Balenciaga
Let's start with the most direct connection. With Vetements co-founder Demna Gvasalia at the helm as Creative Director since 2015, Balenciaga has become a global powerhouse by applying a similar design philosophy to a historic couture house. The exaggerated
silhouettes, the elevation of mundane items into luxury objects, and the wry commentary on consumer culture are all here, but executed with the backing and archival depth of a Parisian institution. If you love Vetements' conceptual approach but crave the polish and expansive world-building of a major luxury brand, Balenciaga is the obvious, and brilliant, next step.
Y/Project
Helmed by Glenn Martens, Y/Project is for those who are fascinated by the construction and deconstruction of clothing. The brand is known for its architectural, versatile, and often bewildering garments that can be twisted, buttoned, and layered in multiple ways. This focus on adaptability and wearer interpretation creates a deeply personal style experience. Where Vetements played with the familiar shape of a hoodie or a bomber jacket, Y/Project takes that experimental impulse even further, offering pieces that are both challenging and endlessly engaging. It's fashion as a puzzle, rewarding creativity and a willingness to play.
Marine Serre
While famous for her signature crescent moon print, French designer Marine Serre shares Vetements' interest in creating a new kind of uniform. Her work is a masterclass in upcycling, transforming materials like old silk scarves, carpets, and denim into futuristic, utilitarian garments. This regenerative approach gives her collections a sense of purpose and history, reimagining what luxury can be in an era of environmental consciousness. It’s a thoughtful, intellectually rigorous take on fashion that feels both post-apocalyptic and pragmatic, resonating with the same questioning spirit that defined early Vetements.
Ottolinger
Berlin-based label Ottolinger, founded by Swiss duo Christa Bösch and Cosima Gadient, takes deconstruction to its most visceral conclusion. Their pieces often look like they've been slashed, burned, or beautifully distressed, held together by sheer will and clever construction. This raw, almost unfinished aesthetic has attracted a cult following for its blend of punk aggression and delicate, body-hugging silhouettes. If you're drawn to the raw, DIY energy of Vetements' earlier work, Ottolinger offers a modern, artful, and even sexier interpretation of that beautifully imperfect vibe.
A-COLD-WALL
Founded by Samuel Ross, A-COLD-WALL (ACW) is less a clothing brand and more a running commentary on British class structure, architecture, and industrial design. The brand's aesthetic is rooted in workwear and brutalist forms, featuring technical fabrics, asymmetrical cuts, and a stark, often monochromatic palette. Ross, a former apprentice to Virgil Abloh, uses fashion as a medium for a larger social and artistic dialogue. For those who appreciated the sociological underpinnings of Vetements, ACW provides a similarly cerebral experience, grounding avant-garde streetwear in a distinct and powerful conceptual framework.
MISBHV
Emerging from the Polish club scene, MISBHV (pronounced "misbehave") captures the rebellious, youth-centric energy that made Vetements a phenomenon. The brand started as a side project making T-shirts for friends to wear to parties and has evolved into a global name that blends post-Soviet aesthetics with a high-fashion sensibility. Its collections are infused with nostalgia for '90s rave culture and a distinct DIY spirit. If what you loved about Vetements was its connection to underground music and nightlife, MISBHV offers that same authentic energy, rooted in Warsaw's techno scene instead of Zurich's.
