Top 3 young menswear designers to watch

London has become the (pretty much) undisputed menswear capital of the world, and each new year brings a fresh crop of fashion talent onto the scene, with the London Collections: Men event providing the perfect platform for up-and-coming designers.

This year already looks set to be exceptional for innovative yet refreshingly wearable design – here, with the help of Style Pilot, is a quick run-down on the bright young things to watch in seasons to come.

1. Agi and Sam

Design duo Agi Mdumulla and Sam Cotton (27 and 26, respectively) were awarded the NewGen Men winners title by the British Fashion Council earlier this year, and their boundary-pushing “The Owls” Topman collection was met with plenty of approving nods.

Known for their bespoke prints and tongue-in-cheek designs, Agi & Sam believe ‘fashion should never be taken too seriously’, even if they are becoming seriously credible players in the industry.

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2. Astrid Andersen

Having only graduated from the prestigious Royal College of Art MA course relatively recently in 2010, Danish-born Astrid Andersen earned massive acclaim for her graduate collection, and was recognised with an Italian Vogue Talent nomination in the same year.

Dividing her time between Copenhagen and London, Astrid has dreamed up a rather unique brand of uber-masculine urban streetwear that incorporates unusual fabrics like lace and silk, and daring pastel colours.

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3. William Richard Green

Drawing inspiration from Vikings, fishermen and (somewhat randomly) Kurt Russell, Savile Row-trained Green has made a name for himself with his highly original, utilitarian designs – which somehow also manage to be quirky and playful at the same time. He was selected by Selfridges last year as an emerging talent in the department store’s Bright Young Things Showcase.

The Brummie designer claims that his ideal client is ‘a really rich chav who likes to dress like a clown’, but whilst he does have a does have a signature penchant for polka dots, his collections are anything but laughable, combining urban edge with a smartly tailored Savile Row-reminiscent aesthetic.

Top image: Astrid Andersen show, London Collections