With new brands cropping up every week, it can be hard to keep up with who’s doing what. From footwear through to home accessories, OPUMO stocks brands to watch through every discipline, and they’re all linked by one thing: a focus on great design.
If you’re on the hunt for up and coming brands with a design-led angle, or on the lookout for established names doing something that little bit different, you’re in the right place. Here are the brands to watch this week.
Brands to watch this week
Awling
Belts are so often treated as afterthoughts by brands, so it’s refreshing when a company puts as much dedication into them as they deserve. A look can so often be ruined by a lacklustre belt, and Awling knows this, which is why the brand dedicates all its energy into producing some of the best quality belts you’ll find anywhere.
If you haven’t come across the brand before, just know that all its belts are are handmade in England from Italian vegetable tanned leather and brass or pewter hardware - they’re as good as it gets.
Artknit Studios
Any time a brand is based in Biella, you can hazard a guess at what it’ll specialise in. Biella is known as the capital of wool, so it makes sense that Artknit Studios offers some of the best-made, most interestingly designed knitwear out there.
Perfect for transitional periods, its knits are made from extra fine merino wool, linen or cashmere, all of which feels exceptionally soft against the skin. If you’re looking to upgrade your work from home gear, there is nothing softer or more comfortable than an Artknit Studios knit.
NOMOS Glashütte
Minimal watches aren’t hard to come by, but there are some brands that do it better than others. NOMOS Glashütte is hard to beat, producing some of the finest pared-back watch designs you’ll ever see, alongside some more elaborate, complicated pieces.
The one thing that ties all of NOMOS’ watches together though is the fact that all of its mechanical movements are made in-house, which is something that was simply not possible at this price point before the brand came along.
Oliver Cabell
While it produces a stellar line in Chelsea boots, Oliver Cabell’s sneaker game gets most of the attention, and for good reason. Its Low 1 model is about as good as minimal sneakers get, while its GAT sneakers takes inspiration from vintage German army trainers, at a cost far lower to alternatives on the market.
The brand’s materials are top notch; from Italian nubuck, leather and suede through to its wax cotton laces - it all combines to create a sneaker that’s as well made as anything out there.
G.H. Bass & Co
If you’re after a pair of penny loafers there’s only one brand you need to know. G.H. Bass created the original design for penny loafers back in the 1920s, and its offering is just as strong today, with the signature silhouette of its Weejuns being constantly reinvented through differing colourways and materials. The latest pairs have been crafted in collaboration with Fred Perry - the G.H. Bass x Fred Perry collection is not to be missed.
Pinqponq
For functional, hiking-inspired design, Pinqponq is up there with the best backpacks around. Its packs come in a range of sizes but all of them feature a large array of pockets, zipped compartments and purposeful details, which ensures they work just as well as they look. Look out for the tonal black Komut design, which will complete just about any outfit.
VIU
From retro sunglasses through to more avantgarde designs, VIU is the destination for those looking for exceptionally made, built-to-last sunglasses. Most of its shades are crafted from high quality Italian acetate - a much better alternative to regular plastic - and feature classic silhouettes which suit a range of face shapes. As the weather heats up it pays to invest in the best.
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