10 Under-the-Radar Men’s Shops in the South

Some of the most underrated menswear shops in the country can surprisingly be found in the south.

Jun 11, 2015
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You never know what you’re gonna get these days when traveling down across that Mason-Dixon line. You could get beautiful beaches, week-long street parties with beaded necklaces, or all-fried-everything. No matter what, you’re getting the time-honored traditions that have been passed down for generations. Style hasn’t always been considered one of those traditions—until now.

While New York and Los Angeles will forever be the country’s go-to for what’s really popping in the world of fashion, and the Internet will have everything easily accessible to us, the brick-and-mortars popping up left and right down south are frighteningly good and even more frighteningly under-the-radar. Don’t find yourself in unfamiliar territory, unaware and missing out on these 10 Under-the-Radar Shops in the South.

Indigo & Cotton

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Location: Charleston, S.C.

Best brands: Engineered Garments, OrSlow, Battenwear

When heading to the beaches of Charleston, you would be hard-pressed to find a bigger gem than Indigo & Cotton. Owner Brett Carron’s four-year-old shop has quietly been peddling heavy hitters like Engineered Garments and Gitman Vintage to southern vacationers and menswear buffs in-the-know, but it’s ever-increasing haul of some of these brand’s collections each season will hardly keep this shop under wraps for much longer, so regular patrons better stock up.

UNKNWN

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Location: Miami

Best brands: Nike, John Elliott, Band of Outsiders

In 2011, LeBron James and Co. caught everyone by surprise by opening a primo streetwear mecca down in Miami. Four years later, LeBron is back up north in Cleveland, but the shop is still thriving on the low, stocking Nike Quickstrikes, and collabs with BBC and up-and-coming heavy-hitters like John Elliott. Whether LBJ is still backing it or not is irrelevant as they’re gaining momentum in a growing market in the south.

STAG

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Location: Austin, Texas

Best brands: RRL, Tanner Goods, Universal Works

New York? Nah. Los Angeles? No way. Chicago. Ha! The answer is Austin. The question: Where is it all poppin’? The Live Music Capital of the World is ripe with youthful splendor, so a spot like STAG—while lesser known to the rest of the world—is the place to go to get easy-going menswear goodies from brands like RRL, Alex Mill, or Baldwin. They aren’t going to try and toss out a bunch of trendy pieces—just simple, good ol’ menswear. 

Billy Reid

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Location: Florence, Ala.

Best brands: Billy Reid

Billy Reid is a well-known menswear designer with shops all over the U.S., from New York to Atlanta to New Orleans. But it’s the unlikely home base of Florence, Alabama that truly sets it apart from the rest. Yes, the clothes are sweet because Billy has been doing this well for years, but the flagship store’s interior is world-renowned for its Southern mansion-style set-up, complete with mounted game, antique appliances, and hand-finished details. 

Re:Fresh

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Location: New Orleans

Best brands: A.P.C., John Elliott, Just Don

New Orleans is definitely one of those places where you have to be on your A-game to make it out unscathed. You’ve gotta be ready to go big or go home, which is where streetwear shop Re:Fresh comes in. Located in the historic French Quarter, this shop is right in the thick of the action and will be for some time as long as it keep stocking goods from A.P.C. and John Elliott to draw in the everyday style guy, while Just Don, Joyrich, and Tackma bring in the dudes who enjoy performing a stunt or two while they’re in “Nawlins.”

The Class Room

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Location: Houston

Best brands: Our Legacy, Engineered Garments, 3Sixteen

While this Houston-based boutique should not be under-the-radar, The Class Room’s New York-style attitude and Internet-ready brand list seems to be climbing atop the ranks since opening in 2012. Bridging the gap between “streetwear” and “menswear” by carrying everything from Our Legacy and Engineered Garments to Norse Projects and Saturdays NYC, their proverbial “class room” store relies on a clean aesthetic and well-curated selection to keep them successful. 

Social Status

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Location: Charlotte, N.C.

Best brands: Jordan Brand, Filling Pieces, Neighborhood

Charlotte, North Carolina isn’t typically the first place that pops into one’s mind when thinking “streetwear mecca,” yet Social Status made quite the case from itself, becoming one of the best slept-on spots this side of the Mississippi. The shop’s flagship store houses the type of footwear exclusives you’d have trouble finding in the Big Apple from brands like Jordan, Filling Pieces, and Buscemi, while bringing you high-end streetwear collections from Neighborhood that keep some of hip-hop’s elite coming back whenever they’re in town. Bet you won’t just pass through next time, will you?

By George

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Location: Austin, Texas

Best brands: Common Projects, Kapital, OrleyKapital, Orley

With Austin’s booming youthful population, it would be silly not to stay on top of the things that the young whippersnappers think is “dope.” And any shop in this country, let alone Austin, that carries Common Projects and Orley should be considered dope by everyone, young and old. This Orley should be considered dope by everyone, young and old. This well-established independent boutique will continue to stay atop the fashion elite of Austin while gaining headway on the rest of the nation. 

Apt606

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Location: Miami

Best brands: Raf Simons, Acne Studios, Alexander Wang



Miami is booming with fashionable people, but a lot of it is based around flair with flamboyant colors or extremely tailored menswear. Apt606, located in the Miami Design District, has a strong brand list that favors the more avant-garde fashion enthusiasts, which is something you don’t see a ton of in the south. Brands like Raf Simons and Kris Van Assche line the walls of their clean, minimalistic space, which they take great pride in considering they don’t have a big online presence yet. Apt606 might be one of the only spots below the Mason-Dixon to grab these pieces and you’ll have to experience it in person to do so. 



A Ma Maniére

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Location: Atlanta

Best brands: Hender Scheme, Off-White, Cav Empt

A Ma Maniére might be one of the most slept-on shops in the entire country, continuously bolstering their brand stock list. Starting off as a footwear and streetwear spot, the place has started to bring in tough-to-find upscale brands like Hender Scheme and Off-White, and even the full Raf Simons x adidas collection. And beginning this year, it will be one of the few shops in the U.S. to stock A Bathing Ape. This isn’t just a shop that you need to keep an eye on in the south; you need to keep your eye on it, period.

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