Spring/Summer 25 Men’s Day during NYFW did not disappoint this year. Featuring some new and familiar designers there was plenty to be inspired by. See what we thought after the jump.
Clara Son
Clara Son Studios returns to NYMD for its third appearance since launching in 2020. An NYC-based namesake of South-Korean-born designer Clara Son, the brand has endured through its adaptable storytelling, translated through its minimalistic designs that the wearer can easily put on and journey with, regardless of gender. The S/S 25 collection, entitled Reminiscence, ushers us into the world of Clara Son’s dreams, particularly one in which she is riding a bike along scenic, coastal terrain.
The pieces’ earthy tones and soft pastel hues of pink and olives take after the natural features lining the landscape in her dream, such as the flowers and the rocks. The combination of luxe knitwear detailing and streetwear silhouettes contribute to the spontaneity, leisure, and ease its wearers are afforded. Clara Son blends imaginative form with comfortable functionality that prompts us to take the scenic route, to stop and smell the flowers—to reminiscence—this upcoming season.
A Potts
Clara Son was not the only designer turning towards nature as a fantastical muse. Detroit-born designer Aaron Potts has long been an innovative force in the fashion sphere, propelling genderless fashion forward to empower authentic expression. His SS/25 collection, entitled Urbanoceana, embodies fluidity by delving deep into the waters of Zanzibar beaches and surfacing its vibrant ecosystems into sophisticated, street-ready designs that encourage wearers to flow with style.
Earthling
Despite newcomers to NYMD, Earthling ensured their debut could not be tuned out this season. The founders coined the collection “When Doves Cry”, to pay homage to unapologetic icons such as Prince, a fellow Minnesota native. Riffing off the zeitgeist of the 1970s and the enduring legacy of Rock and Roll, models sported patchwork, vintage denim as well as an abundance of leather. The warm color palette is a signature of the brand, which the founders credit with creating cohesion among the eclectic designs. Beyond aesthetic signatures, the brand’s core principles are implicated in its moniker Earthling, which highlights our relationship with our planet as well as with one another. In creating its pieces, Earthling prioritizes sustainability and upholds the wearer’s identity free of limiting societal impositions.
Of – Nothing
Other brands to make their first premiere at NYMD include Off—nothing, a vision of Brooklyn-based designer Jack Fullerton. Fullerton’s designs showcase how genderless fashion can be elegant and polished without skimping on comfort or casual flair. Models donned several button-downs in neutral tones that maintained a straightforward sense of ease.
Photo Credit: Sam Hysa @hysa.sam
Sermon Series
Sermons Series debuted at NYMD after showcasing its first line (FW24) last February in Paris. The luxury menswear brand is deeply embedded in the spiritual background of its collaborating founders, Deklyen Cormier and Santanna “Saint” Hayes. Sermon Series’ pieces are intended to resonate with the wearer on a personal level, empowering them on their spiritual journeys. The brand’s Instagram emphasizes how “more than fashion”, the clothing is “wearable art”; the pieces emotionally and spiritually move the wearer as the wearer moves with/in them.
Jack Sivan
The wearability of art was also taken up by newcomer Jack Sivan, who often finds paintings to be sources of both creativity and question. Influenced by the portrait paintings of John Singer Sargent, Sivan’s SS25 presentation, “Garden Party” takes us to an idyllic picnic with models that span diverse sizes, ages, and ethnicities. Through the inspiration of Sargent’s paintings, Sivan not only borrows pastel tones for the collection but also imbues different layers of historical context and nuance that emphasize the collection’s accessibility. Sivan began in the industry as a tailor, which elucidates as to why he prioritizes making garments that accommodate a variety of body types; Sivan understands that the luxury and leisurely experience is not a one-size-fits-all.
The Salting
The Salting reappeared this NYMD to reinforce its penchant for effortless elegance–this time with a maritime twist. Founded by Michael Ward and Manel Espejo in 2018, the brand leads in luxury resort wear, with the S/S 25 collection espousing a carefree coastal feel in neutral hues and relaxed silhouettes.
Stan
STAN, founded by Tristan Detwiler in Los Angeles, returns to NYMD to showcase its hand-crafted pieces composed of antique, one-of-a-kind textiles. Featuring textiles that span a century, the brand tailors its pieces so that wearers can cherish both the custom design and the memories carried by the limited edition fabric it’s created/materialized with. STAN also recruited diverse models, some of whom had never worked as models before, to bring the archival looks to contemporary, everyday life.
Photo Credit: Sam Hysa @hysa.sam
Tarpley
Brooks Jones, the founder of Nashville-born brand Tarpley, brings back his “Buddhist tech minimalism” for another NYMD appearance, with the SS25 collection titled “Aura”. Aura spotlights how fashion can incarnate our interior lives, communicating our personalities, energies, and “auras” to those around us. Tarpley maintains the minimal and sharp structures characteristic of the clothing this season, as the brand continues to strive for a broad audience. Distinct, high quality fabrics and sustainable production practices remain at the forefront of the brand’s values.