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When debate commences on the topic of the best Scandi brands, it's hard not to automatically think of neutral tones, clean lines, and very, very minimal design. Characterised by a form-follows-function philosophy, not only has the Nordic aesthetic paved the way for absurdly well-made clothes, it has also discovered new ways to be even more sustainable and kinder to the environment. And yes, we seriously need that right now.
From Denmark to Sweden, accessories to apparel, independent labels to sprawling fashion houses, these are the best Scandinavian brands that you should know about.
1 | Acne Studios
Obviously, you can't talk about the best Scandi brands without bringing up Acne Studios. While it's now known for making creative high-enders that sit on the wearable side of the left-field, it didn't actually start off as a fashion brand. In fact, Acne Studios was an offshoot of the creative collective known as Acne, which focused on graphic design, film production, and advertising.
One day during the ‘90s, founder Jonny Johansson created 100 pairs of raw denim jeans and gave them away to friends and family. Magazines like Vogue picked up on the popularity of the jeans, and that’s pretty much how Acne Studios became the label it is today.
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2 | A Day's March
Swedish brand A Day's March takes its name from an old military saying. It’s how far an army can move in a single day. The idea is that they make clothes designed to get you through everyday life.
Producing more than 70 per cent of their clothing at family-run textile factories in Portugal with local fabrics and materials, their focus is on subtle and versatile everyday classics: the good stuff, basically. From open-neck linen polos to nylon zip overshirts and chunky woollen knits.
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3 | Asket
Asket is all about minimalism. Not in terms of aesthetics, but in terms of consumption. Unlike most brands that want to introduce a new collection every season (or every week, in the world of fast fashion), Asket has one core range that's meant to be worn every single day. And when something rips, which is bound to happen at some point, each piece has been specifically designed to that it can be repaired rather than replaced.
It's all about creating a wardrobe that's genuinely sustainable. As the Stockholm company itself explains: “The world doesn’t need another fashion brand.”
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4 | Axel Arigato
Even though Axel Arigato has only been around for 9 years, it's got presence. Founded by Swedish natives Max Svärdh and Albin Johansson, this imprint is all about marrying Western minimalism with Eastern attention to detail.
This signature ‘Japandi’ style has made its way across all of Axel Arigato's collection, and this individuality is why there's so much hype surrounding each one of their sneaker drops.
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5 | CDLP
Think about underwear more. By which we mean your own. With brands like cult label CDLP, there's a Scandi luxury option that makes really well-fitting boxers and trunks from really well-meaning materials, like lyocell, bamboo, pima cotton and Econyl. All of these are totally natural, which is great if you have particular sensitive skin down South.
CDLP also have a pretty awesome loungewear range that's been specifically designed for vibing at home (or by a pool).
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6 | CQP
The trainer industry is wildly competitive. But against all odds, CQP has managed to carve itself a dedicated following thanks to sticking to pure, unadulterated minimalism. For the past decade, every single shoe has been designed and handmade, all from their studio in Stockholm.
And in a world of excessive, over-engineered sneakers, simplicity is why many consider CQP to be one of the best Scandi brands.
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7 | Fjällräven
Nowadays, Fjällräven are known mostly for their very cute, very square backpacks. But the brand actually dates all the way back to the '60s when founder Åke Nordin was making a wooden-framed rucksacks straight out of his basement.
Fjällräven was born with the vision to make nature more accessible to people, and Nordin spent his entire life trying to perfect the humble backpack so you could get from point A to point B with all of your essentials still intact. Now, after over six decades, it's still one of the best bag companies out there, with an outerwear its range of parkas becoming almost as ubiquitous as its Kånken backpacks… almost.
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8 | J.Lindeberg
Regarded by many as the OG Scandi brand, the minimalist aesthetic that everyone's long stanned wouldn't exist if it weren't for J.Lindeberg. Established in 1996, the Stockholm-based apparel brand was one of the very first to cross fashion with sports. The pieces were hugely influential back in the late ‘90s and early ’00s, and were often spotted on some of the world's best golfers and tennis players.
Now, hype surrounding the label is back and it's stronger than ever as J. Lindeberg doubles down on the functional ultra-preppy vibe.
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9 | Norse Projects
While many of the best Scandi brands are all simple and clean, Copenhagen's very own Norse Projects goes down a different route. Founded by Tobia Sloth in 2004, the label is a little rebellious, taking influences from streetwear, skatewear, and workwear (all the wears!), and blending them with elements of high-end fashion.
