Image via Complex Original
It’s easy for brands to access people who may be in interested in them, but it takes a certain amount of strategy and skill to keep them there. Most of the time, that involves more than just posting random pictures of your goods on Instagram. These brands don’t rest on their laurels because they’re still trying to build something (this even applies to some bigger brands, like LG). They seem to have Instagram and its power figured out as they do an excellent job of presenting the brand—not just the product—in a way that creates the perfect online-to-IRL correlation. You get what you see and you like it with these 10 Emerging Brands You Should Follow on Instagram.
Laer Brand
There’s nothing like a fine, American-made leather jacket. It’s an unsurpassed, unequivocal classic. Laer, out of Los Angeles, is doing handmade leather jackets and other fine outerwear pieces justice while providing beautiful shots of all of it on Instagram using dramatic backdrops and highly-thought-out scenarios. You will surely be hearing more from this up-and-coming brand, so get acclimated now.
Greg Lauren
Ralph Lauren’s nephew has fashion in his blood, giving him the upper hand to become a highly respected designer. Greg Lauren’s eponymous label—something else that runs in the family—made headlines with its beautifully deconstructed pieces, which he showcased by the troves on the brand’s Instagram account. There’s something about seeing a tattered denim zip jacket on a peeled-paint wall that makes it feel super authentic and almost priceless.
CMMN SWDN
The Weeknd. Wiz Khalifa. Big Sean. Ian Connor. Guys you might not expect to be rocking an emerging Swedish brand’s wares, but alas, CMMN SWDN’s love affair with hip-hop runs deep. Kanye West’s former head designers, Saif Bakir and Emma Hedlund, take Scandinavian menswear to new heights with their brand, with its aesthetic is reflected in their Instagram, which includes behind-the-scene pictures of past shows, peeks of new goods and, of course, shout-outs to the big names helping push the brand to superstardom.
MR COMPLETELY
Anybody can make their pieces look cool with the right kind of lighting and a decent camera, but you can’t fake a well-made garment with up-close shots. Billy Walsh and his upstart UK-based brand, MR COMPLETELY, like to take the guesswork out of what you’re getting. His Instagram often gets into the nitty-gritty of his pieces, from fabric to cuts to seams, while giving his followers a look into what custom creep sneakers or zip-laden denim are just over the horizon for the grunge-inspired brand.
Nid de Guepes
French upstart Nid de Guepes is slowly making a name for itself internationally while holding down the fort for Europeans who enjoy long, dark silhouettes and unique details. The brand’s Instagram documents this like a highly sought-after photo album with starkly contrasted backgrounds set in the French Alps or the fantastical streets of Paris. These are the kind of shots you might find in your favorite photographer’s portfolio and it just so happens that the brand has the dope clothes to match.
Vetements
As one of the newest brands to have experienced the “Kanye Effect,” French label Vetements is also one of those brands that don’t need it to be successful. And the brand’s Instagram is a prime example of its prestige, showcasing an avant-garde, gender-bending collection in artfully crafted shots. Men and women play just as significant a role in wearing the clothes as the clothes themselves, proving how much thought the brand puts into these shots.
MIDNIGHT STUDIOS
The youth is well represented by Shane Gonzales and his up and coming brand, MIDNIGHT STUDIOS. Fresh off an astounding Spring/Summer 2015 collection, the 20-year-old leader’s unabashed approach to design is most apparent on MIDNIGHT’s Instagram, which puts the brand in it’s natural habitat out in the wild, worn to perfection by wily-looking teens down to get into some trouble for the fun of it. Keep an eye on Gonzales and his brand to see what they’ll do next.
Eytys
Two of the most popping things in menswear right now are sneakers with thick soles and Scandinavian brands, so a brand like Eytys is definitely thriving. Launched in 2013, the Swedish footwear brand’s wildly popular signature sneaker is strewn through its Instagram account sporadically, along with inspirational “moodboard” images of Mo’ne Davis and shout-outs to hometown rapper Yung Lean—all with the brand’s signature minimal black border. Eytys doesn’t want to take itself too seriously, which pairs nicely with the casual sneakers everyone should want in their closets.
Abasi Rosborough
If you know anything about Abdul Abasi and Greg Rosborough, then you know that they like to keep their personal lives under wraps, so to see their stellar brand, Abasi Rosborough, succeed in the social element is a testament to their menswear line and online aptitude. And who doesn’t want a behind-the-scenes looks at their world travels for fabric, architectural inspirations, and exclusive glimpses of their flourishing brand?
Aimé Leon Dore
Teddy Santis and Aimé Leon Dore’s meteoric rise up the ranks of the menswear elite is no fluke. A keen eye for minimalistic sportswear and menswear basics is heavily adored in the streets and it spills over into their popular Instagram account, showcasing their brand’s muted palette on light, crisp backgrounds, mixing in aesthetically pleasing photos that you can’t help but enjoy one at a time or at once altogether. Never straying away from the present theme’s self-policed boundaries, it is evident that ALD’s discipline is one of the brand’s most impressive traits.
