Top Men's Clothing Brands You Must Know

Menswear changes more slowly than womenswear. Many of the brands men buy today were founded generations ago around a single product: a suit, a work jacket, a pair of jeans, a flight jacket or a polo shirt. Knowing these brands, and the products they are built on, helps merchandisers, designers and factory teams understand what the buyer expects in fabric, fit and construction.

This guide groups well-known men's clothing brands by wardrobe category. The selection is based on recognition, heritage and influence on menswear; it is not a ranking by sales. For a wider list across all segments, see the list of top clothing brands in the world.

Tailoring and suits#

Tailoring brands are judged on cloth, cut and hand work. Italian houses dominate the top end; British brands are known for shirts and structured tailoring.

Behind the product: fine worsted wool and wool blends in twill and plain weaves, canvassed or fused fronts, many pressing stages, and strict measurement control. Shirts use fine cotton poplin, twill and Oxford cloth with high stitch density; see stitch density.

Smart casual#

These brands define the everyday men's wardrobe: polo shirts, Oxford shirts, chinos, knitwear and casual jackets.

Behind the product: the polo shirt is built on pique fabric with flat-knit collars and cuffs; the Oxford shirt on a basket-weave cotton; chinos on cotton twill, often garment washed, which makes fabric shrinkage control essential.

Workwear and outdoor#

Workwear brands began by dressing miners, railway workers, ranchers and loggers. Their products are now also worn as fashion.

Behind the product: heavy cotton duck canvas and twill, triple-needle seams, bartacks at stress points, strong core-spun threads, and abrasion testing. See sewing thread selection and seam strength.

Jackets and heritage outerwear#

Avirex and Alpha Industries built their reputations on reproductions and interpretations of military flight jackets. Vintage and discontinued pieces from these brands are traded by vintage dealers and surplus stores, which keeps interest in the original constructions alive.

Behind the product: leather jackets need leather matching and careful needle selection (see sewing needle selection); nylon flight jackets use nylon twill shells with rib knit cuffs and waistbands; trench coats rely on tightly woven cotton gabardine.

Streetwear#

Streetwear grew from skate, surf and hip hop culture into one of the most influential menswear segments, and now overlaps with luxury.

Behind the product: heavyweight cotton jersey and fleece, oversized fits, screen prints, embroidery and distressed washes. Heavy fleece and French terry hoodies are the core product; see fleece fabric.

Sportswear#

Behind the product: polyester and nylon knits with elastane, flatlock and bonded seams, moisture management and stretch testing.

How menswear brands differ from womenswear brands for suppliers#

Denim is one of the most important men's categories; see the list of top denim jeans brands. For fabric background, see different types of fabric for dresses and clothing.

Frequently asked questions#

Which brand is best known for men's suits? At the top end, Italian houses such as Brioni, Kiton and Zegna; in the mainstream business market, brands such as Hugo Boss and Suitsupply are widely known.

What is the difference between Avirex and Alpha Industries? Both are American brands known for military-inspired jackets. Alpha Industries, founded in 1959, began as a supplier of flight jackets to the US military; Avirex, founded in 1975, became known for leather flight jackets inspired by aviation history.

Is streetwear a separate category from luxury? The lines have blurred. Several luxury houses produce streetwear, and streetwear brands such as Amiri and Off-White sell at luxury prices.

Are the brand names trademarks? Yes. All brand names are trademarks of their owners and are used here only for identification.