The 10 Best Brands You've Never Heard Of

Thanks to the internet, it's damn near impossible for anything good to fly under the radar. You could screenprint a T-shirt Sunday night, and it'll be up on Four Pins by Monday morning. The days of finding some awesome, obscure brand in the dark corners of an out-of-the-way shop are long since passed. But that doesn't mean new brands aren't out there bringing straight fire that no one else is up on yet. Be that guy that evokes an "oh shit, wtf is that?" from your peers, and introduce them to any of The 10 Best Brands You've Never Heard Of.

RELATED: 10 Things You Wish You Knew About Style 10 Years Ago 
RELATED: Four Pins - 50 Greatest Clothing Brands of Our Youth

Founded: 2010

What started out as an alternative graphic T-shirt brand in 2010 is rapidly becoming a full, artistic menswear collection. Designer Graeme Gaughan's latest fall collection will undoubtedly be his most robust with leather jackets, printed cotton trousers, and unique outerwear, focusing on the label's versatility. You should keep an eye out because 2013 looks like it very well could be Tourne de Transmission's year.

Founded: 2011

This Japanese brand, much like many of its predecessors, is certainly not afraid to go against the grain and break the confines of popular menswear. For every traditional cut oxford and silk blouson, you'll find a shin-length noragi or wide-legged trouser that looks incredible, in context. You have to be someone comfortable in your skin to wear these in the streets of Tokyo, let alone anywhere in the U.S.

Founded: 2011

Dope ass brands that preserve American craftsmanship and haven't A. sold out, B. upped their pricing an arm and a leg, or C. make ugly shit, are hard to come by. The West is Dead is a two-man operation out of Montana (Montana!) offering premium chinos with a color for everyday of the week, incredible sweatshirts, and enough indigo to stain your hands blue for life.

Founded: 2010

Talented British duo Agape Mdumulla and Sam Cotton should not be strangers to you, yet they probably are. The contemporary menswear brand was recognized by the British Fashion Council and had a recent capsule collection with Topman. Agi & Sam certainly doesn't get the respect it deserves, but that's fine—more outlandish printed tops and trousers and knit Jacquard T-shirts for us.

Founded: 2013

Meet Hors De Combat (translation: outside the fight), made and sold out of Calgary, Canada. The brand has presented a small, but impressive spring/summer 2013 collection with a couple outerwear pieces, including an incredible asymmetrical summer bomber jacket that demands attention. And with previews of fall/winter already infiltrating its various social media outlets, Hors De Combat is already a force to reckon with.

Founded: 2012

You haven't heard of Martin Asbjorn Bjerre yet because the M.A.B. collection is impossible to get. Short of ordering via his Instagram, you'll have to search high and low if you want one of the 27-year-old Danish mastermind's luxurious leather perfectos. Or his alpaca knit. Or a sick knit bomber jacket. Whatever it is, keep an eye out for the drop of his fall/winter 2013 collection before everyone else gets their grubby hands on it.

Founded: 2009

Joe Casely-Hayford is a mainstay in the British fashion scene with years of experience on Savile Row, so you can expect a brand between him and his son Charlie to have the potential to be one of the best British brands available right now. The pieces are created on a combined philosophy of "English heritage" with "British anarchy"—traditional menswear pieces are mashed up with bold prints that assert that this brand is ready for a big break.

Founded: 2008

Streetwear is forever relevant, and RIPNDIP is a prime example of why. The "IDGAF" attitude that oozes from its graphic T-shirts, camp caps, and cut-and-sew collections is perfect for the cool kids who stay on that next shit. It's exactly why Tyler, the Creator has been seen rocking the all-over cat print gear. If you don't know, now you know.

Founded: 2010

Parody is a hot trend these days, but not many can say they've done it like Japanese footwear and accessory brand, Hender Scheme. The "Homage Collection" is a batch of 100 percent raw leather sneakers with classic silhouettes borrowed from the Air Force 1 High, Margiela German Trainer, and Vans Era. Snag a pair of these, and you most certainly will become a god among stylish friends and those who don't know you on the interwebz.

Founded: 2012

The heavy-hitter of the group has garnered recent buzz by outfitting, among others hip-hop acts, the ever-stylish 2 Chainz at Summer Jam in a crazy printed matching top and bottom set. Eary's designs have popped up from time to time, sometimes being mistaken for Givenchy, but the outlandish sublimation prints will undoubtedly put Eary in immediate running for Flavor of the Year 2013.