Mavericks Of Style | Acne Studios, A.P.C., Public School

Acne Studios, Men’s Fall/Winter Lookbook.

Distinguished yet wearable design in menswear can sometimes prove a challenge to find. But these designers have found ways to push the boundaries of contemporary menswear, in part by redefining what the traditional staples are – how they should be made, look, and what they should feel like. The result is high-quality, sharply designed ready-to-wear collections that bear the distinct perspective of their respective brands and designers. Acne Studios, A.P.C., and Public School are relatively new brands, each with their own strong sartorial identity. What is consistent across these designers’ labels is a desire to innovate without getting too esoteric. As these designers progress, we look forward to seeing where their inspiration takes them. 

Acne Studios – Jonny Johansson

Jonny Johansson. Photo: Alexander Klein (Getty).

Acne Studios is widely considered one of the coolest, consistently intriguing fashion brands around. Co-founded by Jonny Johansson, who also serves as the brand’s global creative director, Acne Studios approaches style through a multidisciplinary lens, combining Johansson’s interests in photography, art, and architecture to create a spectrum of lifestyle products around its ready-to-wear offerings, from print objects to furniture.

Johansson’s signature attention to detail, his sense of rigid functionality, material experimentation, and refined tailoring, has led the brand to become the most internationally recognized designer label from Sweden, with more than 40 Acne Studios stores located in Paris, London, New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen, as well as 650 retailers in more than 40 countries.

A.P.C. – Jean Touitou

Jean Touitou. Photo: Foc Kan (Getty).

French clothing brand A.P.C. was founded in 1987 by Jean Touitou, a self-taught French-Tunisian designer who grounds his menswear in simple, minimalist, French-inspired designs. A.P.C. became especially relevant in the last decade, riding the success of their always dope selvedge jeans to establish many successful creative collaborations, with companies including  iconic American workwear brand Carhartt, as well as partnering with influential celebrities such as Kanye West. Despite getting in some hot water for his frequent political incorrectness, A.P.C. continues to thrive, tastefully blending streetwear with ready-to-wear to create stylish yet understated staples for men.

Public School – Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne

Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne, co-founders of Public School. Photo by Johnny Nunez (Getty).

Here’s Some Key Pieces From Each Of These Brands: