It’s easy to see the classic American influence infused into everything in Greg Lauren’s collection — after all, his uncle is Ralph Lauren. But what sets this sportswear designer apart is his contemporary California edge, easily observable in pieces that are perfectly distressed, asymmetrical or even bandaged together. Lauren, who studied art history at Princeton University and worked as an actor and painter before launching his own collection in 2011, manufactures each piece by hand at his Los Angeles studio, giving it an artful quality that most everyday essentials like denim and sweaters lack. A men’s sweater might be deemed a “kimono” by fusing together finely knit cashmere with a vintage denim shawl trim, and overalls might include distressed denim with cotton fleece inserts. Lauren tries to incorporate reclaimed fabrics whenever he can, so vintage military fabrics often come into play — throwbacks to his youth spent walking the aisles of an army surplus store on Canal Street in New York. Flannel shirts, cargo pants and denim pieces return every season, but you have to grab them fast, as the small-production runs frequently sell out.
