My dear fashionistas, welcome to another fall fashion story from faraway Ecuador on the Mr.M blog. I hope you are well and ready for a new dose of fashion. Today I will introduce you to an unusual luxury Italian fashion brand, which has become recognisable in Europe and the world for making men’s fashion pieces from the finest Italian textiles, luxurious fibers and leather from top Italian mills and tanneries – Brett Johnson.
Brett Johnson represents a real masculine universe of relaxed luxury with a touch of modern and refined self-awareness that every modern man with refined taste should possess. This exceptional fashion brand was founded by Mr. Brett Johnson, a menswear designer born in Virginia in 1989. He studied fashion in New York, where he also worked for Donna Karan, until there was a turning point in his life in 2014 when he decided it was the right time to start his own fashion brand. Mr. Johnson comes from a family of successful entrepreneurs as his parents are the founders of BET Entertainment (Black Entertainment Television), an American cable television network based in Washington and after its sale to Viacom, they expanded the business into hospitality and financial services. Growing up in a family that developed numerous successful businesses, Brett Johnson gradually built his vision of a sustainable and successful independent fashion brand in the right way.
Mr. Johnson battled a lot of prejudice early in his design career as many believed he was just another rich kid who decided to make his way into the world of fashion. With his dedicated work and exceptional creativity, Mr. Johnson showed what a refined, self-aware modern man should look like, because due to his creativity, he managed to include his fashion brand in the offer of the famous department store Neiman Marcus, which recognized the undeniable talent of Mr. Johnson, as well as his vision brand.
The Brett Johnson brand has experienced dizzying success in the world of fashion in a short time, which is why Mr. Johnson opened his first flagship store in 2017, on Mercer Street, the elegant heart of Soho. At that moment there was a need to internationalize his brand and therefore the collection had to be presented all over the world. The world of fashion is special and the right decisions need to be made to keep a brand at the top and Mr. Johnson found himself at an important business crossroads and it was time to choose the next market to expand his brand.
New York, where the heart of the brand is located, needed to find a place in Europe to expand the business. When we talk about the world of fashion, there are only two European metropolises where every brand can develop, namely Milan, the center of the fashion business and the cradle where the “Made in Italy” concept of work is kept, or Paris, the famous international fashion hub in Europe. Mr. Johnson decided on Milan, where he still achieves outstanding results.
With each new collection, designer Brett Johnson left the men’s fashion world speechless because his pieces are iconic and timeless and can be worn on any occasion. It is my great honour to present to you the extraordinairy piece of the new Brett Johnson Fall-Winter 2024 collection. While writing this fashion story, I am trying to find the right words to define the new Brett Johnson FW24/25 collection. At a very first sight, I would say that the collection is inspired by the neutral colours of nature and everything is subordinated to comfort, unique refinement and inevitable elegance.
The brand itself is recognised for its creation of high-quality clothing and fashion accessories for men, but this piece of fashion that I will present to you today – an aviator navy jacket made of exquisite deerskin is for me a piece of fashion that simply invites you to travel and explore the work. With this jacket I enjoyed the beauty of Ecuador and I discovered some interesting places in the capital of Ecuador – Quito, as well as the heart of Ecuador’s culture – Cuenca and I have fond memories.
The new Brett Johnson FW24/25 collection is inspired by the green natural environment, with colors reminiscent of the typical shades of the mountain environment; from the white of snow to the blue of the sky, from the warm tones characteristic of autumn leaves to the green of untouched forests. This collection is adorned with jackets, raincoats, parkas, coats and fine knitwear. These are the pieces that the Brett Johnson brand has proposed for this fashion season. Men’s fashion for the autumn-winter season should be made of clothes that are resistant to wind and water, extremely comfortable and super light. In the new Brett Johnson collection, materials like cashmere, leather and wool are used, soft and warm fibers that gently envelop the figure, giving an authentic experience of comfort.
In today’s post you have the opportunity to see a navy Aviator Deerskin Jacket from the latest Brett Johnson FW24/25 collection, which is made of the finest pebbled deerskin, the beauty of which is emphasised by a natural shearling fur collar. The jacket has ribbed cuffs and hem.
This beautiful long sleeve leather aviator jacket features a front zipper with two front pockets. All the materials used to make the jacket – natural leather and fur – are of Italian origin and the entire production was carried out in Italy.
