If your closet is filled with bold, boundary-pushing pieces, you've likely come across Kartik Research. Known for its avant-garde aesthetic, the brand masterfully mixes technology with fashion to produce stunning, statement-making clothing and accessories that feel like they're from the future.
For those who admire Kartik Research's innovative spirit, the great news is there's a whole universe of designers creating similar forward-thinking fashion. Here are 18 brands like Kartik Research that will add an experimental edge to your wardrobe.
Iris van Herpen is where fashion meets fluid, otherworldly sculpture. Using mind-bending techniques like 3D printing and advanced fabric manipulation, the brand creates haute couture that genuinely looks like it’s from another dimension. Think dresses that cascade like liquid metal or garments that appear carved from smoke - that’s the magic of Iris van Herpen.
While Kartik Research focuses on tech-inspired ready-to-wear, Iris van Herpen operates in the realm of museum-worthy art, with a price point (often starting in the five figures) to match. If you love Kartik’s innovation and want to see the absolute pinnacle of what's possible in wearable tech and design, this is the ultimate destination for inspiration.
Shop now at irisvanherpen.com
A pioneer of avant-garde streetwear, Hood by Air brings a rebellious, deconstructed energy to fashion. The brand is known for its bold, oversized graphics, and reconstructed basics like hoodies and tees that defy traditional silhouettes. Their gender-fluid, boundary-blurring pieces are priced from around $50 to over $300.
Like Kartik Research, Hood by Air is undeniably experimental, but it channels that energy through a gritty, urban lens. If you’re looking for futuristic vibes with a strong streetwear and club culture foundation, Hood by Air is a perfect match.
Shop now at hoodbyair.com
Pyer Moss blends high-fashion conceptualism with powerful social commentary. The label creates innovative, sculptural pieces where every detail tells a story. From their standout outerwear to conceptual dresses that feel like wearable architecture, Pyer Moss designs clothing that makes you think as much as it makes you look great. Pieces generally range from $300 to $2,000+.
Both brands deliver a forward-thinking vision, but where Kartik focuses on tech and materials, Pyer Moss infuses cultural narratives and activism into its work. Pyer Moss is perfect for anyone who wants their avant-garde fashion to come with a strong sense of purpose.
Shop now at pyermoss.com
London-based designer Feng Chen Wang is celebrated for her innovative and deconstructed approach to menswear and unisex clothing. She combines technical fabrics with unique functionality, creating asymmetrical-yet-wearable jackets, layered trousers, and sculptural separates. Expect prices to fall between $400 and $2,000.
Much like Kartik Research, Feng Chen Wang pushes the boundaries of design with a tech-inspired feel. However, she places a heavy emphasis on futuristic tailoring and complex pattern-making, resulting in pieces that are both artistic and surprisingly practical.
Shop now at fengchenwang.com
Rick Owens is the undisputed king of dark, minimalist, and sculptural fashion. Known for his "glunge" (glamour meets grunge) aesthetic, he creates avant-garde pieces with signature drapey silhouettes, asymmetrical cuts, and a famously restricted color palette. From leather jackets to iconic sneakers, his designs range from $300 to over $3,000.
Both Rick Owens and Kartik Research attract those who view fashion as a form of art. But while Kartik leans into futurism and technology, Rick Owens crafts a monolithic, gothic, and broodingly romantic world that is uniquely his own.
Shop now at rickowens.eu
A master of silhouette and form, Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto is renowned for his dark, oversized, and exquisitely tailored avant-garde clothing. He creates intellectual fashion that plays with proportion, texture, and the space around the body, with prices often starting around $1,000.
Yohji and Kartik both cater to a customer who wants their clothing to make an intelligent, bold statement. However, Yohji Yamamoto's innovation is rooted in masterful tailoring and architectural draping, while Kartik's is driven by technology and futuristic materials.
Shop now at www.yohjiyamamoto.co.jp
Matty Bovan’s world is a colorful, chaotic explosion of avant-garde creativity. The British designer combines punk energy with homespun craft, resulting in vibrant pieces with exaggerated proportions, experimental textures, and beautifully clashing prints. His designer-level pieces are usually priced between $300 and $1,500.
Like Kartik Research, Bovan completely rejects mainstream fashion norms. But where Kartik's futurism is often sleek and techy, Bovan's is handmade, eclectic, and full of raw, playful energy. This is innovative fashion for the maximalist at heart.
Shop now at mattybovan.com
British designer Craig Green is celebrated for menswear that is conceptual, functional, and deeply emotional. His work often explores themes of uniform and protection, resulting in sculptural, layered pieces that are part wearable art, part utilitarian dream. Prices for his sought-after pieces typically start around $500.
Green shares Kartik Research’s dedication to pushing forms and materials. However, his work often feels beautifully structured and almost ceremonial, creating a unique blend of high-concept art and functional design.
Shop now at craiggreen.com
Instantly recognizable by its signature crescent moon print, Marine Serre offers a unique vision of futuristic fashion rooted in sustainability. The French designer is known for her second-skin tops and leggings, sporty yet tailored separates, and extensive use of upcycled materials. Ready-to-wear pieces range from around $700 into the thousands.
