3 EMERGING BRANDS THAT SHOULD BE ON YOUR RADAR

by Stephen Garner

Here we highlight a few of our favorite brands disrupting the monotony of the menswear field this season.

PROPAGANDA AGENCY

Designer Jack Watkins sticks to his retro-modern roots with his newest collection. For spring ’21, we get a peek into his mother’s house, which served as the main inspiration this time around. “Growing up in the ’70s, our house was filled with all the colors you see throughout the collection,” he tells us. These colors include burnt oranges, yellows, and soft blues. Feeling the vibes yet?

Watkins’ made-in-Peru collection features fantastic knit shirts and sweaters with just the right amount of ’70s flair. It makes us want to rewind the clock (even more than we’d already like to do)! Please be sure to check out his “booth” at the Project Digital trade show, online now until November 1st.


MNC ATELIER

Creative director Peter Trainor is moving full steam ahead on his newest project, MNC Atelier. The label, which is available at Fred Segal and United Arrows, is Trainor’s latest venture after moving on from his most recent project – Max & Chester. Trainor has now hired an all-star team to help the brand grow here in the States and abroad. Zari Awodien, formerly of Saint Laurent and Issey Miyake, and Vincent Ehly, the former fashion director at Barneys and Maxfield, are eager to keep the momentum going.

For spring/summer ’21 collection, Trainor sources luxury cottons from Japan and transforms them into garments that are perfect for quarantine – comfortable, but just dressy enough to where you don’t look sloppy. Highlights include the hand-painted floral camp shirts and the slightly oversized cotton suiting.


ONYRMRK

This Los Angeles-based brand is entering its sophomore year with a focused line that’s concise and of the moment. In this collection, the brand’s founders Mark Kim and Rwang Pam are leaning into their best-selling oversized fits and refining them in new fabrications while beefing up detailing throughout the line.

New for the brand this season is denim. From an oversized trucker to a fresh look at overalls, these denim pieces are wearable and a new take on what mainstream denim brands are producing. Kim and Pam are also keeping their collection unisex, having seen success with both men and women being able to rock their slightly boxy, oversized silhouettes with ease. Don’t miss this collection – now live on the Project Digital trade show.