In the following fashion stories, I will show you some more outfits that were completed with this extraordinary jacket and I believe that you will find inspiration for your ideal fall-winter outfit. If you want to know more about the Brett Johnson brand, visit brand’s official website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
OUTFIT
Leather Jacket: Brett Johnson
Turtleneck Sweater: Aida Barni
Watch: Schaefer & Companions
Trousers: Brioni
Gloves: Restelli
Sneakers: Billionaire
We continue today’s fashion adventure with well-known old friends, I’m sure you remember the brand Aida Barni, which is synonymous with the perfect softness and refined Italian processing of cashmere. Last season we enjoyed the beauty of bright colors, while this year I decided to paint cold autumn days in distant Ecuador with pastel colors. In today’s fashion story I will share with you an unusual piece from their new winter collection!
Soft, light and warm cashmere items are also a good investment and practical during winter. When you give someone a cashmere sweater as a gift, it is a gift from the heart because a cashmere sweater carries with it a certain symbolism.
Aida Barni is a brand belonging to the Annapurna Group. Founded in 1978, the Annapurna Group has become one of the leading Italian and world producers of high-quality cashmere knitwear with its two fashion lines, Annapurna and Aida Barni.
Annapurna uses all the latest production techniques available on the market, from cotton looms to the latest and most advanced knitwear machines of all sizes. The current production capacity is about 120,000 pieces per year. It is important to note that the entire production cycle is performed in Italy, more precisely in the factory of the company located in the city of Prato, which is also the center of the province of the same name located in the heart of Italy – Tuscany.
“Made in Italy” is more than a production concept, but this brand has proven to be much more than the perfect cashmere sweater on a store shelf. It is love at first touch, an impression to remember.
Annapurna is a name that evokes everyone with exceptional mountain landscapes, especially the mountain range in the Himalayas where goats live with their winter fleece, hiding the soft, warm “cloak” that made them so famous.
Aida Barni is an iconic and fascinating name for a fashion line that produces high quality knitwear from the finest cashmere. Aida Barni is a symbol of a goal for a woman who decided to enter the world of business in the late seventies and reach the very top of this challenging and one of the most difficult sectors of the market.
The Aida Barni brand was created as an artistic expression of the way of life and existence, the essence of unstressed chic, refined luxury. A collection for men and women dedicated to everyone who loves timeless and elegant knitwear that encompasses true elegance in the preciousness of materials, shapes and details.
The man who wears Aida Barni knitwear does not follow trends, but creates and adapts to the needs of everyday life. The men’s collection is made up of cult clothing items of sentimental value, which evoke a healthy and environmentally friendly way of life. Customers of the Aida Barni brand love natural and fine yarns, enjoy comfort, but do not give up the elegance and sophistication of cuts and models. Aida Barni concept of men’s “sports elegance” is simple and with style, but rich in materials and inconspicuous details that make this brand cult because it represents an expression of uniqueness and special class.
The orange turtleneck sweater you see in today’s post is from the latest Aida Barni Autumn – Winter 2024/25 collection is made of pure cashmere in interesting bright colour. This sweater is made of the highest quality cashmere in a beautiful orange colour that is ideal for the new Fall-Winter season, which can easily be combined with all the colours in your wardrobe!
You can buy Aida Barni cashmere items in multi-brand stores and department stores across Europe and the world and through authorized online stores. When you give someone an Aida Barni piece, it is more than respect and love because you are giving a piece in which love and deep respect for art that is not worshiped every day is woven.
For all Aida Barni fans in Germany, I have discovered two men’s spots where you can find and enjoy in the beauty of Aida Barni incredible knitwear: Braun Hamburg and Mientus retail stores.
If you want to stay tuned and find out all the news that Aida Barni is preparing for us this fashion season, follow them on the social networks Facebook and Instagram.
We will continue today’s fashion adventure in Ecuador with new friends of the Mr.M blog, a new exclusive Swiss watch brand that I’m sure you’ll love at first sight! Schaefer & Companions (S&C) is a new luxury watch brand founded in 2024 in the Swiss cradle of watchmaking, Le Locle. The foundations of this brand are based on the philosophy of artistic freedom, as well as the fulfillment of human beings through liberating creative power and the purity of the craft gesture are just some of the main values cherished by the founders of this unusual brand.
Schaefer & Companions is a symbol of paying tribute to timeless poetry, creativity, that is why every Schaefer & Companions watch is a special masterpiece that has an unusual story. The essence of the brand is an artistic endeavor and a creative liberating form, an entire interconnected product landscape in the world that stands for creative craftsmanship, or as it is better known in French, “les metiers d’art”.
During the process of creating the first “Antarctica” collection, I had the great honor and pleasure of meeting the founder of this unusual luxury watch brand, Mr. Christophe Schaefer, who enthusiastically presented his ideas and drawings of the watch models he plans to create. This is not an ordinary collaboration but a new chapter that is part of my life’s journey and it is a wonderful feeling to be part of a project like Schaefer & Companions. I also have to make you happy that I am the first brand ambassador of this exceptional watch brand and that I will do my best to introduce you to some of the S&C brand watch models in the coming period through my fashion stories in which you are used to showing you various novelties.
