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Shivangi Lolayekar profile imageShivangi LolayekarPublished on
The independent menswear labels you need to know about

Your style journey starts here

In a digital world of buzzing notifications, full-on reels, gazillion ads and endless Instagram scrolling, it’s supposed to be easy as hell to discover cool new labels, especially when they’re right around the corner (thank god for AI). But in reality, it’s been harder than ever. And here’s why: the past two years has seen a massive surge in innovative and disruptive homegrown menswear brands—from a radical label promoting womenswear for men and a Mumbai-based designer that’s sitting atop the street style food chain to a Delhi-based boutique that uses traditional techniques, inspired by the Himalayas, for clothes every guy should be wearing. So, to make your life simpler, we’ve filtered out the clutter and picked only the best ones that are well worth checking out.

CityOfAfter giving men their wardrobe’s bread and butter (doesn’t matter how ‘with it’ you are, every guy needs a couple of shirts), Bombay Shirt Company’s founder Akshay Narvekar is now stuffing your closet with tailored luxury basics by way of his label CityOf. Solid T-shirts, shorts and sweats that are comfy and high on quality. Most importantly, the Mumbai-based brand erases Marks & Spencer and Jockey from your fashion vocabulary. Even while sleeping.Prices starting from: ₹890Available at: Bombay Shirt Company

CityOf

After giving men their wardrobe’s bread and butter (doesn’t matter how ‘with it’ you are, every guy needs a couple of shirts), Bombay Shirt Company’s founder Akshay Narvekar is now stuffing your closet with tailored luxury basics by way of his label CityOf. Solid T-shirts, shorts and sweats that are comfy and high on quality. Most importantly, the Mumbai-based brand erases Marks & Spencer and Jockey from your fashion vocabulary. Even while sleeping.

Prices starting from: ₹890

Available at: Bombay Shirt Company

Line out lineLet’s say you’re the type of guy who isn’t into the T-shirt/jumper-jogger-repeat vibe that’s consumed menswear. You like tailoring that’s cut contemporary: sleeveless jacket-waistcoat hybrids and colour-heavy suits. Or a different spin on daily dressing: graphic heavy T-shirts and silk shirts worn under trench coats. Line out line caters to the alternative guy. It’s not for everyone but it may work for some.Prices starting from: ₹2,500Available at: Line Out Line

Line out line

Let’s say you’re the type of guy who isn’t into the T-shirt/jumper-jogger-repeat vibe that’s consumed menswear. You like tailoring that’s cut contemporary: sleeveless jacket-waistcoat hybrids and colour-heavy suits. Or a different spin on daily dressing: graphic heavy T-shirts and silk shirts worn under trench coats. Line out line caters to the alternative guy. It’s not for everyone but it may work for some.

Prices starting from: ₹2,500

Available at: Line Out Line

MapchaWho doesn’t love a good trip to the mountains? Mapcha takes you there with classy and no fuss clothes in sublime earthy tones. Founded by designers Lhanzey Palden and Tenzin Tharode, the label breaks down traditional motifs and styles found in Tibet and the Himalayas, and rejigs it for the modern man. The label also works closely with local communities and the cottage industry in the Himalayas, helping traditional craftsmen refine their techniques. What you get is timeless clothes on the lines of Bhaane and Nicobar, which frankly every guy should have a massic dollop of in his wardrobe.Prices starting from: ₹1,750Available at: Mapcha

Mapcha

Who doesn’t love a good trip to the mountains? Mapcha takes you there with classy and no fuss clothes in sublime earthy tones. Founded by designers Lhanzey Palden and Tenzin Tharode, the label breaks down traditional motifs and styles found in Tibet and the Himalayas, and rejigs it for the modern man. The label also works closely with local communities and the cottage industry in the Himalayas, helping traditional craftsmen refine their techniques. What you get is timeless clothes on the lines of Bhaane and Nicobar, which frankly every guy should have a massic dollop of in his wardrobe.

