Good minimalist clothes can be a great way to upgrade your core wardrobe without breaking the bank. A Scandinavian design is an example of this style. It focuses on function and natural colors. They work well with various accessories.
Strategic planning and thoughtful design are hallmarks of Scandinavian design. If you’re planning on adopting this style, you should consider investing in a few minimalist clothing brands. These will give you the necessary tools and inspiration to make informed decisions.
ASKET
From t-shirts and trousers to swimwear and beanies, ASKET offers eco-friendly essentials. Men can wear their swimming shorts both inside and outside the water. A good example of an upgraded and functional basic is their shirts. It’s compact and substantial enough to offer durability, but it’s also comfortable and unbulky. It’s even resistant to fading and warping, and the ribbed neck lets it drape easily. ASKET offers care guides to ensure their pieces last as long as possible, as well as repair and revival services.
EVERLANE
Like ASKET, Everlane focuses on essentials in mostly neutral colors, but it’s more affordable ($98 for an overshirt instead of $220 at ASKET). While they aren’t as environmentally friendly, their prices are more than fair, and they offer a wider range of products, including stripes and rugby shirts. One of their best-selling items is the white and blue striped crewneck. Everlane keeps their patterns pretty neutral when they dip into them. Even though blue goes with most other colors anyway, Everlane chooses a shade with gray undertones, making it even more versatile. I like it because it’s fun but not loud, and basic, but not boring. Additionally, their shirts are made of 100% certified organic cotton and come in sizes XS to XXL.
L’ESTRANGE LONDON
L’Estrange London is a modular line of upscale pieces designed in London and crafted in factories in Europe. The result would be a capsule wardrobe of interchangeable pieces ranging from casual to cocktail. There’s the 24 trouser from L’Estrange, which has a formal silhouette but a stretchy fit, along with a combination of dress pants and a drawstring waist. In addition, you can hide the drawstrings. Depending on the weather, you can also wear the modular shell jacket in three different ways. Additionally, they offer free repairs and only use renewable and recycled materials.
COS
COS is H&M’s simpler, more sophisticated cousin, usually located on the same block as designer boutiques. The brand has a few more expressive pieces than most minimalist brands. There are shirts with diagonal stripes, bleached denim, and even bolder colors, such as bright green button-ups. Denim is bleached only at the bottom, stripes are neutral, and bold shades are solid. A good brand for mid-priced minimal essentials and simple pieces with mild textures is COS.
THEORY
A big strength of Theory is its ability to produce pieces that are contemporary and trend-resistant at the same time. Their suit jackets, for example, are a cross between a Thom Browne suit and a Brooks Brothers Regent suit. A matte finish and semi-constructed structure give it a modern feel, but the clean lines and sophisticated structure make it undeniably premium. It’s classic, but not stuffy. They also use innovative fabrics. Precision Ponte, which their Clinton jackets are made of, is a wrinkle-resistant, abrasion-resistant knit.
ACNE STUDIOS
Luxury contemporary fashion house Acne Studios is based in Sweden and specializes in art-inspired ready-to-wear. They make sturdily built neutrals that can be paired with other neutrals or anchor a streetwear look. Although the clothes are simple, the tailoring and the wide range of materials used, including custom fabrics, show great attention to detail. For example, their shirt jacket has a relaxed fit but a double-faced construction for versatility and ease of wear. Likewise, Acne Studios’ ribbed t-shirt is made from recycled nylon. Acne Studios is a great choice if you’re looking for high-end minimalist pieces that can also be worn in a trendy way.
ARKET
Using relaxed yet durable materials, ARKET makes easy day-to-night clothing that can withstand repeated wear and tear. Their t-shirts, athletic wear, and suits are excellent examples. T-shirts are part of their Men’s Basics and come in a midweight or heavyweight option that is about 30% thicker and denser. Both have strong shoulders and a firm drape. Light green and dusty lilac are examples of neutralized non-neutrals. Gym apparel is performance-oriented but structured enough to be worn outside of the gym. Meanwhile, the twill-woven suits feature a modern and relaxed look, still tailored enough for professional settings.
BAREEK
With a fusion of age-old craftsmanship with modern silhouettes, Bareek is redefining everyday contemporary menswear with its abstract designs, muted hues, and relaxed silhouettes.
KAAPUS
As a premium fashion line focused on quality clothing that fits like a second skin, Kaapus aims to transform the men’s clothing landscape with its straight-forward, no-nonsense brand tagline of “Clothes that fit”. Kaapus has strived to stay ahead of trends while adorning clothing inch-tailored to perfection since it was founded in 2014. Essentially, Kaapus promotes the concept of feeling great in what looks great.
NICOBAR
The Nicobar brand promotes products that utilize natural materials and designs. Built to last, it communicates a quality-driven, naturalistic philosophy of life. The products they make reflect the culture and community we live in as Indians, while also addressing global issues. Nicobar’s tropical design language draws inspiration from stories spanning the Indian Ocean.
NOONOO
From its name to its designs, NOONOO is all about providing high-quality dress wear with a touch of quirk. The millennial fashion market is booming with NOONOO’s pseudo-Japanese and pop culture influences. We particularly like their Urumaki and Shiro shirts, which are a perfect match of fun and class. Their shirts start at Rs. 5000, which is a bit steep, but they are of outstanding quality and finish.
RARE RABBIT
As a true house of luxury casual wear and ethnic silhouettes, Rare Rabbit has been one of the most sought-after menswear labels in 2019. If you want high-quality pieces with a minimalistic feel, this is the place to shop. If you want to experience their pieces in person, the Bangalore-based company recently launched in Mumbai as well.
THE BLEU LABEL
While prints and heavy detailing might be too much, we’ve chosen The Bleu Label simply for their calmer approach to menswear design. They embrace the classics of style – solids, stripes, and checks – and they do so with the highest quality too. Many men prefer simple quality clothing over loud sartorial silhouettes.
CESARI
As their signature, Cesari’s stripes, florals, and color play in their shirts are very interesting. There aren’t too many menswear labels in India that can do vertical stripes quite as well. Cesari is a great place to shop on a budget. They stay true to classic cues of menswear and pay close attention to fitting, even if they experiment with their color palettes.
ABKASA
Abkasa is a designer label for men who admire the classics but wish for a splash of fun on their shirts. With almost every design embroidered, this menswear label champions affordable luxury formalwear. Besides fitting and silhouette well, the brand also uses bold Indian motifs and design patches to blend western formal silhouettes with bold Indian motifs.
FANCY PASTELS
Fancy Pastels’ printing process stands out from the competition. It largely carries out its printing process by hand, dyeing the cotton before applying it to a table and printing with wooden blocks. It’s a true rarity. As for the cost, you can expect a standard printed shirt to be around Rs 2000. If you’re one for flashy patterns and fun prints, this label could be ideal for you!
