Why on earth would you want to be, or look, or feel like everyone else? This week, take a look at offerings from three very different fashion brands that, in their own individual ways, embraced boldness.
If there is anything that is classical music no known for their fantastic and attractive t-shirts. come in Archive clothesmakers of vintage-inspired t-shirts for people with unique tastes.
“We launched with a classical music collection to bring a much-needed edge to the genre's clothing options,” Michael King, one of Archival Apparel's resident “design nerds,” told me. The range includes a tee for Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, featuring a suitably hypnotic Swiss-inspired interlaced geometry, and a Prokofiev 'Skull' tee. The latter, in particular, “captures our mission to create unexpected and incredibly cool designs,” King said. “By mixing a touch of punk rock with the iconography of classical music, we hope to bring something with a nice twist to Prokofiev lovers.” Other shirts that celebrate composers like Shostakovich, Béla Bartók and Stravinsky finally convey them as the badass rock stars that they are.
Shostakovich shirt from Archival Apparel
Archive clothes It started as a group of friends passionate about classic graphic design, music, film, books and the arts. “Bewildered by the selection of t-shirts out there, we challenged ourselves to design and print a t-shirt featuring one of our favorite artists for a different member of the group each week. People liked the t-shirts so much that we decided to print- them on a larger scale.”
The brand is working to expand its offering to include more styles of music (jazz and soul are next), as well as art, literature and film collections in the coming months.
The Future Monsters fashion line combines elements of alternative, horror and rock 'n' roll. “We've been affectionately dubbed 'creepy couture' or 'rock 'n' roll with a Halloween twist,' which perfectly captures our essence,” said founder Zachary Dial. At the heart of the brand is a reverence for vintage punk and street fashion.
Future Monsters eschews mass production in favor of small-batch manufacturing, using high-quality fabrics. “Our goal is not just to compete, but to excel,” Dial said, with “premium statement pieces” that stand out in a rampant disposable industry. “They are investments in personal expression.”
As an ardent music fan, Dial had always admired the effortless freshness of rock icons. “I noticed an obvious gap in the market for affordable interpretations of these revered looks,” Dial told me. “I often found myself thrifting or browsing expensive vintage stores, which only fueled my determination to fill that void.” Dial was also driven by a love of horror films, instilled in him by his “real buff” uncle. “I embarked on a mission to create a brand that seamlessly fuses the worlds of rock, horror and punk.”
The Pugsley Raw Neck beautifully encapsulates the style and spirit of the brand. “It's timeless, it's easy and it goes with everything,” said Dial. The Lurker Cap, inspired by vintage fisherman's caps and featuring 'lurker' buttons reminiscent of classic Universal Monsters, is Future Monsters' twist on a traditional accessory. However, for a true statement piece, it's hard to beat the Harlequin Button Up Silk Chiffon. “This button-down, to me, is a real statement piece,” said Dial, “perfect for elevating any ensemble.”
Future Monsters' Lurker Harlequin Cap and Buttons
Alex Crane admits that the tagline behind his eponymous clothing brand – “feel breezy” – is a bit “abstract”. “In simple words, it means we choose materials, colors and fits that make us feel joyful,” Crane said. “If shorts make us feel athletic and sports coats make us feel cool, Alex Crane's clothes make us feel breezy.”
For Crane, the breeze starts with a commitment to make 100% plastic-free clothing. “The vast majority of clothing is made from plastic-based synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon that leach microplastics everywhere. Ours are made from precious natural materials like linen and coconut and organic cotton and banana leaves are not only better for the environment, they also make better clothes. Natural materials are more breathable, more luxurious, and this is the world we want to create with our clothes.”
Crane has always loved making clothes; it's his “natural drive,” he said. “I could probably give an explanation like, 'It's the perfect marriage of form and function,' but all I can say is that I'm sure I'm always clear about what I want to do.”
By his own admission, Crane is not a natural entrepreneur. He worked in the world of corporate clothing for several years before realizing that “everyone was just pretending to have the answers.” In 2017 he decided to start a clothing brand himself, designing the first collection in his flat. “I was mostly on my own for the first two years and it was pretty brutal. I thought about quitting all the time. But now I'm totally hooked.”
Alex Crane's Alta dress
Alex Crane has just released the Alta Suit, the brand's first blazer and trousers, in a body-hugging, super-soft, beautifully draped 100% French linen. “The buttons are corozo,” notes Crane, “a subtropical palm nut known as 'vegetable ivory.'” Plus, the dress is unstructured and unlined, so it looks natural from the get-go. “We let the natural materials speak and a common piece becomes something fresh and new. The industry is so inundated with synthetic materials that it's surprising how good it feels to wear something completely natural.”