Prices starting from: ₹1,750

Available at: Mapcha

Maison AudmiThere’s been a tornado of independent unisex labels flooding the market. There’s also the never-going-to-die trend of androgyny and women wearing menswear. Maison Audmi is kickstarting a new revolution in India: womenswear for men. Beautifully crafted blouses, overskirts, pinafores and dresses that are all handmade, using pure handloom ikat and cotton silk, and are designed to celebrate masculinity in all forms. But make no mistake, each piece exudes serious BDE and it takes a guy who’s comfortable in his own skin and super confident to pull it off. If you really want to stand out from the herd, this is the only way to do it.Prices starting from: ₹15,000Available at: Maison Audmi

Maison Audmi

There’s been a tornado of independent unisex labels flooding the market. There’s also the never-going-to-die trend of androgyny and women wearing menswear. Maison Audmi is kickstarting a new revolution in India: womenswear for men. Beautifully crafted blouses, overskirts, pinafores and dresses that are all handmade, using pure handloom ikat and cotton silk, and are designed to celebrate masculinity in all forms. But make no mistake, each piece exudes serious BDE and it takes a guy who’s comfortable in his own skin and super confident to pull it off. If you really want to stand out from the herd, this is the only way to do it.

Prices starting from: ₹15,000

Available at: Maison Audmi

Op-HaneenScroll through the ‘About Me’ section of any designer or label and you’ll find the same words running across: classic, contemporary, minimal, maximal, disruptive, eccentric. Op-Haneen has a couple of these but it's actually pretty accurate for what the Delhi-based brand offers: a mash-up of everything. You’ll get standard fits in neutral colours. Heavy-duty prints on shirts. Even a skinny pinstripe suit you’d imagine the current hottest rock band Maneskin would wear. Basically, an intelligent way for the brand to bring every kind of audience on board. A no-brainer label to check out if your personal style is diverse.Prices starting from: ₹3,400Available at: Op-Haneen

Op-Haneen

Scroll through the ‘About Me’ section of any designer or label and you’ll find the same words running across: classic, contemporary, minimal, maximal, disruptive, eccentric. Op-Haneen has a couple of these but it's actually pretty accurate for what the Delhi-based brand offers: a mash-up of everything. You’ll get standard fits in neutral colours. Heavy-duty prints on shirts. Even a skinny pinstripe suit you’d imagine the current hottest rock band Maneskin would wear. Basically, an intelligent way for the brand to bring every kind of audience on board. A no-brainer label to check out if your personal style is diverse.

Prices starting from: ₹3,400

Available at: Op-Haneen

JaywalkingA little secret about Jaywalking’s Jay Jajal: he doesn’t hand out clothes to stylists without knowing which celebrities are going to wear them. He also doesn’t care for your opinion on his designs. He’s that confident about his deconstructed, illustration-heavy street gear. And he should be. Jajal’s been consistently putting out cool merch since he launched his label in 2019 and today it carries serious cred in the street style space. Although back then his clothes were a tad overpriced, now, you’ll get a striking oversized T-shirt for an easy ₹3,500.Prices starting from: ₹3,500Available at: Mumbai and Delhi

Jaywalking

A little secret about Jaywalking’s Jay Jajal: he doesn’t hand out clothes to stylists without knowing which celebrities are going to wear them. He also doesn’t care for your opinion on his designs. He’s that confident about his deconstructed, illustration-heavy street gear. And he should be. Jajal’s been consistently putting out cool merch since he launched his label in 2019 and today it carries serious cred in the street style space. Although back then his clothes were a tad overpriced, now, you’ll get a striking oversized T-shirt for an easy ₹3,500.

Prices starting from: ₹3,500

Available at: Mumbai and Delhi

Warping TheoriesThere’s a fine line between wearing street gear that’s cool and downright tacky. Warping Theories ensures you lean towards the former. T-shirts, jumpers, hoodies and cargos that have very little written on them (no weird slogans that attract unwanted attention to your chest area); don’t carry obtuse logos (unless you’re wearing quality and authentic designer merch, this is a good thing); and come in neutral colours (that’s all we ever wanted).Prices starting from: ₹2,490Available at: Warping Theories

Warping Theories

There’s a fine line between wearing street gear that’s cool and downright tacky. Warping Theories ensures you lean towards the former. T-shirts, jumpers, hoodies and cargos that have very little written on them (no weird slogans that attract unwanted attention to your chest area); don’t carry obtuse logos (unless you’re wearing quality and authentic designer merch, this is a good thing); and come in neutral colours (that’s all we ever wanted).

Prices starting from: ₹2,490

Available at: Warping Theories

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