The local labels making FJ-approved menswear
PHOTOGRAPHY By Stephanie Cammarano for shinzo
WORDS BY FASHION JOURNAL
Find your new favourite.
Long gone are the days where a patterned sock makes a man a flashy dresser (no shade, finance bros). Sometimes it seems that women get to have all the fun when it comes to fashion, but with so many incredible Australian designers creating eye-catching menswear looks, there’s no excuse for any gender to fade into the background.
Keep up to date with emerging Australian labels over at our Fashion section.
Whether you’re male-identifying, have a penchant for androgynous style, or gravitate towards genderless dressing, here are the top Australian brands specialising in menswear. So next time your mate, uncle or colleague says injecting style into their wardrobe is “too hard”, you know where to point them.
Shinzo
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Founded in 2020, Shinzo(しんぞうis based between Melbourne and Tokyo. Find slouchy hoodies, bomber jackets with metal clasps and oversized trousers. Perfect for layering, you can trust Shinzo’s to make a statement.
Monphell
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Based out of Brunswick, Monphell is a contemporary clothing label “bound to no age, sex or season”. Offering thoughtfully made wardrobe staples, the label is characterised by vibrant colours, oversized silhouettes and classic tailoring techniques.
Salt Murphy
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Crops, satin pants, sheer shirts and bodysuits, Salt Murphy offers the ultimate in fashion-forward self expression. Flattering fits and attention-grabbing fabrics will make you feel like a street-style snap just waiting to happen.
Commas
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Just like its punctuation point namesake, Commas is all about taking a thoughtful pause. The purposeful Sydney-based resort and swimwear label prints original artwork onto quality fabrics, so it’s no surprise the brand has been recognised with countless awards.
P.A.M.
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P.A.M. (Perks and Mini) is the brainchild of power couple Misha Hollenbach and Shauna Toohey, a dynamic duo known for dabbling in art, music, fashion and graphic design. Their iconic streetwear label regularly collaborates with the world’s most impressive brands and artists, and isn’t afraid to play with textures, silhouettes and upcycled materials.
Jungles Jungles
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Jungles Jungles is fashion label founded by designer Jack Ferguson. It first started in 2015 as a backyard T-shirt printing operation before scaling up and expanding into a unisex label. Explore the label’s slouchy, streetwear-inspired pieces in-store or shop online.
Hoddle
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The team behind Melbourne-based skateboard brand Hoddle create colourful decks and contemporary streetwear, often in collaboration with talented local artists. Shop thoughtfully-made button-ups, graphic tees, denim and knitwear.
Pseushi
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Founded by Wesley Chiang, Pseushi is a genderless label with a focus on contemporary design, high-end fabrics and local manufacturing. materials and processes. Based in Sydney, the label utilises local production to bring its youthful, colourful pieces to life.
Joseph and James
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Bringing a sophisticated edge to streetwear, this Melbourne-based label features a range of timeless classics. Between knit crewnecks, foolproof tees and pleated trousers, Joseph and James has all the means to create a capsule wardrobe your twenty-something-year-old brother and sixty-something-year-old dad will both be raiding.
Best
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Described as ‘elevated casual wear’, Melbourne-born label Best Jumpers makes high-quality wardrobe basics for men and women. The label’s latest SS ’23 collection adopts a preppier attitude, featuring tailored, cropped jackets, seersucker slacks and simple knitted polos.
Mutimer
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Mutimer first started as a bedroom operation by Jasper J. Mutimer in 2019. Its since expanded into an internationally loved label, known for its post-modern take on contemporary fashion. Find the brand’s iconic chair T-shirt, as well as wardrobe staples including leather jackets, trousers and more.
Chris Ran Lin
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Fashion takes on a different form when it’s in the hands of Melbourne designer Chris Ran Lin. His decade-old eponymous label experiments with fibres, shapes and functions. Take special note of his use of knitwear and textures; everything is not as it seems.
Venroy
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Venroy is about as Bondi Beach as you can get. The Sydney-based brand specialises in leisurewear made from natural fibres. Made for moving, Venroy’s selection of relaxed menswear pieces put comfort first.
Strateas Carlucci
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The androgynous-leaning Strateas Carlucci creates modern pieces that can be worn by any gender. Its experimental designs, contemporary sensibilities, and unorthodox stylings have made this Melbourne brand a celebrated industry player for over a decade.
P Johnson
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With the motto ‘Live Slow, Die Old’, P Johnson Tailors channels an old-money aesthetic. Offering classic tailoring, ’60s-inspired beachwear and an array of premium outerwear, P Johnson is the epitome of class for people who want to look especially put-together.
Song for the Mute
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Back in 2011, Song for the Mute was the first menswear brand (and the youngest) to win the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival National Designer Award. Over a decade later, the brand has remained an industry mainstay thanks to its conceptual designs that outlast the season.
Candice
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Melbourne-based brand Candice was founded in 2019, driven by a passion for the craft of fashion design. Contemporary graphics and masculine sillhouettes create a classic Melbourne feel. Made for genderless wearability, the label offers a range of hoodies, tees, tailored pants and accessories.
HoMie
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Doing good not only feels good, it looks good too. HoMie is the streetwear social enterprise that supports young people experiencing homelessness and hardship by equipping them with real-world work experience to better face the future. The brand is gender-neutral, socially and environmentally conscious, and is based out of its Fitzroy flagship store.
Jody Just
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After a bold debut in 2021 (including being worn by the likes of Post Malone), Jody Just has built a loyal fanbase for its cheeky, rebellious and gritty statement pieces. Embracing its streetwear roots, the label regularly features jumpers slashed with thick sprays of graffiti and tees emblazoned with cult prints that would look just as at home on your wall.
Kloke
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Kloke knows good things come to those who wait, which is why slow fashion is at the heart of everything this Melbourne-based brand does. Kloke blends simplicity and functionality (without skimping on fun prints and thoughtful details) in its extensive range of outerwear, knitwear, sweatshirts, accessories and more.
Kourh
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Androgynous Sydney-based brand Kourh (pronounced Koor) has a penchant for rule-breaking bold cuts, luxurious fabrics and unique silhouettes. Kourh makes a conscious decision to remove pronouns from garment descriptions and break free from the constraints of age, gender and seasons.
Handsom
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An ode to clean design and unpretentious fashion, Melbourne-based brand Handsom is a thoughtful blend of modernity and functionality. Handsom rebels against the fast-fashion model and instead encourages thoughtful shopping through releases of small-batch monthly capsules. The brand’s pieces are expertly crafted from luxe fabrics, designed to carry you through the seasons.
Our editorial decisions are made with our readers (you!) in mind and we hope you enjoy the products that we wholeheartedly recommend. Fashion Journal may sometimes receive a commission or similar from third party links placed.
To read more on gender-fluid fashion, head here.
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