clear objective: to create a brand that spoke to him. Authenticity is key, and so is a focus on crafting a vision with what’s readily available—aspects that make Casablanca so unique and honest.
At times, many fashion brands tend to get lost and focus too much on one specific target market, but with their honest approach, Casablanca strives to be inclusive with clothing for a range of consumers. With their generous cuts, you can envision a Casablanca piece on anyone from the clothes worn by a young trendsetter in a Miami club or a retiree taking a walk on the beach.
They’re consistent with their collections and though we’ve only begun getting dressed in 2021, big trends like baggy pants, sharp suiting, ’70s-inspired garments, and elegant prints are already coming from the brand.
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