Here is some of the designer wear for men that I am admiring from the outside:

bluecollarwhitecollar is the local brand for beautiful shirts for office, nights out and everyday leisure. They also make some shorts and T-shirts.

Holmes Bros makes T-Shirts and caps. This brand has ‘chilled’ written all over it, but then – they are from Durbs.

Another Durban designer to look out for is Gravitie Clothing. Kujula Mtambo designs stylish men’s clothes, pants, shirts and stunning jackets.

MaXhosa by Laduma is your brand for local knitwear. Laduma Ngxokolo designs beautiful jerseys and cardigans, which are made from kids mohair and merino wool.

Although Magents also offers denim and knitwear, it’s only their T-shirts that are locally produced.

Stiaan Louw’s clothes may not be your regular guy’s standard day office wear, but his clothes are stunning, not everyone is a regular guy and not every day is a work day.

Adriaan Kuiters’ clothes are classic tailored menswear. Simple, clean lines and no open collars.

Darkie, the brand started by Themba Mngomezulu has been around for 10 years and is still going strong with fabulous ‘look at you’ items.

Lucky Friday offers simple T-shirts with a funky picture or message. My favourite is the ‘newclear power’ print with a retro bicycle on it.

Hemporium sells locally manufactured hemp T-shirts, pants and jeans. There is a project growing hemp locally aiming to make the entire value chain proudly ZA.

Issa Leo Couture produces smart-casual men’s wear in Cape Town for, as the blurb puts it, stylish and ambitious men.

And from a web encounter, check out Prodigy.