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Editor’s note
Welcome, everyone. If you’re new here, I run Sprezza, a weekly newsletter covering the next wave of men’s style.
My job is to curate information—it’s what I do all day.
This is my third time making a “brands to watch” guide, and every year I focus on supporting great independent one.
Why?
We’re in a moment where we desperately need the creativity of individuals with their own ideas to inject fresh energy and perspective into the consumer space.
Supporting these brands helps usher that creativity back into the spotlight.
What you’ll find about this group of brands is that each founder has a distinctive point of view. They aren’t just making stuff; they’re building something beyond themselves.
The point of this list isn’t to be rigid or definitive. It’s about spotlighting brands that resonate with me personally, too. Hope you enjoy it, and make sure you comment which ones I missed :)
Café Mountain
Location: Newcastle, United Kingdom
Why I like them: There’s an escapable cool factor to what founder Lewis Wilson is cooking up in Newcastle, the sort of place you might not expect a brand like theirs. There’s a perfect blend of heritage and modernity with the brands; their sourcing game is strong, pulling from top-tier mills in the UK, Italy, and Japan to create pieces that are functional, durable, and stylish.
What I love most is how every piece works seamlessly together, offering a level of leisure and comfort that’s rare to find.
Café Mountain is restoring the feeling.
Bram’s Fruit
Location: Eindhoven, Netherlands
Why I like them:
There’s a lesson in building good things slowly, and Bram Korsten is proving this with his own label, Bram’s Fruit. The Dutch brand takes heavy inspiration from nature, gardening, and being outdoors at large, but if you’re really tapped in, you’d know their creative and art direction is already on a different level.
We’re witnessing a future luxury brand on the come-up; they just need time to cook, so let it breathe.
Kluane Mountaineering
Location: Edmonton, Canada
Why I like them:
Kluane was founded in the 1970s by two friends during the golden age of American outdoor brands like ESPRIT and The North Face. They became renowned for making custom-made down parkas and gained a cult following among outdoor enthusiasts.
Today, Dylan Everitt, who has worked with the company for over a decade, is preserving the brand's legacy. Dylan is the homie with a real eye for craftsmanship, and seeing his emphasis on making sure this brand lives on is inspiring in its own way.
Brigade
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Why I like them:
Brigade feels like a young Supreme. For years, we’ve been waiting for a smaller brand to step up and fill the cultural void that’s been left behind, and Brigade might just be it.
The duo behind it, Aaron and Sarah, are some of the most genuine people in the business. Everything they touch seems to resonate, blending youthful audacity with effortless cool. Their brains are operating at high velocity, and you see that in play, from the campaigns they shoot to the products they design.
Everyday Garments
Location: Wales, United Kingdom
Why I like them:
I’ve never met the EG team, but it’s the type of brand you can’t help but smile when you think about them. They’re a one-man team that operates out of South Wales, and if one thing’s true, they put a lot of love into their product.
Drawing heavily from their steel town, blue-collar roots, EG products are functional and made with rich British heritage fabrics. So many pieces in this collection are low-key good, but this hoodless tweed smock is a standout that perfectly blends their focus on utility and timeless design.
You can feel the love with EG, and I hope they grow this year.
Paratodo
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Why I like them:
Paratodo is a trip — in the best way possible.
Their collections are bold, psychedelic, and boundary-pushing. Francis, the founder, has a deeply personal connection to the brand, using it as a vehicle for change after losing his brother to a drug addiction.
His mission to give back through the brand is as inspiring as the products. The art direction behind each collection is phenomenal, and every drop feels like you’re stepping into a different world.
All Caps Studio
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Why I like them:
There’s an undeniable authenticity to what Saeed Ferguson is building with All Caps Studio. While a lot of brands try to flex on “doing the work” when it comes to building, Saeed is truly putting in the reps.
I respect how he brings you along for the ride with his content. You feel part of the experience and the journey. There’s making great products and knowing how to document the process.
Saeed does both in a way that’s both genuine and aspirational.
And I’m here for it.
A true king
Love your work. These are great recommendations for brands to watch. Very excited to follow them.