If you're into fashion that's as smart as it is stylish, you've probably come across Acronym. Known for its cutting-edge approach to urban techwear, the brand has a cult following for its blend of futuristic design, advanced materials, and unparalleled functionality. Its iconic pieces are built for the modern city, ready to handle anything from a sudden downpour to a cross-town sprint without missing a beat.
For those who love Acronym's visionary style but are looking to explore other brands with a similar innovative spirit, there are plenty of great options. Whether you're after something more minimalist, sustainable, or affordable, here are 18 brands that nail functional, forward-thinking design.
An icon in the world of high-performance outerwear, Stone Island is famous for its relentless innovation in fabrics and dyeing techniques. Each piece comes with the signature detachable compass patch, a badge of quality and style. While Acronym often sticks to a sleek, monochromatic palette, Stone Island isn't afraid of bold colors and experimental textures.
If you appreciate Acronym’s technical prowess but want your pieces to have a bit more pop and a grittier, streetwear energy, Stone Island is the brand to check out. Expect jackets from $700 and up, putting it in a similar luxury tier. It's the perfect blend of Italian craftsmanship and rugged functionality for the urban explorer.
Shop now at stoneisland.com
As the high-fashion sibling of outdoor giant Arc’teryx, Veilance is Acronym’s closest rival in minimalist, high-performance apparel. The brand’s philosophy is all about obsessive attention to detail, using advanced materials like GORE-TEX to create sleek, almost armor-like pieces for the city. Where Acronym's design can feel more modular and combative, Veilance is stealthy and impossibly clean.
Everything is designed with anatomical shaping and micro-seams for a perfect fit that moves with you. It’s urban techwear for the absolute minimalist who prioritizes severe, understated aesthetics without sacrificing an ounce of performance. Think of Veilance as the sharp, architectural counterpart to Acronym’s deconstructed vision.
Shop now at veilance.com
Nike's All Conditions Gear line brings techwear to a more accessible, trail-to-street level. ACG blends vibrant, often retro-inspired color schemes with highly functional materials designed to withstand the elements. You'll find everything from GORE-TEX jackets and cargo pants to technical vests and footwear.
While Acronym leans into a futuristic, ninja-like aesthetic, ACG has a more rugged, "gorpcore" vibe that feels equally at home on a mountain or on the subway. It captures a similar spirit of exploration and utility at a more approachable price point, making it a great entry into functional fashion.
Shop now at nike.com/acg
The long-running collaboration between master designer Yohji Yamamoto and Adidas basically created the blueprint for luxury athletic wear. Y-3 fuses Yamamoto's avant-garde, flowing silhouettes with Adidas' technical expertise. The result is a futuristic, often dramatic take on sportswear that prioritizes style and mood.
Compared to Acronym's hyper-functional focus, Y-3 is more about pushing fashion boundaries, offering pieces that are as much a creative statement as they are functional. If you love the dark, minimalist palette of techwear but want something with a bit more runway flair, Y-3 is your go-to.
Shop now at y-3.com
If you find Stone Island intriguing but want something even more experimental, look no further than its Shadow Project line. Interestingly, this sub-label was co-founded by Acronym's own Errolson Hugh, and you can see his DNA all over it. This is where Stone Island pushes its fabric research and design concepts to the absolute limit.
Shadow Project pieces are known for their transformative features, innovative silhouettes, and complex material blends that respond to touch or temperature. It’s highly technical and shares Acronym’s love for innovation, but with a unique material-first approach that sets it apart.
Shop now at stoneisland.com/us/stone-island-shadow-project
A pioneer of Italian sportswear, C.P. Company has a rich history of garment dyeing and functional design. The brand is famous for its iconic goggle jackets and lens-sleeve details, which feel both vintage and futuristic. Their collections draw heavily from military and workwear archives, reimagining heritage garments with advanced, proprietary fabrics.
While sharing a commitment to utility with Acronym, C.P. Company's aesthetic is less cyberpunk and more rooted in European style and history. It's for the person who appreciates technical apparel but wants a connection to classic, field-tested designs.
Shop now at us.c-p-company.com
Based in New York City, Outlier is dedicated to building the future of clothing with superior materials and functional construction. Their vibe is less overtly "tech" and more focused on creating timeless, durable pieces that perform flawlessly in daily urban life. They are famous for their technical pants - like the Slim Dungarees - made from tough, two-way stretch canvas.
While Acronym sells a vision of a futuristic urban operator, Outlier outfits the modern professional who bikes to work and needs pants that look sharp but feel effortless. If you want high-performance fabrics without the aggressive styling, Outlier strips techwear down to its most practical essentials.
Shop now at outlier.nyc
Hailing from Copenhagen, Norse Projects offers a clean, Scandinavian take on functional apparel. Their collections are understated and timeless, but don't let the simple aesthetics fool you. Look closer and you’ll find GORE-TEX shells, technical wools, and performance insulation seamlessly integrated into classic silhouettes.
Norse Projects is for those who appreciate Acronym's focus on quality but prefer a less aggressive, more adaptable style. Their clothing is designed to blend in, not stand out, while providing best-in-class protection from the elements. It’s functional clothing for everyday wear, perfected.
