Here Are Our Top Brands from the New Harvey Nichols Contemporary Menswear Department

Images via Harvey Nichols

LA-based menswear brand Fear of God are a super moody high-end interpretation of grunge-inspired clothing, and their aesthetic is on point for Fall/Winter 2014. You want to be thinking about John Bender from The Breakfast Club right now, because he was pretty much the coolest dude then, and he'd be pretty much the same today. Now their exclusive UK stockist, Harvey Nichols got it so right with this choice.

In case you've always-wondered-but-never-Googled, A.P.C. stands for 'Atelier de Production et de Création', and was founded in 1987 by Tunisian-Jewish born designer Jean Touitou. The ready to wear brand is based in France, and is a staple of menswear today. The epitome of continental-European cool, A.P.C. Make high-quality garments and have collaborated with huge names, like Carhartt WIP and the lord Yeezus himself. A welcome addition to any man's wardrobe.

VFiles is basically running stuff right now. Not only is the online community revolutionising the way people interact with fashion online, It's now into its second season with the in-house brand, VFiles Sport+. A high-end take on sportswear, the brand is ridiculously popular with fans of the VFiles community, and Harvey Nichols are the exclusive UK stockist for what is fast becoming one of the most in demand brands around.

It was announced back in June that Trapstar would be launching its Red Line label collection as a Harvey Nichols UK exclusive, and now we can see where that slots into the grand plan. Trapstar are a UK streetwear mainstay, and have flown the flag for the UK proudly while breaking into the American market, which we should all be proud of them for. The Red Line is centred around two of nature's elements—earth and water—and features prints presented in the trademark black and white colour scheme.

Take a little bit of London's edge, some Parisian chic, and a touch of Scandinavian minimalism, mix it together and you'll get Common Sweden. Founded in Malmö, Sweden in 2012 by Emma Hedlund and Saif Bakir, Common has really found its niche in the world of menswear, combining the best of the best when it comes to aesthetic and construction. We've got no doubt the brand will play a central role in the new contemporary menswear department with their Fall/Winter 2014 collection, “Tech-Noir.”

“Superheroes might be the world's only remaining hope.” This is the message of the latest collection from Y-3, the powerhouse brainchild of Yohji Yamamoto and adidas, launching in the new department. A fusion of sportswear and streetwear, all wrapped up a clean, Japanese aesthetic with a conscious emphasis on functionality.

Pyer Moss was founded by Kerby Jean-Raymond, who uses a mixture of luxurious fabrics, technical sportswear and American craftsmanship to slot into the modern man's wardrobe. Slimline cuts, a monochromatic colour palette and striking, jagged edges all feature in the new collection, which pays homage to the Samurai. You can't go wrong with the attention to detail Jean-Raymond pours into the brand, and its the perfect fit for the contemporary menswear department.

Mostly Heard Rarely Seen (MHRS) is a Japanese streetwear brand that is making its European debut in the new department at Harvey Nichols. Designer Thomas Li reflects on the streetwear culture he grew up with, with an emphasis on design, quality, and innovation. MHRS is a really exciting brand that's a breath of fresh air in an increasingly stagnant-feeling section of the industry, applying their unique take on contemporary fashion to the classic hunting jackets and military silhouettes.

Alex Carapetian and Alonzo Ester both grew up in LA, and first got into clothes through working in retail. After years of working as buyers, stylists, and brand consultants, they decided to move on and start their own project, which turned into Long Journey. With heavy streetwear influences, they mix vintage silhouettes with modern fabrics and construction methods, creating a new take on menswear that mixes sportswear with traditional and military aesthetics.

Sidian, Ersatz and Vanes (SEV) is a brand built around the essentials, and executing them perfectly, so their focus is on their shirts and jackets. They've evolved their use of materials, so their graphics have progressed from prints, to weaves like jacquard so that they can present more consistent patterns, deeper textures, and richer colours, which make for radder shirts that can be worked in well with any wardrobe.

Monica Monroe is the latest effort Eddie Huang, the chef/Vice personality/F-O-Based god, to get back into fashion, following his now defunct streetwear brand Hoodman Clothing. Much like Huang himself, the brand is loud, brash and brazen, with tons of prints and colours splashed across streetwear staples like tracksuits, baseball jerseys and hoodies. 

A classic menswear staple, Alpha Industries has a rich military and aviation heritage, evident in its best known product, the MA-1 bomber jacket. The American brand doesn't just make bomber jackets though, with a huge range of outerwear, and casualwear also in its collections.