The Best Artisanal Menswear Brands to Have on Your Radar
A new age of exquisite craftsmanship and mindful menswear is here, and Liberty has the lowdown on its inner-circle
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The Best Artisanal Menswear Brands to Have on Your Radar
A new age of exquisite craftsmanship and mindful menswear is here, and Liberty has the lowdown on its inner-circle
By: George ElliotA new chapter in fashion's ever-evolving design story is here, one where a devotion to quality, craftsmanship and a no-detail-too-small approach to making is set to dominate the season’s style narrative. What’s more, it’s a plot that’s unfolding right here at Liberty. Breathing new life into traditions and techniques of old, from patchworking and crochet to weaving and hand-dyeing, all in the name of creating cherishable investment pieces that’ll last you a lifetime, here Liberty invites you to discover seven of the movement's artisanal menswear brands
Paul Smith Sketchbook Print Cotton Shirt, £300
Paul Smith
Synonymous with Britain’s brilliantly eccentric fashion scene, Sir Paul Smith champions creativity and curiosity through his sharp, humorous and famously vibrant designs. First taught to make clothes by his wife Pauline Denyer, sat around their kitchen table, now – some fifty years later – his namesake label has risen to become a beloved household name. Expect wardrobe staples decked in his signature stripe, timeless tailoring and luxe fabrics in energising colours.
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Kapital
Often inspired by classic Americana (think: hippie iconography, baseball shirts and retro advertising) but made in Japan with fervent precision and a respect for the country’s renowned garment making methods, Kapital’s aesthetic is one of East meets West. Taking its name from Kojima, Okayama – the district known as Japan’s Denim Capital – and run by father and son duo Toshikiyo and Kiro Hirata, since its beginnings in 1985 it has risen from relative obscurity to become a denim and streetwear label of cult status.
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Kapital Silk Rayon Havananaja Wrangle Collar Cuba Shirt, £460
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Kapital
Linen Glitter Phillies Stripe CACTUS Coverall Overshirt
Liberty Chintz Trail Kingly Hemp Shirt, £165
Liberty
Decked in an array of meticulously hand-painted prints – from psychedelic paisleys and exquisite florals to quirky graphics and tropical botanicals – you only have to glance at a Liberty shirt to know instantly that it hails from our London emporium. But along with how extraordinary they look, they're considered to be in a league of their own because of what they embody: exceptional craftsmanship, our unrivalled textile heritage and the rebellious spirit of individuality.
Read more: chart the making of Liberty fashion, from sketch, to stitch, to store
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Kartik Research
Founded in 2021 by Kartik Kumra, Indian brand Kartik Research creates clothing inspired by India’s rich heritage of craft and culture - resulting in a vibrant, joyful and exquisitely detailed collection. The brand focuses on maintaining ancient crafts and techniques and works closely with Indian artisans, with every garment created by hand. Weaving the past with the present, each stitch and seam defines craftsmanship in a contemporary way.
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Kartik Research Embroidered Cotton Two-Button Blazer, £435 and Embroidered Cotton Cargo Trousers, £390
Bode Beaded Wildflower Shirt, £790
Bode
Fuelled by the excitement she first felt when treasure hunting around antique markets as a child, Emily Adams Bode and her eponymous brand (pronounced Boh-dee) lovingly reworks foraged vintage fabrics into wearable – and sometimes one-of-a-kind – objet d'art. Breathing new life into rare textiles, each Bode collection is designed in the label’s New York studio and meticulously tailored by local artisans, all of which draw upon a wealth of traditionally female-centric skills, from quilting and embroidery to appliqué and mending.
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Dries Van Noten
The third generation in a family of tailors, Dries Van Noten’s passion for fabrics, crafting and fashioning beautiful but functional clothing was inherited at an early age. Once an original member of the Antwerp Six – the collective of avant-garde designers that propelled Belgium onto the global fashion stage in the 1980s – today his play with textures, sculptural shaping and richly coloured prints are all style signatures that have earnt him a cult following. These are the kind of collector’s items that will become part of your forever wardrobe.
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Dries Van Noten Printed Carltone Shirt, £1,130
Carhartt WIP Calen Open Knit Sweater, £130
Carhartt WIP
Ask any hype-hunter and they’ll tell you that Carhartt WIP is (or at least should be) the cornerstone of any wardrobe. First founded back in 1989 and with an objective to make staples that stand the test of time, its fusion of rugged-American-workwear-meets-streetwear is still enjoying cult-status some 30 years later. Adopted as a uniform by skaters, musicians, cool kids and more besides, it’s Carhartt WIP’s quality-first approach to fashion that also makes its menswear so coveted. Expect robust fabrics, lifelong durability and expert construction.
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