Style

10 Brands That Are About to Blow Up

Get up on them before everyone else does.

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Personal style is a tricky thing. Even if you know what you want, you need to find brands that you identify with and are comfortable wearing to express that. And trust, there are a shit ton of brands to choose from. With market week and fashion week in the recent past, the Internet has given you plenty of opportunities to sort it out. But, let us help you figure out which brands are really going to step it up this year. Sure, you have your mainstay that drop a collection you will want to stand in line for, but there is nothing better than getting down with an upcoming brand before anyone else.

We've gotten a glimpse at a few brands with some serious potential to be the talk of the town in 2013, ranging from streetwear to street goth and everything in between. Just don't tell anyone about these 10 Brands That Are About to Blow Up.

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Damn, have you seen the tops from this Italian designer, yet? Well, Lebron has. So has Pusha T. That's a big deal. And deservedly so, because the bold, vibrant graphics of the Milan-based brand aren't just on those oversized luxury T-shirts anymore. Prepare for some crewnecks and hoodies with even more great prints on them, making these incredibly-made pieces officially ballerific.

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Journal Standard has been around since the 90's and, for some reason, each and every year they kill itand go mostly unnoticed. The worst part is that we only see a fraction of their full collection because there haven't been many stockists in the states. The Japanese brand has staples with a noticeable twist of excellence and we're lucky shops like Bodega are carrying it now because, from what we've seen the past couple of market weeks in NY, it won't be long before this brand is a mainstay in the US.

Can your brain wrap itself around everything that is going on with Luar Zepol? Probably not. And that's OK. That's why we're here. To tell you this is cool. You know why? Because no one is taking risks, and making thought provoking clothes, like Luar. Head designer Raul Lopez (Luar Zepol backwards, duh) who was once part of the design team at Hood by Air, took his own design aesthetic, and expanded upon those ideas, and is now in his third season. Look out for Luar Zepol on the backs of the masses, as they plan to release some limited edition tee's very soon.

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Highland

The urban lumberjack is a long gone look. Enter a new stylish outdoorsman, the urban mountaineer, which Highland has perfected. The amazing fall/winter 2013 looks include technical features for all your extreme outdoorsy needs, but let's face it: The most "hiking" you'll be doing is to the trek to the bodega after three inches of snow.

When a brand gets revived almost 40 years after its conception, you've gotta really go all out to make sure it's a success. Well, Boast CEO Ryan Babenzien went all the way the fuck out with the sporty heritage menswear brand, especially for their fall/winter 2013 collection, focusing on dope knit cardigans and sweaters and name-brandished rugbies with that marijuana-leaf-like logo (it's actually a Japanese Maple Leaf, but we can dream right?).

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With a crazy revamp to the website, solely showcasing a fall/winter 2013 collection with incredibly unique fabrics and avant garde designs, there are a few things we know for sure: 1. Rhude isn't just about Bandana T-shirts anymore, 2. Head designer, Rhuigi Villasenor truly is a young leader in style, and 3. this could possibly be one of the best collections you haven't seen yet for fall/winter 2013. Expect to see some VIPs wearing a plethora of these pieces in the next few months. Mark our words.

Sir New York came through PROJECT NY and crushed the building. So much that they had a couple A$AP Mob members drop in on that "oh, I gotta have that!" tip. With their inaugural year coming and going, this upstart "athletic goth" brand is one that will inevitably get it's shine in 2013 for their drape-y innovation.

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Streetwear will never die. So when Zanerobe says they're pushing "progressive streetwear", that pretty much means it's next level streetwear, which, if you didn't read before, will never die. The Australian surf-inspired brand keeps the fun in streetwear, giving us great printson a wide spectrum of shirting and bottoms that have a "feel good" fit, contrary to some of other boring brands giving you the same old. Who doesn't wanna feel good in 2013?

Off the strength of its recent lookbook alone, The Windmill Club should/could/will blow up. But the incredible quality of the sewn-on twill numbered, tan grosgrain-detailed oxford shirts designed by Kevin Burrows, co-author of Fuck Yeah Menswear, most likely makes you want to add one in your spring/summer collection while making room for what's to come for fall.

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Well, this L.A. brand certainly came out of the woodwork. From bringing a very dope black and white lookbook to cosigns from Big Sean and the almighty King of Style himself, Kanye West, Jerry Lorenzo's brand describes itself as "the modern day disciple inspired by the Most High and street-culture." It's nice to see a brand that goes beyond the done-to-death trend of religious iconography and, even though it may look impractical, is actually highly functional for everyday use. The street goth style movement is very much alive and Fear of God is leading the new wave of hype.

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