Alongside APC and Our Legacy, Band of Outsiders is one of the most beloved lifestyle brands within the menswear blogosphere. Launched in 2004 by former media agent Scott Sternberg, the label originally focused on slim cut oxford shirts and skinny ties. The label eventually expanded into knitwear and then into a fully fledged lifestyle label, complete with shoes made in collaboration with Sperry.

The difference between Band of Outsiders and a lower priced line is where and how their products are made. “The suits are made at Martin Greenfield Clothiers, a 100+ year old hand-tailoring factory in Bushwick, New York. The shirts are cut, sewn, washed/dyed, etc. in Los Angeles. The ties are cut and hand-rolled in Manhattan. Some sweaters are made in Scotland at an old factory in Hawick - these are under the Glenmac label, an old brand from the 60s and 70s which is super expensive,” explains Sternberg.

“Other sweaters are made in various places - Peru, China, Japan, depending on who has the best resources. For example, Chinese cashmere can be superior depending on the type of sweater, so we’ll make those sweaters there - we do so not to save money or become part of the evil Empire but because it’s the best solution for a given product.”

There’s also a decidedly authentic approach to where the materials come from. The worsted wool comes from the UK and the Biella region of Italy whilst the shirt material comes from Italy, Japan and Portugal. Sternberg explains that “Fabric is a totally global business. Every country and region has its own speciality and aesthetic (not to mention mannerisms and way of doing business) which makes sourcing fabric both daunting and hilarious.”

When it comes to topic of luxury fashion houses relying on prestige to sell products, he states that “It’s difficult to educate consumers about the product when you don’t own your own stores, but we do our best to convey the hand-work and high quality fabrics through hang tags or our website. It’s a tough one for me - I wish everything was cheap! - but at the same time, I know we’re making a great product that has legs both in terms of quality and design, so I soldier on…”