Losko continues its survey of clothing brands whose ranges will satisfy even the most discerning minimalist. In this article we have gathered 10 brands from around the world that are not only practical, but also stylish.
Arc'teryx
Named after Archaeopteryx — the first dinosaur to have developed feathers for flight in the course of evolution — the Vancouver-based brand Arc'teryx produces outerwear for harsh autumn and winter conditions, as well as for skiing and mountaineering. "Simple solutions for complex challenges" is the motto of a brand that invests considerable effort in crafting clean lines that allow freedom of movement, selecting fabrics capable of withstanding any weather, and developing ergonomic, pared-back designs.
Håndværk
The brand Håndværk (Danish for "handcraft") was founded nearly 15 years ago in New York by a couple with a long and extensive background in the textile industry — the Esteban family has worked in the field for over a century, while Petra studied textiles and design at university. The brand works with small, family-run manufacturers from around the world.
The brand's range consists entirely of essential men's and women's pieces — T-shirts, vests, long-sleeves, polos and more — in white, black and grey (with select styles also available in, for example, ecru, khaki or navy). To develop the very first collection, the couple spent three months noting which items from their own wardrobes they wore almost every day, and built the range around those pieces. Håndværk does not want to be seen as a fashion label — they position themselves as a supplier of considered wardrobe essentials.
Acne Studios
You have almost certainly heard of this not-quite-euphoniously named brand — which, incidentally, has nothing to do with skin conditions; the name stands for Ambitions to Create Novel Expressions — if you follow even a single fashion account. What's more, the brand appeals not only to devotees of minimalism but also to those drawn to more glamorous and luxurious pieces. The reason lies in the eclectic nature of the brand's collections, which at times border on kitsch, yet the clothing of Acne is received almost as high fashion: occasionally exaggerated, sometimes playful, but on the whole stylish and refined.
That said, the brand offers plenty of essentials too: the collections carry echoes of a private-school aesthetic, classic outerwear with a twist, thoroughly understated cardigans, and bags in noble, clean colours. At Acne you can find not only statement pieces but also the classic basics so beloved by minimalists — the building blocks of any wardrobe.
They
The founders of the Manhattan footwear brand They also bring the right pedigree to the table: more than 30 years of family experience in the Japanese footwear industry. As a result, particular attention is paid to both the materials and the appearance of every product. They subscribe to a philosophy of design for design's sake — their collections are inspired by Bauhaus geometry and Japanese contemporary art — while never losing sight of functionality and comfort.
The brand's signature footwear design — contrasting geometric forms — required a specially developed construction. To ensure the pattern remained undistorted across the transition from upper to sole, a unique cut was engineered. The result is graphics that appear perfectly crisp and seamless.
COS
This brand belongs to the H&M group and carries on the parent company's tradition of combining elegant, clean colours, classic silhouettes and unexpected details. Unlike H&M, however, at COS you won't find printed pieces or kitsch here — this is a more restrained brand. The jewellery also deserves special attention: it is neither flashy nor glittering, but delicate, almost invisible, and sometimes strikingly unexpected in form.
The Row
The Row was founded in 2006 by sisters Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen. The collections feature elegant single-colour suits and outerwear, classic bags and shoes, and refined sunglasses. Over more than a decade, the brand has collaborated with several fashion houses from around the world, released a backpack collection with Damien Hirst, and the Olsen sisters have received the Designers of the Year award three times — as well as the Wall Street Journal's Innovator of the Year in Fashion award in 2012.
La Débraillée
In French, débraillée means a slovenly or carelessly dressed person. Italian designer Alisa Rosignoli named her brand accordingly, because its founder places comfort and ease above all else. La Débraillée produces simple yet stylish leather bags designed to be worn in both conventional ways and unconventional ones — on the wrist like a bracelet, for instance. The brand works with a small family-run workshop in Italy, making the creation of each bag a carefully controlled and, in its own way, intimate process.
THISISNON
This Polish brand dedicates its work to people who value ideas over trends and find beauty in simplicity. The pieces of THISISNON are produced in just two colours, the silhouettes are pared back to their simplest, and the collections are identified not by season or concept but by the names of their fabrics — Black Wool, Raw Silk, Black Merino. Warm pieces come in black; garments made from lighter materials are white. The brand also produces strikingly elegant lookbooks.
Hemsmith
Hemsmith is a young New York brand inspired by Scandinavian style and the idea that dressing well shouldn't require much thought. The range covers everything from sweatshirts and crop tops to culottes and slip-style dresses: Hemsmith's aim is to build a wardrobe for the modern person living life to the full. Collections include statement pieces that anchor an entire look, as well as simpler garments that leave room for layering, combining and accessorising.
Melitta Baumeister
Melitta Baumeister — a young German fashion designer who moved to New York and founded a label of minimalist yet highly individual and unconventional clothing. Each collection is unlike the last, presenting a fashion experiment in its own right — the designer has no qualms about unusual silhouettes and unexpected materials. While the 2016 collections still feature grotesque shapes and vinyl coats, the 2017 collections are more restrained — though modest they are not.
If you appreciate a pared-back approach to dressing and feel drawn to eco-friendly consumption, you will almost certainly be interested in the first instalment of our roundup of minimalist clothing brands.