Norse Projects is also a pioneer of the gorpcore trend that Lukas Matsson was very much a fan of during the final season of Succession.
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10 | Nudie Jeans
In 2001, Maria Erixon was the European design manager at another denim company, but she wanted go against the grain and to do things a little differently. That's where the idea of Nudie Jeans came from. One of the best denim labels ever made, it's also one of the first ones to offer a free repair service through its stores.
If your Nudies are beyond fixing and truly at the end of the road, they'll recycle and reuse them to create cool rugs and camper seats.
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11 | Our Legacy
While most imprints focus on following trends, Our Legacy makes them. Since 2005, Jockum Hallin and Cristopher Nying have wanted to create pieces that are “like a classic garment from your grandfather’s wardrobe, remodelled to our life and time.” As a result, the collections are minimal, but packed with subtle details that will actually improve your life somehow, and are made with European fabrics that are all sourced ethically.
Over the years, Our Legacy has worked on plenty of hyped collaborations. From Denim Tears to Stüssy, the brand also has a Converse range on the way.
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12 | Palmes
Nordic preppy sporty tenniswear made by a long-time skater, Palmes is a sum of many parts – and one of the most hyped labels in the last couple of years. Founded by Nikolaj Hansson after picking up the racket during Covid, Palmes has ripped the seams of what was once a largely conservative sport with conservative kit.
Think wide, West Coast shorts with enough stretch for a backhander, and crisp white Oxfords to amp up your local municipal court.
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13 | Polar Skate Co.
Polar Skate Co. was founded in Malmö, Sweden in 2011 by professional skateboarder Pontus Alv and grew out of a skate crew of the same name. Since then, they’ve gone about creating collections that feature hard wearing denim, boxy fitting hoodies, graphic print tees and loose fitting long-sleeve polos.
The brand has become beloved of the skate and streetwear scenes alike for their take on relaxed, ‘90s inspired skatewear and sits comfortably near names like Noah and Palace in the skatewear pantheon.
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14 | Rains
Raincoats are ugly, Rains' coats aren't. Over the past five years or so, the Copenhagen-based outerwear company has seen a spike in popularity thanks to its very sleek, very sexy jackets. With everything that you need, and nothing that you don't, each piece can be easily and conveniently packed away, which is something that you probably won't do if you live in Denmark considering the country gets 121 days of rainfall per year.
Rains recently expanded into the world of footwear with the 3D printed Puffer Sneaker that's made in collaboration with Zellerfeld. It's apparently a lot more eco-friendly compared to conventional trainers, and it can be fully recycled too.
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15 | Selected Homme
While Selected Homme might look pretty high-end, all of their pieces are actually surprisingly affordable. From baseball caps to T-shirts, all the way to big wool coats, the Danish label is all about reinventing your entire wardrobe on a budget.
So, if you're looking for that Kendall Roy vibe but you don't have that Kendall Roy bank, Selected Homme might just be what you've been searching for.
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16 | Tiger of Sweden
When it comes to the best Scandinavian brands, it doesn't get more old school than Tiger of Sweden. For those outside of Northern Europe, you would quite easily assume that this label is relatively new, but it actually dates all the way back to 1903 when the Tiger of Sweden was just a guy who made really, really good suits.
Since 2003 (a full century later), the company went through a massive overhaul, and it's now very clean and very contemporary. Basically, it’s grown-up fashion that's chic and sophisticated at the same time.
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17 | Très Bien
Très Bien is from Paris right? WRONG. It actually started out as a clothing store in Sweden's Malmö. Back in the day, the shop stocked some of the best menswear pieces out there, but they decided to double-down on their in-house label.
And what a joyous decision that was. After selling out, Très Bien responded by making its own-brand label a permanent fixture and now, you'll find dudes far and wide who have wardrobes made up of nothing but Très Bien.
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18 | Wood Wood
No one does it quite like Wood Wood. Painfully cool, not only does this store stock some of the best menswear around, it's in-house clothing brand is also highly sought-after, gaining itself a seriously strong following over the years.
Heavily inspired by skateboard culture and streetwear, Wood Wood has collaborations with some pretty big names under its belt, including Adidas, Reebok, Salomon, and Timberland, to name a few.
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