British manufacturing has always carried somewhat of a universal prestige, and we’ve been keeping a close eye on it for a while now. To get to know our friends over the pond a little better, we’ve researched into what we believe to be some of the most exciting contemporary brands coming out of the UK right now. Here are our seven favorites.
Albam
This Nottingham-based label has been creating timeless British menswear—produced in the UK and Portugal—since the early 2000s. The mixture of decade-transcending cuts, carefully selected fabrics, and ability to incorporate other independent creatives into their catalog has gained Albam a cult following. Expect to find a heavy focus on British production, with traditional and hiking-inspired jackets, selvedge denim made from Japanese fabric, and pre-laundered shirts and sweatshirts in complimentary colors. Link
Folk
By constantly experimenting with innovative designs and high quality fabrics, the Folk brand has become one of the most sought-after UK menswear brands of recent years. With shops dotted around London’s most fashionable areas, and having recently collaborated with Mr. Porter, the Folk brand backs up its reputation by producing heavy-hitting collections year in and year out. Famed for their playful use of colour, the brand has taken a step away from the norm for this FW’s collection—sticking to muted tones—but you’ll still find a perfect mix of contemporary cuts and a level of detail which is second to none. Link
Universal Works
Another menswear brand hailing from the Midlands, Universal Works are no strangers to our pages. Having steadily gained a loyal following for their unique but affordable take on utilitarian-inspired clothing, UW show no signs of slowing down. Known for their mountainous knowledge of military and sportswear, these guys sure know how to experiment with color, pattern, and classic fits—all the while still making their gear extremely wearable. This season sees the brand expand on their popular Workshop Denim range, and continue with their laborers and sportswear-inspired outerwear, unstructured casual suiting, army fatigue trousers, modern-cut shirts and own-label footwear. Link
Harry Stedman
Inspired by the rich and colorful stories they were told as kids, the Harry Stedman brand was the creative vision of the son & grandson of a real life adventurer. This menswear brand hails from East London, but has strong connections with Liverpool and New York; the latter two being Harry’s home at some point throughout his illustrious life. With strong influences present from American prep, military, workwear and the Northern Soul music scene all rolled into one, the Harry Stedman collection comes in small qualities, which never compromises on quality. Sticking to USA, UK, and Japanese production only, expect to see classic oxford shirts, Cone Mill denim, heavyweight jersey, Varsity jackets and waxed coated outerwear. Link
Instrumnt
Over the last couple of years there’s been somewhat of a boom in traditional watchmaking across the UK. In particular, things seem to be gaining momentum up in Scotland. On a quest to create minimal, modern and high quality design-led products, Glasgow-based Instrmnt have been hard to ignore since their successful Kickstarter back in 2014. Known for their simplistic approach to design, Instrmnt currently has four timepieces in their collection. All watches feature Swiss Ronda movement, Sapphire crystal glass and a 18mm German-made leather strap. To top it off, each watch comes in a display case that couldn’t be more fitting for Instagram. Link
Walsh
One of the only footwear brands who are still producing sneakers on UK soil, Norman Walsh literally built this company from the ground up. Walsh started to produce his own line of athletic footwear after leaving school in 1945, and by the late forties he was chosen to create footwear to be worn by the British Olympic in 1948. Nowadays, Walsh still specializes in performance footwear—with Fell and Trail running styles—but their designs come alive with the casual heritage range. Proudly made in Bolton, Lancashire, North West England. Link
Vulpine
Vulpine’s beliefs are no-nonsense, “riding a bike should be simple and beautiful.” This perfectly sets the tone for what you can expect from this youthful cycling apparel brand. Using high-performance fabrics and a wealth of industry knowledge, the brand was launched in 2012 by cycling fanatic Nick Hussey. Inspired by British tailoring, but without compromising on performance, Vulpine’s team is built around the love of cycling, which shows through in their fresh designs. Proper cycling kit, mixed with technical outerwear, merino wool jerseys, Japanese selvedge denim, backpacks, caps and accessories make fit for the perfect ride. Link