Today we will learn a new term that I will often use during the presentation of this brand – companion. Schafer & Companions is a lifetime journey in which Mr. Schaefer and his companions have invested all their passion, the beauty of life, as well as the hopes that passionate watch lovers will recognize the uniqueness and love of art.
The Schaefer & Companions team decided to “break the ice” by marking the launch of its first watch collection at Geneva Watch Days (GWD) 2024 called “Antarctica“, which brings to life two watch models: Solune Medallion and Solune Grand Art. The Antarctica collection, available in limited editions, encapsulates the frozen vastness, quiet isolation and resilience of Antarctica. In today’s post you have the opportunity to see one of the Solune Grand Art variation of models. They are windows into this vast, icy expanse and represent a subtle artisanal intuition. Enamel is a precious material used to make S&C dials where artists have the opportunity to express their skills.
What is Enamel? Enamel is a glass mixture made of silicon dioxide and various metal oxides added to create different shades. Before any color can be applied, the craftsman must create a good basis for further artistic work. The enamel is crushed, ground and purified, first in distilled water and then in nitric acid. Then the copper, silver or gold plate is cleaned and coated with a layer of white enamel on both sides. The end result is a perfectly clean “canvas” for painting without the fear that the copper will bend when exposed to extreme temperatures.
After the process of making an enamelled dial, we come to the most complex part of making an enamelled watch, and that is making the dial. Because the colors of the enamel react differently and change in the oven, the designer must know exactly in advance how the material will react in order to create a work of art that can be faithfully reproduced.
Once the dial is properly constructed with the coated dial plate, the painting process can begin! The artist prepares a palette of colors with the nuances needed to create a predetermined image. The image must be carefully applied in several layers and baked in an oven up to 800ºC between painting processes. First, harder, more elastic colors are applied that can withstand multiple cracking, while gentle shades are kept in the final stages. With just a small misjudgment, the dial can warp, burst, or explode. Since the colors react to the heat both individually and collectively, a small mistake in the order can lead to unwanted results and force the masters to start re-making the enamelled dial.
Owning a dial, that little enamel masterpiece in my personal collection is exceptional. Due to the cost and complexity associated with its creation, the vast majority of enameled works are in museums. The rarity of skilled craftsmen is another factor, as the craft almost became extinct in the early twentieth century.
Proof that miracles are possible is Mrs. Françoise Remmonay of the Donzé Cadran Atelier based in Le Locle and she is a member of the S&C team and she is in charge of enamelled medallions and dials. In today’s fashion story, you will have the opportunity to see the dial that she made – a model of a frozen ocean that offers a view of the coldest continent in the world – Antarctica.
The Solune Grand Art watch model that you have the opportunity to see in today’s post represents a captured moment of an eternally living landscape of frozen waves of a turbulent ocean. The dial enameling process of this watch model begins with the sculpting of fine sheets of silver that are shaped into a realistic wave structure that provides personality and depth. Several layers of rare and limited enamel derived from antique enamel ateliers were then applied to the silver relief. This composition of enamel relief combined with vibrant colors creates a unique watch with a strong and distinctive character.
Technical Information:
Case Diameter: 43 mm
Case Thickness: 11,4 mm
Case Material Variations: Steel 904 or Steel IP 6 and equal material for indices and hands
Dial: Metiers d’art artistic interpretation ø 36.20 mm
Movement: ETA 2892 decorated, Top assortment, with customized rotor
Movement Details: Automatic with 42h of power reserve at 20,000 Hz
Bracelet material: Apple Suede Leather
Price: CHF 7,000 (approx. EUR 8,000) – tax excluded
You will soon have the opportunity to see other watch models in the Schaefer & Companions brand offer. If you want to stay updated and find out what novelties the watch brand Schaefer & Companions has to offer us, follow them on the social networks Facebook and Instagram.
Brioni is an Italian luxury menswear fashion house based in Rome specializing in ready-to-wear footwear, leather goods, shoes, eyewear, fragrances and Bespoke.
This luxury brand was founded in Rome in 1945, while a little later, in 1952, the brand organized the first menswear show in modern fashion history. The brand invented the MTM Trunk Show and Prêt Couture. Brioni opened the tailoring school Scuola di Alta Sartoria in Penne in 1985. Brioni was bought by the luxury group Kering in 2011, the new general director of the Brioni fashion house is Mehdi Benabadji since December 2019, and Norbert Stumpfl is the creative director since October 2018.