Marine Serre and Kartik Research are both at the forefront of modern design, but Serre's work fuses "futurewear" with an eco-conscious philosophy. If you love innovative silhouettes but also want to prioritize sustainability, this brand is for you.
Shop now at marineserre.com
A-Cold-Wall* (ACW*), founded by Samuel Ross, explores the intersection of brutalist architecture, social commentary, and high-concept streetwear. The brand offers technical outerwear, utilitarian trousers, and avant-garde accessories that feel both functional and futuristic. The price point sits between $200 and $1,500.
Like Kartik, ACW* is obsessed with fabrication and innovative materials. However, its aesthetic leans more toward industrial, utilitarian style. It’s perfect for those who appreciate Kartik’s tech-focus but prefer an edgier, urban, and functional feel.
Shop now at a-cold-wall.com
"Unreal" is right in the name, and this Japanese brand lives up to it. Anrealage is famous for its mind-bending use of technology, creating clothes that change color with UV light, inflate into new shapes, or feature impossible-looking cube-like patterns. With prices starting over $1,000, these are truly collectible pieces for fashion purists.
If you thought Kartik Research was experimental, Anrealage takes it a step further. While Kartik makes futuristic concepts wearable for today, Anrealage often feels like it's designing for tomorrow, creating clothing that doubles as performance art.
Shop now at anrealage.com
A protégé of Rei Kawakubo from Comme des Garçons, Junya Watanabe is a master of "techno-couture." He takes classic shapes - like trench coats or trucker jackets - and completely reimagines them through complex cutting, deconstruction, and splicing with unexpected industrial materials. Pieces are typically priced from $800 to $3,000.
Both Watanabe and Kartik Research experiment heavily with shapes and textiles. Watanabe's genius, however, lies in merging the familiar with the wildly futuristic, creating beautifully complex pieces that feel both groundbreaking and weirdly timeless.
Shop now at stockists like SSENSE or Dover Street Market
Under Demna's creative direction, Balenciaga has become a powerhouse of avant-garde design on a global scale. From its hyper-exaggerated silhouettes to its fusion of couture with streetwear, the iconic house is defining the future of luxury fashion. Prices are luxury-level, with accessories from $600 and clothing often over $2,000.
Both Balenciaga and Kartik are pushing boundaries. The main difference is scale - Balenciaga translates hyper-futuristic concepts for the mainstream luxury market, while Kartik Research operates in a more niche, artist-driven space.
Shop now at balenciaga.com
For a dose of futuristic style that's easier on the wallet, look to Korean brand Musinsa Standard. It offers high-quality, modern basics with a clean, techwear-inspired vibe. Think sleek cargo pants, minimalist puffers, and well-cut staples priced accessibly from around $30 to $150.
While Kartik is experimental and high-end, Musinsa Standard takes cues from that same forward-thinking world to create essentials you can actually wear every day. It's the perfect brand for building up a foundational wardrobe with a modern, futuristic twist.
Shop now at musinsastandard.com
Led by Glenn Martens, Y/Project is known for its twisting, deconstructed, and fantastically proportioned approach to fashion. The brand takes historical clothing references and completely abstracts them for the modern world, making things like denim or suiting feel utterly strange and new. Expect designer prices from $700 to $2,500+.
Like Kartik, Y/Project creates drama through innovative forms. But where Kartik looks to the future, Y/Project often warps the past. The result is intellectually playful clothes that are always surprising.
Shop now at yproject.fr
Based in Copenhagen, Heliot Emil delivers a distinctly Scandinavian take on futuristic fashion. Blending industrial design with techwear functionality, the brand produces sharp, minimalist pieces with a strong focus on custom hardware and innovative fabrics like heat-reactive textiles. Prices typically range from $300 to $1,000.
If Kartik Research explores the artistic side of future fashion, Heliot Emil nails the utilitarian aspect. Both brands share a love for experimental materials, but Heliot Emil applies them to sleek, functional, and almost dystopian forms perfect for a modern uniform.
Shop now at heliotemil.com
The Berlin-based design duo behind Ottolinger creates sexy, edgy fashion that feels like it’s been beautifully salvaged from a chic apocalypse. Think deconstructed mesh dresses, raw-edged knitwear, and cleverly strapped-together separates that look as if they're artfully falling apart. Pieces generally run from $300 to $900.
Ottolinger shares Kartik’s complete disdain for conventional design. But while Kartik builds futuristic shapes through technology, Ottolinger creates its own language through deliberate destruction, resulting in a look that’s raw, organic, and incredibly cool.
Shop now at ottolinger.com
Named after the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, Coperni looks to a technologically advanced future for its inspiration. Renowned for its viral fashion moments (like Bella Hadid's spray-on dress), the Parisian brand specializes in clean, minimalist-futurist ready-to-wear and must-have accessories like the glass Swipe Bag. Price points are in the designer category, from about $400 for a top to $2,000+ for a dress.
Coperni brings a sleek, ready-for-the-spotlight feel to innovative fashion. It shares Kartik's fascination with science and tech, but packages it in a minimalist, sharp, and undeniably chic Parisian silhouette that's become a favorite of the fashion 'It' crowd.
Shop now at coperniparis.com
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