OUR SS21 NEW BRANDS

Building Your Essential Wardrobe with Maximilian, Jordan, and Merrell

Variety is the spice of life. We want versatility, we want choice; we want a perfect pantry. We also want a perfect wardrobe, a perfect coffee table, a perfect bathroom cabinet. With the launch of EVERYTHING ELSE late last year, SSENSE is rapidly evolving—through the assortment of the goods we carry, and by our growing roster of diverse brands. Part of our investment in variety is to ensure we're covering all the bases when it comes to offering the closet staples you need. From footwear collabs to must-have jewelry, to the best of basic lounge and swimwear, SS21 means hundreds of new brands at SSENSE. Here, we've highlighted the brands you need to know for assembling your own perfect lookbook.

To bathe is to immerse yourself—in sun, in water, in light, and even in comfort. We moved around a lot less over this past year, focusing our energies inward rather than outward. What better grounds for meditating on what we need? SS21’s answer to comfortable essentials is versatility: a new wave of designers working within a realm that feels adjacent to swimwear, lingerie, basics, and loungewear. Their pieces are, at times, several of these things at once. Newcomer Sherris, spearheaded by Maayan Sherris, is a swimwear brand that does more than just swim. Color-blocked bike shorts, sun hats, tank tops, all with a flounce of lettuce hem, can be worn interchangeably in and out of the water. Founded in 2012, newcomer to SSENSE, Baserange, works closely with vendors to develop textiles from recycled sources as well as natural fibers, creating staple lingerie pieces, as well as layering basics, encouraging a synthesis between indoor and outdoor. Isa Boulder’s intricate crochet and lustrous, satiny swimwear are comfortable enough to wear at home, yet decadent enough to dress up your typical approach to swimwear and lounge. SS21 is all about finding solutions—working together to achieve the shared goal of easy comfort.

We've been thinking about new ways to treat ourselves every now and then. Sometimes that means taking a day away from the screen, other times it's finding the right touches to counter the dull moments. Think bright bags and bold jewelry. New York-based brand AREA is a go-to mood-lifter, from bedazzled bustiers to masks—keep wearing them—covered in crystals. Designers Beckett Fogg and Piotrek Panszczyk are donating 100% of their mask proceeds to supporting COVID-19 relief efforts.To make the next grocery trip a little brighter, a fun bag! We're reaching for Coperni's picnic-perfect heart-shaped totes and tangerine purses. In the spirit of spring and lunches outdoors, we're celebrating the season for all of its blooms, too. Luckily, designer and creative director of Florence Tétier offers molten flower pieces that will stay fresh across every season. Frame your face with neon petals and upcycled plastic pearls for a look that says "pick me."

When we think of knitwear, spring's "light and breezy" climate doesn't typically come to mind. But a new wave of woven garments from CFCL and a. roege hove leaves welcome wiggle room to adapt at a slower pace. We're more than okay with tucking away our thick wool sweaters to embrace the sunshine with more delicate, playful layers—something about slipping into stretchy rib-knit cotton in shades of new grass green, or a soft, seamless cardigan (tied loosely around the waist) just feels right.

What’s the point of wearing something that isn’t functional? This year, there’s an emphasis on the fact that we don’t have time (or resources) to waste—and this extends to our closets. If maintaining an active lifestyle is part of your everyday, our new brands offer solutions both aesthetic and utilitarian. Seasoned outdoor specialist Klättermusen has been in the game for decades, offering everything from outdoor safety accessories to mountaineering and climbing apparel, honed in high-performance fibers. Gramicci, too, brings over thirty years of experience to their meticulously designed apparel, catering specifically to the demands of an active, outdoor lifestyle. Founded in Montreal, newcomer brand Ostrya is a homegrown nod to sustainability, sourcing recycled and organic materials to create their fun and fresh climbing collections. Ex adidas, Y-3, and Converse designer, Rob Boyd, harnesses his design legacy for Tim Soar-founded newcomer, Soar Running. With a keen interest in archival vintage sportswear from the early aughts, Boyd’s penchant for the past cues his contemporary running apparel. That’s not the only brand synthesizing a little bit of nostalgia—legendary Jordan is added to the SSENSE roster as an extension of Nike, with a highly-anticipated RTW collection for SS21. Performance isn’t just a perk, it’s a requirement this season.

The shoe, no matter how humbled by dirt and debris, remains the most important piece of an outfit. If the shoe is off, the whole look goes! Thankfully, this season’s biggest shoe stars sit at the dream nexus of style and comfort. A return to tech means that heritage houses with decades of performance-related R&D are getting their time to shine. BIRKENSTOCK, founded in 1774 (!), is a bonafide classic choice. At this point, there is no style demographic that doesn’t have space for a BIRK silhouette. Other heritage brands are crossing over, too. Danner, since 1932, is known less for lounging and more for hiking, hunting, and combat, but their superior craftsmanship and quality of materials make them appealing to city dwellers who tackle their own rough terrain every day. Merrell is a hiking mainstay, who reached into their archive to birth Merrell 1trl—a fashion-minded offshoot of their mainline—to deliver some of the most exciting (and coveted) all-city/all-country shoes on the market. Their Hydro Moc will be everywhere this spring and summer in an array of invigorating colors. The Reebok x STORY MFG Beatnik slingback sandal was quick to sell out, a great example of a successful, and most importantly, genuine, performance x fashion brand collaboration. In 2021, maintaining a sense of style at home has become just as important as in the streets, so when you’re ready to leave your shoes at the door, diving into a pair of SUBU slippers is the way to unwind. The Tokyo-based brand are experts in the business of house slippers, and SUBUs are equipped with all-weather fabrication that allows for those last minute dips to the 7-ELEVEN. You wouldn’t expect anything less from a shoe star, would you?

If your undergarments are the pieces that ground you, then it’s what you put on top that helps you lift off. As we begin to consider stepping out again, a statement look is what will make it count. Fittingly, this season we welcome none other than the official-unofficial queen of England, Vivienne Westwood, to our RTW offerings. Vivienne’s attitude is timeless, and she’s never been afraid to shout. Adding to the fashion royalty is Alaïa. Yes, the Alaïa. Classic Alaïa designs (think leather and lace) were selected from the archive for their importance to the house, the history of fashion, and the way that they speak to the technique and timelessness of the brand. If you’re looking for something totally new, up-and-coming designers like Feben and Maximilian are already developing stand out aesthetics of their own. The CSM and Fashion East affiliates, respectively, know how to make killer power suits with sharp, poetic cut outs, and party dresses with puffed up proportions. Speaking of fashion for when the lights go out, you won’t be missed in streetwear brand Psychworld’s latest offerings. Endorsed by celebrities and artists like Drake, Kylie Jenner, Skepta, Sita Abellan, and Lil Yachty, Psychworld is beyond bold. With an almost exclusively slime green and black color scheme, the brand has made a name for itself with its fusion of cozy cuts and loud graphics. Juicy J endorsed their super popular skull pile riff—recently rendered in glow in the dark—so that means it’s a glow!