If you've noticed more than a few of your style-conscious colleagues dressing like they're extras in some futuristic, sci-fi dystopian thriller these days, you're not alone. Techwear is a bona fide trend, and it looks like it's here to stay.
Techwear at its essence is exactly what it sounds like: "technology" (sometimes in the loosest sense of the word) that you can wear in the form of intricately crafted clothing designed by a bunch of people whose rallying cry is never sacrificing form for function. Today, the best techwear pieces—the ones you're most likely to see lusted after online—come with enough functional details to satisfy even the most ardent gear wonk, whether he's spelunking his way through a cave or speed-walking to catch the subway.
As a style movement in its own right, techwear has been bubbling up in the culture for a minute now. There's just something satisfyingly reassuring about wearing clothing that can withstand way more than it'll ever need to, or so the thinking goes. Call it doomsday prepping for clothing enthusiasts. Call it man's last desperate grasp for the comforting familiarity of the analog world in an increasingly isolated digital reality. I call it a damn good look, if you can pull it off.
Luckily for you, there are five big names that tend to dominate the conversation (a few of 'em you might already be familiar with), and, as with almost all niche subcultures, knowing which names to drop is half the struggle to fitting in. Provided you know what's good, picking up the lingo will be a cinch. How do you do, fellow techwear fans?
I'll show myself out.
ACRONYM
No single man has done more to popularize the highly technical, exactingly engineered look that's become synonymous with modern techwear than Errolson Hugh, the man behind the beloved cult label Acronym. Acronym is the first name on any list when it comes to techwear, and Hugh is his brand's own best advertisem*nt. Since launching his label in 1994, he's become the public face of the techwear scene, and Acronym its preferred outfitter (when folks can afford it: the brand's products don't come cheap). Hugh's influence is far-reaching, and he counts many a famous fan as customers (notorious clotheshorse John Mayer is a dedicated devotee). Plus, he's gradually built up his brand's pubic profile through wildly successful, and slightly more accessible, collaborations with the likes of Nike.
STONE ISLAND SHADOW PROJECT
Most Stone Island products are immediately identifiable by their signature compass patch and innovative use of fabrics. Shadow Project, an ongoing collaboration between Stone Island's Carlo Rivetti and (you guessed it) Errolson Hugh, takes Stone Island's telltale commitment to ergonomic design a step further by focusing more narrowly on technical performance, to great effect (i.e. banger after banger of highly wearable heat).
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VEILANCE
At the Nike presentation at NYFW last month, two of the front row's heaviest hitters showed up, like an IRL version of the Spider-Man pointing at Spider-Man meme, in what was once the very worst faux pas any fashion fan could make: wearing the same thing as someone else. Much to the internet's delight, both Drake and Virgil Abloh stepped out in identical lightweight camo jackets savvy sleuths online quickly identified as Arc'teryx's Alpha LT Gen 2 style (from the brand's somewhat hard to find LEAF line, no less). The Canadian outdoor clothing company has always been popular for the sheer utility of its products, but more recently, the brand's Veilance line has leaned heavily into the more tech-oriented elements of the functional design Arc'teryx is famous for (no surprise, Errolson Hugh was an early advisor). Under Veilance's current creative director Taka Kasuga, the line has remained focused on pushing the boundaries of material development and churning out some of the best takes on performance clothing around.
NIKE ACG
Speaking of the swoosh, when Nike first launched the ACG (or All Conditions Gear) line in the late '80s, it likely had little inkling of how popular the sub-brand would become. The pioneering label initially served as an ideal outlet for Nike's design-development ideas, particularly when it came to outdoor performance, and in 2014 the sportswear giant relaunched the line and gave the reigns over to some guy named (*chuckles exasperatedly*) Errolson Hugh. Under Hugh's leadership, ACG transformed into a low-key power player in the techwear space through the designer's dedication to the urban ninja aesthetic he helped make popular. Although Hugh left the label in 2018, ACG is still one to watch for anyone invested in the scene.
THE NORTH FACE BLACK SERIES
The North Face is one of the most iconic outerwear brands in the world, and its Black Series line reimagines some of the silhouettes that made the brand famous by updating classic styles with ultra-durable materials and technical fabrics. The line draws heavily from TNF's deep archives to articulate a new perspective on elevated performance outerwear, all in the context of the contemporary urban explorer. Translation: Black Series incorporates crazy materials like Tyvek and Spectra into pieces that you'll absolutely never have any practical need for, but will absolutely make you feel like a boss every time you wear 'em.
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SNOW PEAK
Snow Peak calls itself an "outdoor lifestyle creator," and although its offerings tend to skew slightly more towards the crunchy, almost gorpcore side of the spectrum, there's typically plenty to satisfy even the most hardcore techwear enthusiast.
C.P. COMPANY
The brainchild of Stone Island founder Massimo Osti, C.P. Company has been around since 1971 and is perhaps best known for its instantly recognizable "Goggle Jacket" silhouette, and (much like Stone Island) its use of groundbreaking dyeing techniques.
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WHITE MOUNTAINEERING
White Mountaineering is a relatively small Japanese label that seamlessly merges cutting-edge technical materials with OG "performance" fabrics like fleece and corduroy to craft new takes on tried-and-true styles (it's partnership with Adidas is one of the three stripes' best collaborative efforts yet).
HERNO LAMINAR
Herno's Laminar line is the storied Italian outerwear company's answer to the highly technical cold-weather wares some of its competitors offer (and in true Herno fashion, the brand didn't skimp on the R+D).
ISAORA
Isaora is an NYC-based brand that uses an approach it refers to as the "Science of Apparel" to sell sustainably made, intricately constructed clothing backed by a serious commitment to quality.
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OUTLIER
Outlier is another label based in the greater NYC area that launched its hero product, an all-purpose pant built to withstand any and all conditions, before gradually expanding into a full range of precisely designed pieces, often made from super-advanced and innovative fabrics.
