An oft-repeated axiom states that the world of men’s style moves at a glacial pace. Wardrobes are built on strong foundations that have essentially gone unchanged for half a century. That said, there have been a number of new products in 2017 that added to the menswear idiom. Some collections focused on innovation, utilizing new production methods and materials. Other releases filled a need for more affordable style. And some merely epitomized the culmination of strong craftsmanship and quality materials. No matter your personal style, 2017 had something worth incorporating into your wardrobe.
The Armoury Dress Shoes
Designed by legendary bespoke Japanese shoemaker Yohei Fukuda, this collection is made up of three styles — a wingtip oxford, a semi-brogue cap-toe oxford and a traditional cap-toe oxford — available in two colorways each. They’re made in Northampton, England, and feature Goodyear welt construction, full linings and calf-leather uppers. All of the shoes are imitation brogues and cap toes, a style where the decorative detailing is done with stitching as opposed to using separate pieces of leather. Because this style utilizes a single-piece leather upper, the result is a sleeker design that’s both comfortable and enduring — it will have less-pronounced creases over its life.
Levi’s Wellthread x Outerknown Sustainable Denim
In fall, Outerknown teamed up with Levi’s to create a line of sustainable denim that’s easier on the planet than traditional denim. The jeans feature Levi’s Water-less fabric that saves more than 65 percent of the water used in the dye process (compared to conventional dying) and up to 50 percent less water than traditional finishing. They’re made from 100 percent Supima cotton and the components of the garment — fabric, thread, pocketing, labels — are designed for recyclability and future closed-loop recycling projects.
