Skip to main content

This Year’s Need-to-Know Men’s Brands for the Everyman

For the last two weeks, The Manual has  been in New York City attending the men’s trade shows and Fashion Week.

Over this sartorially saturated fortnight, we had the privilege of taking a look at (and lovingly fondling) dozens of menswear, grooming, and fashion brands. From knitwear, to ties, to umbrellas, to shoes, we gorged ourselves on a veritable feast of fashion (and grooming and lifestyle) and came away feeling that menswear and grooming are really nailing it this season. We not only saw the classics (suits, ties, and sleek sneakers), but also some fashion-forward streetwear and some foreign brands we’d love to see more of in America.

So, without any further ado, we present the need-to-know men’s brands for 2017. You might want to keep these in the back of your mind when doing your spring wardrobe shopping.

Ajoto

ajoto silver and gold pens
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Pens? Really? Yes. Because Ajoto makes some seriously, seriously great ones. Machined from brass or aluminum (and in several colors), these pens are solid in the hand–making them feel truly luxurious. Compared to a ball-point, these writing instruments are much sturdier and altogether way better looking. With a unique twist mechanism to bring out and retract the nib, you’ll never have to hear that annoying pen-click again. We were particularly smitten with the matte black version, but the brass came in a very close second.

Maak Lab

maak lab soap shower kit
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Maak Lab produces some of the most unique soaps and candles we’ve seen. Oriented toward more masculine scents, Maak Lab’s wet and bar soaps and candles often smell like cedar, balsa wood, citrus, or ginger. Using only all-natural ingredients, including olive and coconut oils, these soaps are meant for the hands and body, but work great further afield when camping or backpacking. Most ingredients also come from local Pacific Northwest Farms, giving this brand a small carbon footprint. Their candles are made with natural beeswax and come in glass or ceramic containers.

Konkho

konkho shoes
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This Spanish sneaker brand was a nice surprise when compared with all of the minimalist, neutral-colored low-tops we saw. Tending toward monochromatic finishes in leather and suede, Konkho’s color aesthetics are a refreshing departure from more recent sneaker color trends. Another interesting feature found in the brand is the ever-present large toe-cap on the shoes. This (often contrasting or tonally complimentary) design feature will likely become this brand’s signature look as it expands beyond Europe.

The Bearded Bastard

The Bearded Bastard
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Hand-made in Austin, Texas, The Bearded Bastard’s line of beard oils, balms, and waxes can compete with any other high-end grooming outfit out there. Where The Bearded Bastard stands out is its attention to detail–using all-natural ingredients and making the product all in America with employees who are paid a living wage. With nine different scents and a whole slew of products, there’s something for every man at The Bearded Bastard.

Post-Imperial

post-imperial lookbook spring 2017
Image used with permission by copyright holder

For the more fashion adventurous out there, Post-Imperial might just be what you’re looking for. Making good use of large, bold patterns and colors, this menswear brand is making waves in the streetwear category. If you’re into looking bold, yet relaxed, and confident with a dash of insouciance, Post-Imperial’s jackets, button-ups, ties, or pocket-squares are a great way to inject a little vibrancy into your wardrobe.

London Undercover

london undercover plaid underside umbrella
Image used with permission by copyright holder

While we hesitate to call anyone a flat-out failure, if you don’t own a high-quality, stylish umbrella by the time you’ve hit your early 30s, you might just fall into that category. Luckily, London Undercover offers up a large selection of streamlined umbrellas and are designed with a nod to British heritage styling, that makes them appropriate for any setting. What’s more, London Undercover also has a range of raincoats, bags, accessories, and smaller, fold-able umbrellas. They’ve also recently pulled-off some badass collabs with Vans and Carhartt.

Craighill

craighill metal 3d puzzle
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’re searching for masculine, minimalist home goods to upgrade your apartment or house, then Craighill is the brand for you. Craighill’s stand-out brass, 3D puzzles are not only a great distraction and fun workout for your brain, but are also excellent art pieces that look just as good put together on your coffee table as they do in pieces (see above). Beyond puzzles, Craighill has a line of money clips, valet trays, candle-holders, and jewelry (mostly solid metal bracelets) to round out its sleek collection.

Mitchell Evan

mitchell evan spring lookbook 2017
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Last year, we wrote about Mitchell Evan’s military-inspired collection. This spring, the brand’s focus is geared toward outerwear. Waffle-cut puffer jackets, bombers, long, slim-cut overcoats, and military-inspired cargo jackets make up the brand’s Collection III, which will be available later this year. Mitchell Evan’s overall look falls into the ‘refined urban’ category–meaning his looks are at home on streets of our densest city-centers.

