Band of Outsiders (clothing brand)


Band of Outsiders is a London-based clothing label, founded in Los Angeles by Scott Sternberg in January 2004. Since 2015, the menswear brand is owned by the Belgian fashion fund CLCC and has been relaunched with a new team.
Providing “classics-with-a-twist,” the brand has developed a cult following, known for its “shrunken schoolboy blazers, narrow oxford-cloth shirts, and impeccably cut trousers.”

Menswear

Band of Outsiders started as a line of men's shirts and ties. Originally, all of Band of Outsider's button downs were made in Los Angeles, and their suits handmade in Brooklyn, USA at Martin Greenfield Clothiers. In 2009, Band of Outsiders introduced a line of polo shirts under the brand “This is not a Polo Shirt.”, a play on Rene Magritte’s painting "Ceci n’est pas une pipe." The collection developed into a full line of casual men's clothing, taking inspiration from heritage sports. Since 2016, the menswear brand has been based in London.

Polaroid Campaigns

Band of Outsiders photographed their seasonal campaigns on Polaroid 600 film. Originally choosing the medium for its flexibility, accessibility, and ease, it quickly became a signature of the brand. Each season a different celebrity was cast and photographed for a few hours in different looks from the collection at a Los Angeles location.
Subjects have included: Frank Ocean, Josh Brolin, Amy Adams, Michelle Williams, Ed Ruscha, Jason Schwartzman, Kirsten Dunst, Tom Felton, Rupert Grint, Elena Anaya, James Marsden, Donald Glover, Dave Franco, Leslie Mann, Franka Potente, Marisa Tomei, Bobby Birdman, Sarah Silverman, Max Minghella, Charles Hamilton, Paul Jasmin, John Dewis, and Matt Dallas.
Locations have included: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Sheats Goldstein Residence, the Sunset Ranch, Chinatown, the Autry National Center, the Los Angeles Times building, Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Huntington Library, Chateau Marmont, and Canter's.

Fashion Shows

Pitti Uomo
On June 15, 2011, Band of Outsiders debuted its Spring 2012 menswear collection and Resort 2012 womenswear collection at Pitti Uomo 80. The West Side Story and Singin’ in the Rain inspired collection was shown at Manifattura Tabacchi, an abandoned cigar factory in Florence, Italy. The Spring 12 Men's and Women's Resort collections were shown on runway models and professional dancers. The models walked and dancers danced to West Side Story's “America,” choreographed by Fatima Robinson.
The Longest Show Ever
From June 27, 2012 through June 29, 2012, Band of Outsiders held the “Longest Show Ever”, a 60-hour presentation to debut their Spring 2013 collection in Paris, France. Model Brendan Ruck lived inside a compartment built from cardboard boxes and wood plants, adjacent to the window of a gallery. Visible through a window on the street, the presentation was also streamed live online through NowFashion. The model would leave the compartment every 90 minutes to change and be photographed in the next look from the collection. The live stream was viewed in over ninety countries across the world and had over 300,000 streams. The collection was inspired by “the idea of protest, and counterculture images from 1950s and ‘60s photographers like Wallace Berman and Dennis Stock.”
Matt Miles
On February 7, 2013, Band of Outsiders staged an interactive scavenger hunt across New York City. Models, Matt Hitt and Miles Garber, were given 10 clues that lead them to various destinations across the city. Hitt and Garber returned to Game Control, a roaming, transparent vehicle, after every clue was solved to change into the next look of 20 from the Fall 2013 collection. The presentation was streamed live online and concluded with a celebratory party at the Monkey Bar inside Hotel Elysee, hosted by comedian Aziz Ansari. The collection was inspired by “notions of urban utopia, maps, globes and architect Oscar Niemeyer’s Brasilia”.

Collaborations

Glenmac
In 2007, Band of Outsiders released a collection of knitwear under the heritage brand Glenmac.
Sperry Top-sider
In 2008, Band of Outsiders collaborated with Sperry Top-sider, creating re-interpreted and re-constructed versions of the classic boat shoe, using materials such as grosgrain, canvas, suede, sweatshirt, linen, nylon, corduroy, shearling, and fur. The shoes became part of the Band of Outsiders men's collection until Spring 2012.
Manolo Blahnik
In 2009, Band of Outsiders collaborated with Manolo Blahnik, creating women's shoes for his runway shows and presentations. The collaboration included materials such as suspenders, shoelaces, metal and plastic watchbands and patent leather.
Leroy Grannis
In 2011, Band of Outsiders released three polo shirts featuring 360-degree prints of iconic surf imagery by photographer Leroy Grannis.
Opening Ceremony
For the 2012 Summer Olympics, Band of Outsiders created limited edition tanks and tote bags inspired by the Games. They were sold exclusively at Opening Ceremony stores around the world.
Atari
In 2013, Band of Outsiders collaborated with Atari, bringing classic prints and characters to his womenswear Fall 2013 runway show. Games such as Asteroids 7800, Warlords, Air-Sea Battle, Haunted House, and Combat were incorporated onto tops, skirts, dresses, pants, sweaters, and gowns.
Sam Durant
In 2013, Band Of Outsiders released a series of T-shirts featuring globe artwork by artist Sam Durant.

Stores

Band of Outsiders is sold in over 225 stores worldwide, including Barneys New York, Bergdorf Goodman, Opening Ceremony, Saks Fifth Ave, Colette, Shopbop, Net-a-Porter, Mr. Porter, Matches and Lane Crawford.

Awards

CFDA Menswear Designer of the year, 2010
CFDA Swarovski Award for New Menswear Designer of the Year, 2009
CFDA Vogue/Fashion Fund Nominee, 2008