Monocle's Style Top 25 Highlights 2026 Menswear Labels and Fashion Names to Watch
Monocle has unveiled its annual Style Top 25, showcasing must-have items and rising fashion talents. Among the standout selections are William Frederick, a workwear brand established in 2018 by William McNicol, and South London's Suntosons, which was launched in 2025 by Keita Hiraoka. The Finnish eyewear label Paloceras, founded in 2022 by Mika Matikainen and Alexis Perron-Corriveau, is also featured. At its autumn/winter 2026 presentation, Hermès debuted the Clou de Forge bag. YMC celebrates three decades since its inaugural collection, with Sage Toda-Nation at the helm as creative director. Chanel acquired Charvet in July. Other notable mentions include Friend Friend in Bangkok, Ain Amor in Romania, and Jiyong Kim's distinctive creations. Uniqlo anticipates revenues of ¥3.9trn this year.
Key facts
- Monocle's Style Top 25 lists seasonal essentials and fashion names to watch for 2026.
- William Frederick, founded in 2018 by William McNicol, produces elevated workwear in Cleveland, New York, Detroit, and Long Island.
- Suntosons, founded in 2025 in South London, is led by Keita Hiraoka, formerly of Beams Japan and a buyer at Trunk.
- Paloceras, founded in 2022 by Mika Matikainen and Alexis Perron-Corriveau, designs eyewear in Helsinki and produces in Finland and Shenzhen.
- Hermès unveiled the Clou de Forge bag in March at its autumn/winter 2026 womenswear show in Paris.
- Chanel acquired Charvet, France's oldest shirtmaker, in July.
- YMC celebrates 30 years since its first collection; Sage Toda-Nation became creative director in 2024 after the death of co-founder Fraser Moss.
- Friend Friend opened in summer 2025 in the former car park of Bangkok's Emporium mall.
- Jiyong Kim was a 2024 LVMH Prize semi-finalist and appeared as a guest designer at Pitti Immagine Uomo in Florence.
- Pieter Mulier's final Alaïa show took place in March at the Fondation Cartier in Paris; his Versace debut is due in February.
- Uniqlo forecasts ¥3.9trn (€20.8bn) in revenue this year.
- Yuki Matsuda founded California-based Meg Company in 1989, housing Monitaly, Yuketen, Chamula, and Epperson Mountaineering.
Entities
Artists
- William McNicol
- Keita Hiraoka
- Mika Matikainen
- Alexis Perron-Corriveau
- Nadège Vanhée
- Sage Toda-Nation
- Fraser Moss
- Jimmy Collins
- Jean-Claude Colban
- Anne-Marie Colban
- Simon Chaouat
- Gareth Casey
- Clément Douillet
- Germain Douillet
- Suchada Peanpiriya
- Worapun Sinakhom
- Tanchanok Thitisaksakul
- Sophia Lewis
- Jil Sander
- Federico Melchioli
- Gilles Rosier
- Jiyong Kim
- Yuki Matsuda
- Ji Yeon Jung
- Robert Rabensteiner
- Pieter Mulier
- Azzedine Alaïa
- Joanna Masiyiwa
- Arthur Russell
Institutions
- Monocle
- William Frederick
- Suntosons
- Beams Japan
- Trunk
- Paloceras
- Hermès
- YMC
- Charvet
- Chanel
- Casey/Casey
- Maison Douillet
- Friend Friend
- Emporium
- The Mall Group
- Aoon Pottery
- Kent
- Sekisaka
- Ain Amor
- Jil Sander
- Ten C
- Comoli
- Éternel Parisien
- Balmain
- Jean-Paul Gaultier
- Uniqlo
- H&M Group
- Inditex
- Zara
- Massimo Dutti
- Dover Street Market
- 10 Corso Como
- GR8
- Louis Vuitton
- Lemaire
- LVMH Prize
- Pitti Immagine Uomo
- Meg Company
- Monitaly
- Yuketen
- Chamula
- Epperson Mountaineering
- Nappa Dori
- Ketta
- Recto
- Weekend Max Mara
- Alaïa
- Fondation Cartier
- Versace
- Amayi
Locations
- USA
- Cleveland
- New York
- Detroit
- Long Island
- UK
- South London
- London
- Japan
- Finland
- Helsinki
- Shenzhen
- China
- France
- Paris
- Place Vendôme
- 7th arrondissement
- 11th arrondissement
- French Alps
- Isère
- Italy
- Austria
- Thailand
- Bangkok
- Sukhumvit Road
- Chinatown
- Germany
- Romania
- South Korea
- Seoul
- Singapore
- Tokyo
- Florence
- California
- India
- New Delhi
- Gifu
- Tokai region
- Mexico
- Poland
- Zimbabwe
Sources
- Monocle —