For Paris’ SS24 menswear season, fashion designers were challenging gender codes. In the wake of female influence, the high-end luxurious fashion segment for men is growing due to the couture designs that blurred the boundaries. After the conclusion of the fashion week of Pitti Uomo in Florence and the end of Paris Fashion Week Men’s, FashionUnited has listed five designers to be watching in the male fashion industry.
Gunther
Gunther was established in 2019 by Naomi Gunther and developed pieces inspired by traditional and classic lines that are enhanced with refined materials. The brand adheres to the short circuit design, providing collections created and produced in Paris.
- The best-selling item: The Double Shirt
- The frequency of collections two collections per year
- Price ranges from 130 Euros (premium cotton T-shirts) up to 1,500 euro (wool coat)
- Distribution Zalando, Not Just A Label, B Hype (Dubai), Printemps (Paris), and the brand’s online store (no physical store at present to date)
- Latest projects Gunther showcased its SS24 range at the newest Pitti Uomo in the Sala del Nazioni. The brand also hosted a fashion event during Paris Fashion Week in June and took part in an event promoting French style within South Korea (MIF Seoul).
Arturo Obegero
Arturo Obegero launched his brand in Paris in 2020, just months before covid-19 swept the globe. His sophisticated romantic and sensual style has been seen in pop star Harry Styles, who is helping to expand the realm of men’s fashion. The pop star, along with the Spanish stylist, have collaborated since 2021, which has given Arturo Obegero’s style a considerable boost in the fashion world.
- Most popular: Gades high-waisted trousers (high-waisted flared trousers from the 1970s, named in honor of Spanish dancing star Antonio Gades and inspired by traditional flamenco and bullfighting outfits)
- Collections frequency two collections each year
- Price: Between 60 and 1,200 euros.
- Distribution Ssense, The Anann Shop (Japan), Elevator (Paris), and the e-shop of the brand (no physical store at present to date)
- New projects in the pipeline: The company presented its SS24 menswear collection at Paris Fashion Week Men’s, at an event held on June 23. The brand is also planning to unveil its first bag for AO.
Valette Studio
In 2020, Pierre-Francois Valette. Valette Studio is a Parisian brand for men with simple cuts and a sleek appearance. The tailoring is designed to comfort tracksuits while its silhouettes focus on layering. Valette Studio’s ready-to-wear also serves as a fashion boutique that offers custom-made pieces.
- Bestsellers: Pieces with sleeves
- Collections frequency: Two collections every year (80 models per collection, on average)
- Price: From 100 euros (scarf, T-shirt, etc.) to 1,200 euros (coats)
- Distribution 8 Soho (Melbourne), Boys Don’t Cry (BDC, Paris), L’Audacieux (Caen), Ouimillie (Boston), Soem (Lyon), L’Exclusive and brand e-shop along with direct sales and tailoring services in The Middle East via what the brand refers to as”the “exclusive customer platform” dedicated to customers who are VIPs and a significant source of business in the case of Valette Studio (no own physical store as of yet)
- Recently completed projects Valette Studio showcased its SS24 collection at a fashion event on day one of Paris Fashion Week Men’s, June 20.
Weisheng
Weisheng is a Weisheng clothing brand founded in Paris at the beginning of 2020 by Taiwanese-born Weisheng Wang. The label for men combines glamourous, glitzy, sensual, and edgy aesthetics. It has outfitted American actors like Carl Clemons-Hopkins and Asher Angel, among others. The designer’s couture pieces are designed to order and feature embroidery made by collaborating with the Parisian studio Safrane Cortambert.
- The best-selling item: “Bling bling” series composed of pieces in transparent rhinestone fabrics
- Collections frequency Two collections each year
- Price Starting at 100 euros (accessories and jewelry made by a partnership with jeweler Anton Heunis) to 1,500-2,000 euros (more expensive pieces, such as the Bling Bling series)
- Distribution The brand works primarily with private customers and is currently not operating a retail storefront. However, it has a studio within Bastille (Paris) and is available by appointment. PAP’s lines are sold across South Korea (LG Fashion), Sweden (Maruschka de Margo) as well as the United States (Shannon Sloanhall)
- Weisheng Paris plans to develop its line of ready-to-wear along with couture and launch an outlet in Paris. The brand’s presence at the Tranoi exhibition in January was one of its plans to establish distribution across France.
Jeanne Friot
Jeanne Friot, named after its designer, markets itself as a label that does not belong to a style and produces clothes in small quantities and with an eye for the art of craft. Again, the collections are designed to challenge fashion clichés with poetic fabrics to dress colorful designs, embossed or sparkling.
- Best-selling Feathered jeans
- The frequency of collections is two collections each year.
- Prices: From 70-1,000 euros for workshop equipment
- Distribution Frankie Shop, Visore X The brand’s online store (no physical store as of date)
- Latest projects Jeanne Friot showed its SS24 collection on June 22, during Paris Fashion Week Men’s.