Shop now at norseprojects.com
British designer Craig Green walks the line between conceptual art and utilitarian fashion. His work is known for its dramatic, sculptural silhouettes often inspired by uniforms and traditional workwear. While more avant-garde than Acronym, his collections frequently feature functional details like intricate strapping, quilting, and modular components.
This brand is for the fashion-forward individual who sees clothing as a form of expression. Craig Green shares Acronym's interest in function and purpose but filters it through a highly creative, almost romantic lens. It's thought-provoking fashion that is still, at its core, incredibly wearable.
Shop now at craig-green.com
With deep roots in performance skiwear, Japanese brand Goldwin has mastered the art of creating technical apparel with a refined, minimalist aesthetic. Their lifestyle collections bring that high-altitude expertise to the city, offering everything from weatherproof shells to technical trousers with impeccable tailoring.
Like Acronym, Goldwin focuses on movement and functionality, but with a distinctly quiet and elegant Japanese design sensibility. Their pieces are incredibly high-quality and built to last, providing a more understated and mature alternative for those who want top-tier performance without the aggressive design language.
Shop now at goldwin-global.com
The North Face Black Series is the brand's premium, city-focused collection where alpine technology meets high fashion. It reimagines iconic TNF silhouettes with futuristic materials and design-forward details, often taking a more experimental and conceptual approach to urban outerwear. Think insulated parkas and weatherproof shells, but elevated with a bold, stylistic edge.
This line serves as a great bridge between true mountaineering gear and the aesthetic of techwear pioneers like Acronym. For fans of TNF who want some more of that future-proof swagger, keep an eye out for this limited-edition, fashion-forward technical outerwear collection.
Shop now at thenorthface.com
Nobis creates luxury outerwear that offers ultimate protection in extreme weather without sacrificing style. The Canadian brand integrates technical high-performance details - like magnetic closures, seam-sealed construction, and premium down - into sophisticated, urban silhouettes. They nail the balance between function and fashion.
While Acronym focuses on systems of movement and modularity, Nobis is dedicated to delivering superior warmth and weather resistance in thoughtfully designed packages. If you need techwear that can handle a frozen cityscape while still looking polished, Nobis has you covered.
Shop now at us.nobis.com
While this collaboration is primarily known for its iconic footwear, the apparel collections combine Raf Simons' directional, youth-culture-inspired vision with Adidas' sportswear heritage. The pieces often play with proportions, bold branding, and unexpected material combinations, creating forward-thinking looks that feel both athletic and high-concept.
Similar to Acronym, this collaboration isn't afraid to push boundaries and challenge what sportswear can be. It's a great choice for those who want artistic, statement-making pieces with a clear connection to athletic function and contemporary street style.
Shop now at adidas.com
Famed for its dedication to environmental activism and rugged outdoor gear, Patagonia also produces a ton of pieces that fit perfectly into a functional urban wardrobe. Their highly durable shells, base layers, and insulated jackets are built with technical fabrics to stand up to the harshest conditions, but their timeless designs make them incredibly versatile.
Patagonia offers an eco-conscious alternative to Acronym's futuristic feel. The ethos is less about urban ninjas and more about sustainable, long-lasting performance. If your values align with environmentalism and you want gear that's proven to work, Patagonia is a no-brainer.
Shop now at patagonia.com
For those who love Acronym specifically for its weather-beating capabilities, Nike's Shield line is a must-see. This collection is engineered to help athletes run and train through wind and rain, featuring water-repellent materials, reflective details, and strategically placed ventilation. It's function over everything else.
An Acronym jacket is a full-body system, a Nike Shield jacket is a purpose-built tool. It provides a more affordable, sports-focused alternative that delivers uncompromising protection when you're on the move, making it perfect for active city dwellers.
Shop now at nike.com
This one might seem like cheating, but no list would be complete without mentioning Acronym's legendary collaborations with Nike. These projects, often centered on footwear like the Air Presto or Lunar Force 1, bring Errolson Hugh’s radical design to a wider audience. The sneakers typically feature zippers, straps, and new materials that completely transform the original silhouette.
The apparel capsules are equally groundbreaking, seamlessly merging Acronym's functional-dystopian vision with Nike's athletic DNA. These drops are super hyped and sell out instantly, but they represent the perfect fusion of streetwear and high-tech style.
Shop now at nike.com/launch
The original packable jacket brand, K-Way offers a simple, vibrant, and incredibly practical approach to weather protection. Known for their lightweight, waterproof pac-a-macs that fold into their own hip pouch, K-Way is all about easy, on-the-go functionality.
This brand is the fun, colorful, and budget-friendly answer to Acronym's serious technicality. It doesn't offer the same level of granular features, but for everyday rain showers and windy commutes, K-Way provides an iconic and stylish solution that won’t break the bank.
Shop now at k-way.com
For an accessible entry into the techwear world, Uniqlo is unbeatable. Their collections are filled with innovative, functional fabrics disguised as everyday basics. Look for their popular BLOCKTECH parkas for wind and rain protection, HEATTECH base layers for warmth, and AIRism performance pieces for sweat-wicking breathability.
While you won't find the intricate designs or luxury feel of Acronym, Uniqlo democratizes technical clothing, making it affordable for everyone to build a simple, effective, and modern urban wardrobe. Its clean aesthetic serves as a fantastic base to mix with more high-end techwear pieces.
Shop now at uniqlo.com
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