6 brands I'm watching in 2025
Some of my favorite independent brands that I want to share with you.
I love finding new, independent fashion brands. I think the big legacy brands have a part to play in the fashion industry obviously, however I think the smaller, one-person-run brands that hardly anyone knows about are what is really pushing creativity forward. Supporting these types of brands helps bring fresh ideas and perspectives to the forefront and push boundaries.
More and more of what I’m wearing nowadays seems to be pieces from smaller brands that I’m lucky enough to find from other newsletters, social media, or wherever else, and I’m here for it. All of these brands, and their designers, are creating more than just clothing. I took some time to put this list together of several brands that I’ll be watching excitedly in the coming year. My hope is that you learn about a brand you haven’t heard of before from this list and maybe decide to pick something up to support them.
Works and Days
Copenhagen, Denmark
Modern technical workwear. I think those three words just about perfectly describe young brand. Works and Days was founded in 2022 by British designer Raff Godfrey with the goal to be an indispensable companion to any wardrobe and create clothing of authentic utility.
I love the designs and the material choices from this brand. Many of their clothes reimagine classic workwear pieces with new technical fabrics and innovative construction. I own a pair of pants from the brand and they are some of my go to pants now — comfortable, very simple, and easy to wear with literally anything.
The brand is still very young but everything they have put out so far has been amazing. Works and Days is definitely a brand that I will have my eye on this year and I am extremely excited to see what they do and become.
Manresa
Norwalk, Connecticut
Founded by Mike McLachlan and sprung from his love of New England and many varying fashion tastes from growing up there, Manresa is the Northeast personified in clothing. The about section of their website sums the brand up beautifully: “Manresa blurs the lines between outerwear, workwear and streetwear centered around the experience of growing up in New England.”
My love for this brand has no end. I discovered Manresa over 2 years ago now and everything that I own from the brand I can’t wear enough. For me, they embody the idea of affordable, good quality clothing with great designs. My pair of washed black 207 jeans from them are one of my favorite pairs of pants that I own.
Mike has started this company from the ground up by himself and what he has already achieved is amazing. Every new release gets better than the last. I can’t wait to see what the brand continues to create in 2025.
(If you want a great podcast to listen to check out Mike’s episode on the Blamo! podcast).
Big Rock Candy Mountaineering
Los Angeles, California & New York City, New York
The name Big Rock Candy Mountaineering comes from a folk song by Harry McClintock of the same name. The brand designs outdoor clothing based on early American alpinists, mountaineers, and gear innovators who defined the outdoor style of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. Think of your dad’s coolest old North Face jackets or Patagonia gear that you always want to steal.
I just discovered this brand towards the beginning of last year and I loved watching all the releases. Their FW24 collection was spectacular. Full of amazing jackets, double-knee pants, thermals, backpacks, and dope trucker hats the collection was hit after hit.
I think Big Rock Candy Mountaineering is the perfect blend of outdoors nostalgia and new menswear. I would love to get my hands on one of their Alpine jackets they released last year (hint hint wink wink BRCM). All in all, I am very excited for the brand in this coming year.
The Thirteen Club
Quebec City, Canada
Started in 2020, The Thirteen Club began as a curated vintage online store. The vintage finds that they have are absolutely incredible. These guys are magicians at sourcing old clothing. They usually drop more vintage clothing on their website every week and I can’t recommend checking it out more.
The brand started their Mainline collection last year in 2024 with the ethos of vintage inspired design with a modern twist. All of the pieces that have released so far have executed that vision to perfection. They have released a work jacket in two colors, amazing pants in matching colors to the jackets, and a thermal waffle knit lined hoodie in two colors as well. I have yet to get my hands on any of the mainline products, hopefully I can soon, but they all look sick.
Pictured below is their roll neck sweater releasing in February along with a blank version in three other colors. I am so pumped to see what this brand does this year and I’m excited to see them hopefully grow and get the recognition they deserve.
Samsara
Barcelona, Spain
Samsara, derived from Sanskrit, encapsulates an eternal cycle. The brand’s motto, “Nature as Atelier” can be seen in the design ethos of their amazing shoe, the Dharma.
I just recently discovered this brand at the beginning of the year and I quickly became obsessed. They had a had a showroom for products at PFW, where they showcased many new colorways of the Dharma shoe that are set to release this year in the fall.
The brand’s founder, Adriá, says: I have always dreamed of doing something special, transformative and with impact. I was looking for a place from which to connect with those who share my values, my way of being and doing. And I found [it] launching Samsara.
Espero que Samsara reciba el reconocimiento que se merece y que la marca se florezca este año. I am stoked to see what else the brand puts out this year and I really need to get my hands on this shoe!
Tiempos Running
Montreal, Canada
One thing that I have not really mentioned on Substack is that running is one of my passions. It’s so cool to see how the running and fashion worlds have collided in the past four to five years. Brands like Satisfy, UVU, Soar, Norda and more have become powerhouses in the industry, creating functional and ultra-stylish running apparel and gear for this niche community. It really is true that when you look good you feel good, and in this case you run good too (yes I know that’s not correct grammar, give me a break).
Tiempos Running is one of these new amazing brands that is bringing those two worlds together perfectly and adding their own style as well. Still a relatively small brand, go give them a follow on instagram while they still have less than 5,000 followers so you can say that you knew about them before they were cool, just don’t forget who put you on.
Quite simply put, Tiempos creates stylish and functional running running apparel for the person who loves fashion and running and doesn’t want to compromise on either. They truly believe in the power of running to elevate both mental and physical well-being and the amazing sense of community that running can bring as well. This translates seamlessly to their products which are meticulously designed from high quality materials to provide comfort and practicality.
I love their FW25 collection that they showcased at PFW just barely. Their designs use bright, vibrant colors and intricate patterns in the best ways. I am so glad that I discovered this brand recently and I am so excited to follow their journey and see what they become. Tiempos is a brand that I will be watching very closely this year!
Great write-up! I've been seeing a lot of Big Rock Candy Mountaineering in my explore page over the past month or so. I like that the brand invokes a sort of double-nostalgia, both for that more overt vintage California climber vibe, while also recalling the soundtrack of "O Brother, Where Art Thou?". Interested to see how their brand grows!