Of course, there were many designers that we loved at NYFW: Men’s, but besides the big names, here are the five we thought were noteworthy:
Suitsupply
We all love a good suit! Suitsupply is known for its Italian fabrics and precise tailoring. They held their presentation this year at Cadillac House and we were there to flirt with the male models (swoon).
Suitsupply was started by Fokke de Jong in 2000, and in 18 years has grown to over 90 stores across Europe, North America and Asia. South African designer Murray Coetzee uses his distinct fashion sense from all around the world to contribute toward the patterns and colors of the suits. Coetzee believes solely in the importance of the fabric, fit and finish of all garments. He has grown with Suitsupply for almost 11 years now and continues to put his all into each piece that he creates. This year for NYFW Men’s Autum/Winter 2018, Suitsupply’s collection consisted of many colors: from soft cashmere pinks to strong army greens, inspired by the timeless vintage collections of generations-old Biellesi mills—all punctuated by vibrant array of dynamic textures and bold patterns.
Palmiers du Mal
New York is where the heart is…
Palmiers du Mal, a modern luxury resort collection, was founded in New York City, conceptualized around the world, and fully made in NYC. It is inspired by philosophy, travel, design, sex, literature, lives of artists, writers, gypsies—all that makes NYC unique.
Having recently launched in 2015, Palmiers du Mal shows the modern-day style of a luxury flaneur—a fancy word for a blissful lounger. With both the Creative Director/ CEO Shane Fonner and the COO Brandon Capps merging together to create bold yet comfortable pieces, this is a collection that we hope you didn’t miss this season. The collection promotes a need for freedom. Freedom from everything that holds any one of us back, freedom to indulge in life’s pleasures and so on. Palmiers du Mal was here to tell you to live unapologetically.
Bristol
We all receive inspiration through different walks of life and for Luke it was through basketball. Tadashi thought of designs that correlated with sports and that’s how he created Bristol Studio. Clothing to him is all about expression, identity and other ways to express yourself. This season was inspired by Tadashi’s Japanese heritage and his grandmother. He notes that ultimately the collection is a love letter to his grandma, “a woman who shaped him much as his own mother, and an homage to his grandparents’ life which began in Japan in the 1920s through WWII and ends in America.” The collection points to WWII and evokes a worn and lived-in feel, while staying true to the brand’s athletic identity. Notable pieces include misaligned shirting, reversible down jackets with side snap closures, and sweatpants with pockets sewn inside-out. The label also collaborated with Adidas on the Crazy BYW sneaker. The shoe represents Tadashi’s first love, basketball.
Nick Graham
Graham’s new collection, Metropolis, gave us some French Riviera vibes: it featured lots of patterns including graphic plaids, windowpanes, and exploded with some bright colors, like yellow and purple. Nick Graham lives by his famous phrase: “The brand is the Amusement Park; the product is the souvenir.” He also added his very own underwear collection to the new season. Graham actually began his career selling unique boxers. When at the age of 27 he moved from Canada to San Francisco, he started a small business making ties and then began producing a line of boxer shorts in a range of unexpected designs. His official title at the time was Chief Underpants Officer (CUO).
Project Life Creation
The brand was formerly known as Private Life Creation and now has rebranded. Richard Chun, the creative director of PLC has 12 years of rich and diverse experience in New York’s Fashion Industry and has curated PLC with a new strong identity.
The new collection was about sophistication and simplicity. The line showcased such men’s wear staples as embroidered knits, bomber jackets, and double-faced cashmere topcoat. There were plays on colorblocking as well, inspired by a print from artist Anthony Gerace. The collection was wearable and retail friendly.
New York Fashion Week is over and we are already looking forward to September!
Demi Vitkute contributed to this article