In the hype-powered world of modern menswear, it’s increasingly rare for a collaboration to sneak under the radar. But every once in a while, we still get hit with a nice surprise—and once every never, we get clocked with an absolute haymaker. Well, today must be a haymaker day, because J.Crew and Engineered Garments just dropped a bonkers 13-piece collection almost completely out of the blue.
Despite that tight edit, the calling cards from both brands are present in spades: the trademark patchworks, pleats, pockets, and patterns all play prominent roles, as do the forgiving silhouettes and Ivy-adjacent detailing. In fact, pretty much every piece manages to amplify the elements each brand does best, without feeling forced or out of line.
Engineered Garments was founded in 2002 by Japanese designer—and all-around menswear legend—Daiki Suzuki, who was struggling to find contemporary American-made clothing as a buyer for Nepenthes, a legendary chain of boutiques with an especially rad NYC outpost. Engineered Garments began as both a love letter to classic Americana and a market-bucking experiment in gently-freaked menswear, but it’s since become a beloved industry-insider name, routinely wowing with its fabric selection, construction techniques, and deep-cut references.
As you might expect, though, Engineered Garments isn’t exactly cheap, and it’s not always easy to track down. (Never has been, actually.) Save for a rogue Uniqlo collaboration here and there, the brand hasn’t really set foot anywhere near a mall. And while we wouldn’t call its J.Crew collaboration affordable, per se—prices start at $50 but climb to nearly $700 for a very-much-worth-it oversized military parka—most of it arrives at a far more wallet-friendly price than usual.
For that reason (and a couple dozen more) it’s all moving fast, so get in while the getting’s good or start kicking yourself now.
