Berkeley Supply is one of a handful of storefronts to pop up recently in Denver to meet the demand for stylish menswear. The Mile High City is catching up with bigger cities like New York; Portland, Oregon; and San Francisco, where curated menswear shops cater primarily to fashion-conscious millennials willing to spend a little more on brands with reputations for quality.
Menswear in the Mile High City —
Berkeley Supply is one of a handful of storefronts to pop up recently in Denver to meet the demand for stylish menswear. The Mile High City is catching up with bigger cities like New York; Portland, Oregon; and San Francisco, where curated menswear shops cater primarily to fashion-conscious millennials willing to spend a little more on brands with reputations for quality.
John Watson for Berkeley Supply
Owner Eli Cox, 27, opened the 168-square-foot store on a credit card in 2012. Berkeley Supply exclusively features American-made brands, including shirts and hats by Taylor Stitch, Rogue Territory, Ball & Buck and Denver's own Topo Designs.
Berkeley Supply —
Owner Eli Cox, 27, opened the 168-square-foot store on a credit card in 2012. Berkeley Supply exclusively features American-made brands, including shirts and hats by Taylor Stitch, Rogue Territory, Ball & Buck and Denver's own Topo Designs.
John Watson for Berkeley Supply
Berkeley Supply is capitalizing on growing interest in American "heritage" brands such as Filson, a Seattle-based company that has been making outdoor clothing and accessories since 1897. The brand has experienced a revival of sorts in recent years.
Berkeley Supply —
Berkeley Supply is capitalizing on growing interest in American "heritage" brands such as Filson, a Seattle-based company that has been making outdoor clothing and accessories since 1897. The brand has experienced a revival of sorts in recent years.
Adam Bove for Berkeley Supply
Ratio Clothing founder Eric Powell moved from Chicago to launch his custom-made shirt business because he was attracted to its affordable, outdoor-centric lifestyle. He figured a good place to live would also be a good place to work.
Ratio Clothing —
Ratio Clothing founder Eric Powell moved from Chicago to launch his custom-made shirt business because he was attracted to its affordable, outdoor-centric lifestyle. He figured a good place to live would also be a good place to work.
Gray Box Studios
Ratio's shirts are made of premium imported fabrics and sewn in the United States, allowing Powell to keep a closer watch over quality.
Ratio Clothing —
Ratio's shirts are made of premium imported fabrics and sewn in the United States, allowing Powell to keep a closer watch over quality.
Gray Box Studios
Buoyed by growing sales, Ratio Clothing expanded from an online business out of Powell's home to a storefront in downtown Denver in 2013.
Ratio Clothing —
Buoyed by growing sales, Ratio Clothing expanded from an online business out of Powell's home to a storefront in downtown Denver in 2013.
Gray Box Studios
Roy and Tanya Katz started Winter Session, a handmade line of bags and accessories, in their Chicago apartment in 2011. Originally from Colorado, the couple moved to Denver in 2013 to take advantage of the city's thriving maker community.
Winter Session —
Roy and Tanya Katz started Winter Session, a handmade line of bags and accessories, in their Chicago apartment in 2011. Originally from Colorado, the couple moved to Denver in 2013 to take advantage of the city's thriving maker community.
Luca Venter for Winter Session
Winter Session employee Laura Staugaitis followed Roy and Tanya Katz from Chicago to Denver. She and another employee help the couple create the bags and accessories, which have found an audience in the United States and Japan. "It's a very noncompetitive environment," she said of Denver. "It's a young scene here, so just people aren't as really protective of what they're working on for fear people are going to nudge them out of the market."
Winter Session —
Winter Session employee Laura Staugaitis followed Roy and Tanya Katz from Chicago to Denver. She and another employee help the couple create the bags and accessories, which have found an audience in the United States and Japan. "It's a very noncompetitive environment," she said of Denver. "It's a young scene here, so just people aren't as really protective of what they're working on for fear people are going to nudge them out of the market."
Ross Evertson for Winter Session
Like Ratio, Topo Designs started as an e-commerce business based in Denver and opened its Denver flagship store in 2013. Originally from Wyoming, its owners moved to Denver to launch their business because it had an existing cut and sew industry for outdoor gear.
Topo Designs —
Like Ratio, Topo Designs started as an e-commerce business based in Denver and opened its Denver flagship store in 2013. Originally from Wyoming, its owners moved to Denver to launch their business because it had an existing cut and sew industry for outdoor gear.
Topo Designs
Co-founder Jedd Rose says Topo's clothing and accessories have a "mountain-looking" focus that reflects the Denver lifestyle: backpacks instead of messenger bags, waterproof rain jackets suited to camping and hiking.
Topo Designs —
Co-founder Jedd Rose says Topo's clothing and accessories have a "mountain-looking" focus that reflects the Denver lifestyle: backpacks instead of messenger bags, waterproof rain jackets suited to camping and hiking.
Topo Designs