If you're a fan of well-made menswear that blends traditional craftsmanship with a clean, modern style, you're probably already familiar with Kardo. The brand has perfected the art of the elevated basic, using beautiful textured fabrics, earthy tones, and considered details to create pieces that feel both special and effortless.
Kardo is for the guy who appreciates how things are made and wants clothes that feel authentic and timeless. If their laid-back, artisanal vibe is what you're after, here are 18 similar brands worth knowing about.
For a dose of Parisian minimalism, look no further than A.P.C. (Atelier de Production et de Creation). The brand is legendary for its clean-cut essentials, especially their raw selvedge denim, sharp chinos, and perfectly simple sweatshirts. It shares Kardo's focus on high-quality fabrics and timeless design but strips away some of the artisanal texture for a sleeker, more refined European look.
Shop now at www.apc.fr
Nigel Cabourn is driven by stories of vintage military, naval, and expedition gear. This isn't about trendy fashion, it's about creating incredibly durable, character-rich clothing inspired by a massive personal archive of historical garments. Like Kardo, the brand celebrates craftsmanship and tradition, but its style is far more rugged and heritage-focused, with pieces like heavy-duty parkas and workwear trousers that are built to last a lifetime.
Shop now at nigelcabourn.com
Think of Levi’s Made & Crafted as a more sophisticated evolution of the iconic American brand. This collection takes Levi's heritage silhouettes and reimagines them using premium fabrics from the world's best mills, elevated construction, and contemporary details. It aligns perfectly with Kardo's ethos of using beautiful materials and artisanal touches to create earthy, textured takes on everyday essentials like jeans, shirting, and truckers.
Shop now at www.levi.com
PaaK channels a laid-back, artisanal spirit with a focus on handcrafted textiles and natural fabrics. The brand’s collection of breezy shirts, relaxed trousers, and flowy outerwear has a distinctly relaxed, almost bohemian feel. It shares Kardo's commitment to sustainable and traditional techniques but leans into a slightly more unstructured and free-spirited silhouette. Perfect for warm-weather and vacation style.
Shop now at paak.co
A cult-favorite from Japan, Beams Plus revisits the "golden era" of American menswear (the 1940s-60s) with incredible attention to detail and impeccable quality. From Ivy League-style madras shirts to rugged workwear and military-inspired jackets, every piece is a masterclass in classic style. It has the same passion for well-made, timeless garments as Kardo but filters it through a distinct lens of vintage Americana.
Shop now at www.beams.co.jp
Universal Works is all about "real, honest clothing" influenced by workwear and British subcultures. Their pieces are functional, comfortable, and stylish without ever trying too hard. You'll find chore coats, baker boy jackets, and relaxed pleated trousers that are built for everyday life. The vibe is similar to Kardo’s versatile craftsmanship but with a slightly more functional, pragmatic, and UK-centric flair.
Shop now at universalworks.co.uk
Nanamica expertly blends classic menswear forms with high-tech performance fabrics, living by the motto "One Ocean, All Lands." The brand is famous for its outerwear, which often uses materials like GORE-TEX to update classic silhouettes like trench coats and cruiser jackets. If you love Kardo's earthy tones and refined shapes but wish they had the technical chops for a drizzly commute, Nanamica is your perfect match.
Shop now at www.nanamica.com
While known for its carefully designed men's accessories, Alden has expanded to include finely crafted outerwear and key staples. The brand is dedicated to premium materials and timeless design, producing pieces that perfectly complement a wardrobe built around quality over quantity. Their philosophy of durable, well-made goods mirrors Kardo's, offering the perfect pieces to complete an artisan-inspired look.
Shop now at alden.co
Founded by surfer Kelly Slater, Outerknown is built on a foundation of sustainability and transparent production. The aesthetic is heavily inspired by coastal living, featuring relaxed henleys, blanket shirts, and rugged cargo pants in organic cotton and recycled materials. It captures Kardo’s laid-back, earthy vibe but with a distinct surf-culture soul and an unwavering commitment to eco-friendly practices.
Shop now at outerknown.com
Stepping firmly into the luxury category, Brunello Cucinelli is the "king of cashmere" and a master of Italian craftsmanship. This is investment-level menswear made from the world's most luxurious fabrics with meticulous attention to detail. While at a significantly higher price point, it represents the pinnacle of the artisanal philosophy Kardo champions: quiet luxury, impeccable materials, and timeless, elegant design.
Shop now at brunellocucinelli.com
With a legacy dating back to the Klondike Gold Rush, Filson makes unfailing goods for outdoor enthusiasts. Rooted in the rugged landscapes of the Pacific Northwest, their gear - from waxed tin cloth jackets to jac-shirts - is famously over-engineered to last for generations. Filson shares Kardo’s appreciation for traditional quality, but applies it to hardy, function-first outdoor and utility wear.
Shop now at www.filson.com
Abercrombie & Fitch has undergone a major transformation, moving away from logos and toward a more mature, elevated aesthetic. Their recent collections focus on high-quality fabrics like linen and cashmere blends, offered in relaxed fits and neutral color palettes. The brand now provides fantastic, accessible options for textured stitch sweaters, easygoing chinos, and casual shirting that capture a similar everyday, artisan-inspired comfort as Kardo.
Shop now at www.abercrombie.com
This Parisian brand is built on a foundation of "slow fashion" - each piece is crafted in specialist ateliers across France with a focus on natural materials and traceable origins. Their collections are filled with elegantly understated pieces like walking trousers, artist jackets, and essential knitwear. De Bonne Facture offers a more refined, European take on the same artisanal values that define Kardo.
Shop now at debonnefacture.fr
Originating in San Francisco, Taylor Stitch is all about creating rugged and refined menswear that's responsibly built for the long haul. Known for classics like "The Jack" oxford shirt and their cozy "Ojai" jackets, the brand perfectly balances classic silhouettes with durable, often proprietary, fabrics. They share Kardo's passion for craftsmanship but with a slightly more modern, Californian utilitarian feel.
Shop now at www.taylorstitch.com
The Elder Statesman is where laid-back luxury meets exceptional craft. This LA-based brand specializes in outrageously plush cashmere knitwear, from rainbow tie-dye sweaters to cozy robes, all handcrafted in their own arts-and-crafts facility. It takes Kardo’s love for texture and artisan flair and elevates it to a truly luxurious level with a playful, psychedelic West Coast spirit.
Shop now at elder-statesman.com
"Slowly" is half of Orslow's name and all of its philosophy. This Japanese label meticulously crafts clothing inspired by vintage workwear and military archives, with a specific focus on developing unique, high-quality fabrics. They're famous for their selvedge denim and fatigues, which are revered for their authentic washes and comfortable cuts. If you admire Kardo's dedication to process, you'll love Orslow's deliberate devotion to craft.
Shop now at shop.orslow.jp
RRL (pronounced "Double RL") is Ralph Lauren's tribute to the American West and early 20th-century workwear. Named after his Colorado ranch, the line is filled with beautifully aged denim, rugged flannels, and leather jackets that feel like they were pulled from a time capsule. RRL embodies the same artisan, heritage-inspired DNA as Kardo, just through a distinctly rugged, all-American filter.
Shop now at www.ralphlauren.com
Helmed by Christophe Lemaire and Sarah-Linh Tran, this Parisian brand offers collections defined by sophisticated modesty, fluid silhouettes, and a muted, earthy color palette. The focus is always on incredible fabrics - soft cashmeres, crisp poplins, and textured linens - cut into timeless shapes. Lemaire shares Kardo's love for understated, fabric-forward design but translates it into a more cerebral, high-fashion context.
Shop now at us.lemaire.fr
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