Totally Swede: The 15 Best Scandinavian Brands Right Now

In a scant five years, two friends from Denmark started an eyewear line that quickly expanded into a full apparel collection with a store in Cophenhagen and a second location that just opened in SoHo, NYC. Han Kjobenhavn comes strong every season with a clean Danish workwear aesthetic that has just enough funkiness to appeal to those who like to get a little rowdy. If designers Jannik Wikkelso Davidsen and Tim Faith were able to accomplish so much in just half a decade, who knows what these productive Danes are primed to do next. We just know it'll look dope.

With roots that extend back to New Haven, CT in 1949, Gant Rugger is a subdivision of the larger Gant company, a Swedish-owned business. But the label's look is still as American as the brand's origins story. The youth-targeting and more on-trend Gant Rugger is a favorite amongst the #menswear set, and the classic prep brand will continue to hang in the closets of dudes looking for a sophisticated air with zero stuffiness or pretension.

Don't be confused, this brand isn't anywhere near the giant flashy stores of NYC's Fifth Ave. The Stockholm, Sweden-based brand named itself after an old shoe store in London that focused on craft, quality, and respect for the product. Since 2004, these are the values that Lee Cotter has designed the men's line with the elegance and humor that one generally finds in Swedish personalities. Yes, on first glance the clothes look dark and gothic, but there are always bits of unexpected originality and play in each garment, so don't sleep.

We can't front like we're okay with fast-fashion, but H&M deserves to make this list on the strength of their collaborations alone. The wild success of their Yeezy endorsed collabos set a business model that's been duplicated in numerous variations. But they also offer decent options at a price point that is accessible to almost anyone who cares about style and their appearance. Founded in 1947, Hennes & Mauritz now count about 2,900 locations around the world and allow countless customers to aspire to Kanye's level of style icon (style god?).

What started out in 2000 as a second-hand clothing store is now a brand with a huge consumer base that can find Cheap Monday in stockists that range from Barney's to Urban Outfitters. The label began selling their own clothing in 2004, and were instrumental in ushering in the era of skinny jeans. While we've backed away from the scrotum-crushing fits of the '00s, Cheap Monday led us away from the super-baggy jeans that we as a society should collectively forget ever happened. The brand still offers dope pieces to dudes who aren't trynna spend rent money on good quality gear.

The Danish-born designer splits her work between Copenhagen and London, but in her short time in the spotlight she's blended the streetwear vibes of each city to create something entirely her own. She's already found a fan in A$AP Rocky, and her SS14 showing at London Collections: Men received high praises as she and her team produced a solo show without the guidance of the designer incubator MAN. Her designs are at the forefront of everything we call streetwear, and definitely give a glimpse into future possibilities of combining a street aesthetic with advanced technical construction.

As the higher-end version of H&M, COS is a slick minimal brand that has the modern and pared down aesthetic that people usually associate with Scandinavian design. At the moment it's only available in a few European, Asian, and Middle Eastern stores, but H&M is looking to bring COS stateside at some point in the near future. Until then, we'll have to bite our nails and pine for the Swedish brand that looks like an affordable mash-up of Jil Sander, A.P.C., and even a little T by Alexander Wang.

Silas Adler just wanted to print T-shirts for his friends and skate as much as possible. However, as soon as he started designing Soulland in 2002, he knew he was onto something bigger, and he's now at the head of a label that's not quite menswear, not quite streetwear, but defining the middle ground in between the two with Scandinavian humor and weighted thought. And in addition to all this, Soulland might take the crown for sickest collaboration of 2013 after producing a miniature capsule collection with Babar the Elephant.

There is no other bag and accessories company in Scandinavia that produces pieces better constructed or better-looking than Mismo. Back in 2003, noticing a lack of decent options for carrying around laptops, the Danish Adam Bach decided to create a more stylish alternative that still held function at its heart. The simplicity of each Mismo piece disguises a luxurious element that is in line with the best of Danish design, and combines incredible quality materials with a unfailing utilitarianism all traveler know is necessary.

Unlike many of his Scandinavian counterparts, Henrik Vibskov's collections celebrate color and defy the minimalism that is otherwise so prevalent in the region's design. After graduating from Central Saint Martins in 2001, where he supposedly went to impress "a really hot girl," Vibskov went on to create collections that dominated the conversation during various men's fashion weeks around the world. He's also pursued artistic endeavors that extend beyond fashion, including film, installations, and music. In all these pursuits, his sensibilities reflect what goes into his clothing: attention to detail, craftsmanship, and essentially doing whatever the fuck he wants to.

Very few brands have authentically captured the essence of downtown cool like Johan Lindeberg has with his brand BLK DNM. The brand is based in NYC, but Lindeberg definitely infuses a Scandinavian gothic minimalism into the label's signature denim and motorcycle jackets. If A$AP Rocky and Theophilus London can be counted amongst your brand's fans, then you'll make any "best of" list for sure.

Wood Wood has been quietly building up its reign over Scandinavian streetwear since it launched in 2002. Sporty silhouettes take influence from high-fashion, but are always restrained and wearable for any dude not looking to skate through the streets of Copenhagen, NYC, or London. The brand stays eclectic without getting too gimmicky, and has been expanding quickly, with stores opening in Moscow, Vienna, Berlin, and multiple cities in Denmark.

Acne is the brand that introduced the world to a minimal, well-thought out aesthetic that has come to define the Scandinavian aesthetic. In 1996 the brand launched by putting 100 pairs of unisex jeans on their friends and family, but it was soon catering a global fanbase of young, stylish, creatives who respected the craftsmanship and functionality that didn't compromise on its sophisticated look. The company claims to be more than just a clothing company, and has its hands dipped in numerous artistic pots. But what they do best is defining and leading the Swedish tendency to combine rawness with elegance, put together with incredible construction and design.

The garments from Our Legacy definitely blur the line between utilitarianism and style, but are subtle enough for each wearer to define the piece as he sees fit. All pretensions are put aside in favor of insanenly high-quality construction and materials that have defined the brand since it's founding in 2005. The brand embodies a relaxed timelessness that never chases trends or markets to a specific customer. Any smart consumer who prefers informed, subdued clothing should and will eventually make their way to the Swedish brand.

Norse Projects' greatest strength is its consistency. The brand has taken a winding path to become the top Scandinavian brand right now, with roots in skating, art, and beginning as a retail streetwear shop in 2002. But as of now, the label produces severely strong collections every damn season. As a product of their cold environment, the gear is simple, durable, and original. The brand's tagline is "created to improve life - good for all seasons," and it unwaveringly adheres to this philosophy. The listed brands have all progressed the regions' style in different ways, but Norse Projects simply embodies and visualizes the core principles of Scandinavian design and life better than anyone else.