GQ Names "Best New Menswear Designers in America" for 2012

NEW YORK, Feb. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- GQ announced today the sixth annual Best New Menswear Designers in America. The project, established in 2007, has worked to advance and bring attention to up-and-coming American menswear designers. This year's group includes six highly regarded designers that were selected by GQ editor-in-chief Jim Nelson and creative director Jim Moore, along with the fashion editors of the magazine. As part of the program, all the designers will be featured in the April 2012 issue of GQ and will be given an opportunity to work with Gap to create a limited-edition collection.

"The talent pool of American men's fashion keeps getting deeper, with exciting and highly creative new designers breaking out all the time," said Nelson. "Our new partnership with Gap is all about taking the excitement to the main streets of America."

The "Best New Menswear Designers in America" selected by GQ are:

• BLK DNM – Johan Lindeberg's new contemporary luxury brand inspired by downtown New York with a focus on denim.
• Ian Velardi – The designer's new menswear collection can be described in three words: timeless, luxurious, and effortless.
• Mark McNairy New Amsterdam – Known primarily for his trend-inspiring footwear, this designer's clothing line includes updated Ivy and military staples. 
• Ovadia & Sons – Brooklyn-bred twin brothers Shimon and Ariel Ovadia offer updated classics in luxury sportswear, tailored clothing, shoes, and accessories.
• Saturdays – This surfing-inspired line, designed by owners Morgan Collett, Josh Rosen, and Colin Tunstall, focuses on a clean aesthetic with high-quality craftsmanship, traditional styling, and authenticity.
• Todd Snyder – Inspired by old-school British style and the relaxed cool of Hollywood icons, this designer's collection of American classics is marked by an assured attention to detail.

As part of their participation in the Best New Menswear Designers in America project, the recognized designers will take part in a mentoring program led by GQ. Additionally, all six designers will be given the opportunity to create looks for a limited-edition Gap collection. Any capsule collection that is developed would be expected to be available in the fall at select Gap stores as well as online at www.gap.com. Pieces from the collection would also be featured in the October 2012 issue of GQ.

"GQ is the style authority for men's fashion, and we're excited to partner with them to give these six designers the opportunity to create a capsule collection that will put a new spin on iconic menswear pieces," said Mark Breitbard, head of merchandising for Gap North America. "Men trust us to bring them the best in casual American style, and these emerging designers will bring their unique points of view and innovative ideas to our fall collection." 

About GQ

GQ is the leading men's general-interest magazine, with a monthly readership of 7 million readers. It is available in print, online at www.GQ.com, and as an app at iTunes.com. The magazine is published by Conde Nast, a division of Advance Publications. Conde Nast operates in twenty-five countries and is the world leader in exceptional content creation.

About Gap Inc.

Gap Inc. is a leading global specialty retailer offering clothing, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, children, and babies under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime, and Athleta brands. Fiscal year 2011 net sales were $14.5 billion. Gap Inc. products are available for purchase in over 90 countries worldwide through about 3,000 company-operated stores, about 200 franchise stores, and e-commerce sites. For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com.

SOURCE GQ