Leaning into Chicano culture, over the past decade, the Mexican-American designer Willy Chavarria has carved out a distinctive aesthetic that plays with classic menswear. “What sets it apart from other American brands is his bold exaggeration of silhouettes and striking use of colour in his designs,” says Kit Swann, Fashion Editor at MR PORTER.

This appreciation transcends the fashion industry. He’s been lauded for producing “some of the most socially engaging runways in New York” by the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Robin Givhan and this year was named as one of the world’s 100 most influential people by Time magazine.

“His work is steeped in cultural pride and emotional honesty,” says Rachel O-Williams, a Personal Shopper for MR PORTER. “Take the Prayer Services Northsider printed T-Shirt – the dropped shoulders create a deliberately oversized silhouette, while the devotional artwork nods beautifully to Latino Catholicism, a quiet statement of identity and reverence.”

As scions of the Loro Piana empire, it’s fair to say that Franco and Giacomo Loro Piana know a good fabric when they see one. But the brothers’ interests go beyond the cutting room. The clue is in the name of their own brand, Sease, a portmanteau of “sea” and “ease”. Wearing this luxury gear, you should feel comfortable at sea – and, in fact, anywhere adventure is to be had – rather that all at sea.

The result is “a masterclass in quality and craftsmanship”, O-Williams says. “The fabrics are impossibly soft, the kind you notice the moment you slip them on, and the palette of refined neutrals makes for effortless everyday dressing. It’s an ideal choice for the man on the move who values comfort without compromising on sophistication.”

Not a high-press football formation from the mid-century Hungarian school of coaching, but equally aggressive streetwear created by Guillermo Andrade, cofounder of the destination boutique FourTwoFour in Fairfax, Los Angeles. Set up a decade ago as the store’s in-house label, 424 has since grown to become a cult brand in its own right, with premium wares bedevilled by the laid-back, rock’n’roll spirit of LA.

O-Williams calls the brand “the embodiment of effortless cool, that distinctive blend of art and attitude that feels both contemporary and lived in. What’s clever is its versatility. Each piece slots seamlessly into a modern wardrobe, adding a touch of personality and, often, a conversation starter. I really love the cropped leopard-print leather hooded bomber jacket,” she says. “It reimagines the classic bomber with bold irreverence, while still feeling wearable.”

Don’t be fooled by the calmness of ssstein’s output. Since founding the label in 2016, the designer Kiichirō Asakawa has approached his work “like a mad scientist in a laboratory, experimenting with fabrics, textures and silhouettes, tweaking the weight of a fabric here or a pocket placement there until – eureka! – he has it”, as Ashley Ogawa Clarke reported for Vogue.

The Tokyo-based journalist was really taken by Asakawa’s “expert eye for minimal, well-crafted clothes”, he tells MR PORTER. “Wearing it is easy,” Ogawa Clarke says. “And that’s really the point. Shrug on one of the brand’s uber-clean coats and boom: you’re well-dressed enough to blend in in Tokyo (which is hard!).”

The London-based footwear designer SWC Omni uses premium material to deftly make unobtrusively assured sneakers. “The craftsmanship speaks for itself,” O-Williams says of the meticulous construction. “Omni is all about quiet confidence – refined footwear with sleek, minimalist design and not a logo in sight.”

The collection available on MR PORTER shows the brand’s elevated take on classic rubber-soled sneakers. “Each pair is as versatile as it is elegant. If your office dress code allows, they transition seamlessly from a day at your desk to an afternoon lunch with friends.”

The Japanese street-style pioneer Nigo made a name for himself – a mononym, no less – with his cult label A Bathing Ape in the early 1990s. Three decades later, he’s helming the Parisian house Kenzo. Between the two, back in 2010, he launched his Human Made line, attracting investment from fan Pharrell Williams (heard of him?).

The wry cartoonish graphic treatments might be the first thing you notice, but that’s certainly not all this brand is about. “Human Made delivers workwear staples with a meticulous focus on quality,” O-Williams says. “For first-time buyers, its Japanese denim is a natural starting point. Indigo dyed and woven on selvedge looms, each pair is beautifully crafted, with details that reward a closer look. It’s a brand where care and authenticity are evident in every stitch.”

“SATO eyewear is made in Fukui, a region hailed as Japan’s eyeglasses capital,” O-Williams says. “And the quality is nothing short of exceptional. Each frame blends traditional craftsmanship honed by master artisans with a contemporary sensibility, making every pair a subtle statement of skill and style. The nods to 1990s design add a confident, playful edge, elevating what is already a meticulous approach to eyewear. Pair the frames with a monochrome suit and a fine-gauge rollneck, letting the eyewear become a signature of sophistication.”

“Its use of lightweight Japanese titanium only elevates the feeling of high quality and really makes one appreciate the level of care that goes into crafting the pieces,” Swann says. “To make these pieces feel even more unique, each of the styles are made in limited editions, even more reason to grab a pair while stocks last.”