Jungmaven

Jungmaven
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The big draw from Jungmaven is the fact that its collection is made from weed–well hemp, that is. As Jungmaven says of itself, “Hemp cleans oxygen, water and nourishes the land. Hemp is a natural fiber that’s cultivated with low impact on the environment. It requires no irrigation, uses no pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or GMO seeds. It’s one of the most durable natural fibers on the planet and results in a fabric with a wonderful hand.” The brand’s line of sweatshirts, henleys, tees, and long-sleeved shirts are simple, modern, durable, environmentally friendly and most importantly, soft. And the brand’s high point? All Jungmaven products are hand-made in America on 19th century machinery, making clear that craftsmanship (along with legal weed) isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Good Man Brand

good man brand
Image used with permission by copyright holder

With a collection primarily composed of neutral and darker tones, The Good Man brand has some of the best sartorial options for those disinclined to wear bright colors. What Good Man Brand lacks in color, it makes up for in both physical and visual texture. Take the above jacket as an example of Good Man Brand’s transcendence from solid-colored, smooth-textured blazers to this interesting, almost fleecy patterned look in heather gray. Good Man also offers up slim-cut checked and patterned button-ups with both modern and wide-spread collars. It also selsl a damned good pair of stretch chinos (in multiple colors) to complement many of the brand’s tops all while allowing freedom of movement.

Fulton and Roark

fulton and roark grooming line
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Fulton and Roark is a bespoke men’s grooming company based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The company got its start making high-quality take-anywhere solid colognes, but now they offer an entire line of shave and wash products. The quality, across the board, is great. The scents range from woody to floral to citrus-y to clean. All of their products have beautiful packaging and are made from high-quality, natural ingredients. For more information, take a look at our full review here.

Litoral

litoral menswear brand
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Christopher Blomquist notes in his recent interview with Litoral brand founder Pedro Monteiro that Litoral’s “Porto-based collection is named after the Portuguese word for the shore zone between high and low tide and is aptly inspired by the colors and textures of where the land meets the sea. Its assortment of bottoms, jackets and tops boasts an immensely wearable and covetable look that is entirely free of bells and whistles yet, due to the quality of the fabrics and subtle details, anything but basic. The color palette also reflects the brand’s earthy moniker with pulled-from-the-seaside hues such as blue, beige and green. And Monteiro names each seasonal collection after a different Portuguese seaside location.”

Chase McPeak
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Chase McPeak is the former Lifestyle Editor. Chase regularly appeared on Beards, Booze, and Bacon: The Manual Podcast where…
78 pairs of Gucci sneakers just had their prices slashed
A man wearing the Ace tennis sneakers.

The spring and summer months are the perfect time to upgrade your sneaker collection. With fresh styles and lightweight materials, sneakers are the best shoes for the warmer months for everyday wear, traveling or simply hanging out at a bar. Sneakers are now more popular than ever with men wearing them in both casual and formal situations. Here is a definitive guide to wearing a suit with sneakers if you want to combine a luxury look with a fresh new pair of kicks.

Right now, you can shop more than 70 pairs of Gucci sneakers on sale at Gilt. You can get up to $275 dollars off casual and fashion sneakers from this coveted brand in a mix of colors, styles and materials. Click the button below to start browsing these designer sneakers before time runs out.

Read more
Citizen celebrates 100th anniversary with throwback limited edition pocket watch
Citizen debuts 100th anniversary pocket watch
Citizen 100th anniversary pocket watch

Citizen watches have a legacy that spans a century, with a name that evokes reverence, innovation, and enduring quality. Now, in a momentous celebration of its 100th anniversary, Citizen unveils a breathtaking homage to their inaugural masterpiece: the Special Limited Edition Pocket Watch. That's right, a pocket watch for men. Since the success of Peaky Blinders and peak Thomas Shelby fame, pocket watches have garnered a somewhat cult following and Citizen has jumped on that bandwagon with a celebratory timepiece of their own.
Citizen watches: A brief history

In 1868, Japan underwent a significant transformation as the Edo period concluded, marking the end of samurai dominance. The dawn of the Meiji era saw Japan embrace modernization and industrial growth until 1912. By the 1920s, the widespread adoption of imported pocket watches reflected Japan's burgeoning participation in global trade.

Read more
Ted Baker sale: T-shirts, shorts, shirts, and more, from $12
ted baker gilt deals march 2024 smart casual

Building a capsule wardrobe is important for every man. You need to have classic and timeless apparel and accessories readily available in your closet at all times. This will make creating stylish outfits easy and accessible no matter what you have on your calendar. But sometimes, men like to experiment with their wardrobe by adding fun, bright and unique patterns to their apparel.

If you are on the hunt for fun clothing for the upcoming spring and summer months, look no further than Ted Baker. Right now, Gilt is having a sale where you can grab accessories and apparel from the popular British brand for as low as $12. Shop socks, t-shirts, pants, shorts, polo shirts, sweaters and more that range from funky prints to more classic hues and designs. Not sure what you are shopping for? Click the button below to start browsing over 200 Ted Baker styles at a discounted price.

Read more