Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

What We Know About Free Assembly: Walmart’s New Affordable Fashion Line for Men

Free Assembly Walmart Fashion Brand
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Walmart is entering the fashion game.

On September 21, the big-box store announced the launch of Free Assembly, a new fashion brand for men and women featuring fall staples at insanely affordable prices.

“We’ve built an in-house fashion design team with decades of experience designing for modern American brands known for mass appeal,” Denise Incandela, head of Walmart Fashion Group, wrote in a press release. “This new brand is born from thoughtful, simple design, quality fabrics, modern silhouettes, and styles updated for today.”

The brand’s main selling point is its value. For example, the most expensive item from its 25-piece menswear collection is a $45 parka jacket (yes, you read that correctly). And denim lovers can scoop up a pair of selvedge slim fit jeans for $40, which is quite a steal, given that quality selvedge can easily sell for triple that amount.

Free Assembly
Image used with permission by copyright holder

By the looks of it, Free Assembly also delivers plenty of style for your buck, as the collection is made up of no-frills tops and bottoms that will still look decent for years to come; pants are cut in straight and slim-fit silhouettes, two-pocket flannel shirts comfortably hug your shoulders, and smart undershirts could pass for business casual during your work-from-home calls. While you won’t find any faux leather jackets, tie-dye hoodies, or other flash-in-the-pan trends here, this stuff is made to last. Think of it as an even more affordable version of Gap, which is no surprise, given that Free Assembly is designed by Dwight Fenton, who has also worked for Bonobos, J. Crew, and Old Navy.

“I’m confident that this new brand will quickly become an essential part of their everyday wardrobe,” Incandela said. Though time will tell on that statement, we have to tip our hat to Walmart, who knows a market opportunity when they see it. Now, well into our pandemic reality and seeming economic freefall, guys are being more frugal (to say the least) with how they spend their hard-earned paychecks, especially when it comes to their wardrobes. And unless you want to turn to thrifting, Free Assembly is one of the most competitively priced menswear collections out there now.

Editors' Recommendations

Christian Gollayan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As the former Associate Managing Editor, Christian Gollayan was in charge of the entire editorial team across The Manual. He…
Men’s grooming: What the modern day man needs to know (from head to toe)
Grooming for men: Looking good in today's world, under the clothes
A man reading a book

Men have some catching up to do. For decades, women have focused on grooming, skin care, hair care, and everything from head to toe. Men, on the other hand, have traditionally focused more on clothes (if that) with little to no regard for our skin and hair. Luckily for us, an explosion of companies have begun to surface that focus on our physical appearance below the wardrobe, and it has arrived just in time for us to catch up to ladies; now is the time for the rise of men's grooming. 

Below, we're going to help you kickstart your bodily focus by giving you some tips, tricks, and maybe a few brands or products that will help you look your very best even before you start looking at your style.

Read more
Men’s fall fashion tips: Is your wardrobe ready for the season?
What you need to know about men's fall fashion (and storing those summer clothes)
A man in a green and gray jacket whittles a stick to a sharp point

You have likely seen the Halloween decorations and pumpkins start to litter the houses in your neighborhood, the candy aisle has doubled in size, or your Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays are dominated by football. Any of these could tell you that fall is here, so you need to start preparing for apple picking, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, and of course, colder and wetter weather.

While changing the decorations around the home, switching your regular tires on the car to snow tires, and putting the lawn mower away for the rake or leaf blower are part of the preparations, your wardrobe needs attention, too. Here are some tips for ensuring you have the proper clothing prepped for the season and your summer clothes are taken care of appropriately for the long wait to spring. Keep reading to get some tips on men's fashion for the fall.

Read more
All new Rolex 1908 men’s watch leans into timeless Rolex styling and we can’t get enough of it
You won't stop staring at it, but that has nothing to do with what time it is
The Rolex Perpetual 1908

The world’s most desirable watch brand, Rolex, is paying homage to its long and storied history with a new series of watches. The new Rolex watch takes inspiration from the vintage timepieces that made the luxury brand what it is today. So expect an almost impossibly slim profile, smaller dimensions than modern men’s watches, and large numbers. Another nice vintage touch is the lack of a central seconds hand, with a dedicated sub-dial being used instead.

Rolex’s main inspiration when creating the Perpetual 1908 is the original Oyster Perpetual from 1931. While its 39mm diameter may be a little more petit than the 45+ mm dive watches that have been in vogue over the last few decades, it’s actually somewhat of a compromise. Many classic men’s watches are rocking 34mm or 36mm cases.

Read more