10 Brands to Watch in 2015
While the fast-paced nature of fashion makes it extremely difficult to forecast what to expect
While the fast-paced nature of fashion makes it extremely difficult to forecast what to expect next, due to the changing temperaments of consumers and trends, we can look at what brands have showed recent signs of promise. Streetwear, menswear, sportswear and more are fluid concepts at best. What was once clearly defined has been blurred into everything from high street to high fashion in the last decade. 2014 gave birth to a number of brands that made a big impact, as well as propelling many into the spotlight, and we are expecting them to continue to build upon their success this year. Without further ado, here’s 10 brands to watch out for in 2015, in no particular order. Enjoy the list and let us know what you think in the comments below.
Aimé Leon Dore
Bursting onto the scene at the beginning of 2014, New York City-based label Aimé Leon Dore has brought a new spin to comfortable and functional garments. Pieces are all handcrafted from New York’s historic Garment District and the brand stays true to its philosophy of clean, uniform aesthetics. Its debut collaborative capsule with KITH was also very well-received, where the sportswear-driven looks were tied down with a sophisticated touch.
Arternative
Although founded in 2009, Antwerp-based Arternative has really stuck to its beliefs and continued to churn out quality pieces accompanied by cohesive lookbooks. The label draw its cultural and heritage influences into its designs, where it also takes inspiration from the world of fine art, as well as street culture. Playful intricate details such as embroidered 3D hearts have become a signature for the fledging brand from Belgium.
AXS Folk Technology
Los Angeles-based label AXS Folk Technology seamlessly blends laid back vintage styles with functional outdoor wear. Summer vibes from its taste for lighter color palettes perfectly integrate with the lightweight and airy pieces, appropriate for transitioning from day to night. Highlights from the brand include the unique takes on outerwear pieces such as the pullover anoraks and kimono-esque shirts.
MADNESS
Hong Kong singer and actor Shawn Yue launched his latest label MADNESS to great reception in 2014. The offerings take a spin on everyday pieces, where the brilliance is in the details, as inverse tags and the use of reflective materials have become a staple for the brand. 2014 fall/winter also saw the label deliver a bold range of comfortable and stylish designs that encompassed varsity jackets, snapbacks and hoodies. Furthermore, a collaboration with Japanese streetwear imprint NEIGHBORHOOD rounded off a very successful debut year, with fans eagerly awaiting even more high-profile joint projects in 2015.
OFF-WHITE c/o VIRGIL ABLOH
Taking a step away from his street-centric PYREX VISION line, Virgil Abloh unveiled his new, different approach to fashion in the form of OFF-WHITE. While provocative graphics that take a nod to famous works by Caravaggio remain, the pieces depart from his previous projects and are completely cut and sewn in Italy. Old-school punk, beach grunge and shabby chic aesthetics all play a huge part in the themes of the collections. We should all know by now that if there’s one thing to expect from Abloh, it’s the unexpected.
ANTIMATTER
From Seoul comes ANTIMATTER, a new key player that adds to the strong list of fashion brands that Korea is producing. The label’s penchant for artistic sensibilities and visual interpretations of internet-bred microcultures, such as seapunk and vaporwave are strong driving factors in its designs, as well as lookbooks. Furthermore, it takes a confident joy in making satirical commentary on the generalization of streetwear staples, appropriating certain iconic emblems and reinterpreting them.
Très Bien
Having long been known to stock a carefully curated selection of goods from the likes of COMME des GARÇONS to Rick Owens to Nike, Malmö-based retailer Très Bien debuted its first collection of in-house offerings in Spring 2014. Designed by founding brothers Hannes and Simon Hogeman, the line shows a very thought out blend between the intersections of streetwear and high fashion. The clean, simple, and functional pieces from Très Bien are versatile enough to be thrown together in a cohesive outfit but are also bold enough to stand on their own when worn alone.
THE FOURNESS
After working with the likes of BAPE, fragment design and adidas, Japanese designer Kazuki Kuraishi presents his new brand — THE FOURNESS. The idea with the label is to provide people something that fits their personality and style, through the mixture of casual and formal pieces. There is an inherently strong focus placed on materials and craftsmanship, where unique fabrics such as knits with woven aspects are carefully chosen for their stretching properties on jackets.
MAGIC STICK
Collaborations with PORTER, Billionaire Boys Club and 40oz NYC has put Japanese brand MAGIC STICK in the spotlight for a while now, however, it is its own line that truly has caught most of the attention. Born out of an affinity for ’90s musical subcultures, MAGIC STICK churns out compelling pieces pivoted by inspirations of that era, hence hip-hop sensibilities are prevalent throughout the collections. Bold and unafraid, offerings include pieces such as dungarees, capes and splattered paint jackets.
Concepts
As one of the premier destinations for footwear and apparel throughout the years, Concepts unveiled its own in-house line during the latter stages of 2014. Everything is kept clean and simple with the incorporation of subtle prints throughout the quality-made garments. Moreover, collaborative pieces with adidas and most noticeably Arc’teryx, makes sure Concepts is a brand to look out for this year.
Awake NY
Angelo Baque’s Awake NY is understandably, deeply rooted in New York City heritage. The brand draws playful inspirations from the early ’80s and ’90s, with cult favorites such as Clerks and Barry Levinson’s Diner adding to the aesthetic affects. While prep school stylings in the form of wool trench coats and trousers run rampant throughout the collections, there is a rebellious nature that continues to tie everything together in an almost grungy way.