Brioni was the first sartorial menswear brand to use bold colors and lighter materials, introducing new silhouettes using slimmer shapes with natural shoulders. This fashion story officially begins in 1952, when Brioni staged the first menswear fashion show in modern fashion history, inside the Sala Bianca at Palazzo Pitti in Florence, where the revolutionary Peacock Revolution was presented. Brioni also designed the Trunk Show, during which collections are presented directly in stores, allowing customers to personalize garments with the Su Misura (made to measure) service.
Brioni promoted the “total look”, the production of suits, hats, ties, shirts and shoes. A little later, in 1959, a production plant was opened in Penne, Abruzzo, Mr. Nazareno Fonticoli’s hometown. Named Brioni Roman Style, the state-of-the-art factory introduced the concept of Pret Couture or ready-to-wear haute couture that sealed the international rise of the brand.
In 1985, the Brioni fashion house opened a tailoring school in Penne with the aim of passing on the specific Brioni sartorial method to younger generations. That same year, Brioni opened a store in New York’s Fisher Building on 52nd Street. A few years later, in 1990, Umberto Angeloni was appointed CEO of Brioni. He started the company in diversifying its product lines, from sportswear to women’s wear (Lady Brioni) and accessories. Between 1995 and 2001, the company’s revenue tripled to $150 million. In 2007, Brioni partnered with the Royal College of Art in London to train master tailors through a three-year program, but this partnership ended in 2019 after 12 long years.
In 2006, Brioni decided to change the way of managing the company’s strategy, so in 2006 the rule of three joint executive directors was introduced: Antonella de Simone, Andrea Perone and Antonio Bianchini. In June 2007, Angeloni and his wife sold their 17% stake in the company. In 2009, Brioni was hit by the economic crisis, but refused to move its production outside Italy. Instead, the brand released new product categories with new fabrics and introduced men’s perfumes, the brand’s first foray into the world of perfume since the release of Good Luck in 1958. Mr. Andrea Perrone took over as CEO and appointed Mr. Alessandro Dell’Accu as Creative Director of Womenswear in May 2010, but the brand discontinued its women’s line the following year.
In today’s fashion story, my outfit is enriched with trousers made of the finest wool from the new Brioni FW24 collection. The trousers are made of wool with a dark blue base and fine stripes. These trousers can be worn with a blazer and that way you can get a completely elegant look as a suit, while today I decided to present them in a sporty elegant look that can be worn every day.
If you want to stay updated and find out what all the novelties Brioni has to offer for us this fashion season, follow this an iconic Italian fashion house on Facebook and Instagram.
There is no person in the world who cannot hide the joy when you feel the smell of the new Italian leather. Today, we are once again hanging out with the Italian family workshop for handmade Restelli gloves, a place where the art, tradition and beauty of handicrafts meet every day, which is the true definition of the Italian style and way of life in general.
Making gloves is not only a job but also a real art. Passion, emotions, tradition and knowledge have been passed on to the third generation after 100 years! Raffaella Restelli has fully accepted the challenges of the new fashion era in which the market and the way of selling have changed with deep respect and belief in tradition and a love for lasting masterpieces!
In today’s post, you had the opportunity to see Restelli navy gloves made of special peccary leather. These luxury leather gloves are made of the highest quality leather. The lining of these gloves is made of cashmere. Today I decided to take a walk in my unusual blue-colored gloves, which were extremely warm and a real fashion accessory for this incredible fall trip to Ecuador!
Restelli gloves are not valued with money, but with tradition and history full of love and patience that are priceless.
Anyone who has followed my blog for a long time knows that I always try to pay special attention to details. So this time I decided to show you a novelty that has almost arrived in my wardrobe.
Billionaire, a timeless luxury style that was born in Italy, this luxury brand continues to express “Made in Italy” through craftsmanship, craftsmanship and the fusion of premium fabrics. BILLIONAIRE is for men who appreciate true style and elegance. This brand is owned by the famous German designer Philipp Plein.
The new collection embraces the traditional elegance of Billionaire Couture and a vibrant color palette. Bold mosaic patterns and new silhouettes emphasize the essence of casual chic. This collection represents a true “Made in Italy” attitude. Staying true to the brand’s DNA, Mr. Plein opted for rich materials such as silk, cashmere and precious leather details for the FW24 collection.
Crafted from the finest materials by Italian artisans, the shoes enrich any outfit. The Billionaire brand offers sneakers for everyday casual elegant options, while moccasins, elegant shoes and boots complete the wear of pure elegance.
If you want to stay up-to-date and find out what the Billionaire brand has to offer, visit their official online store and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
My dear fashionistas, we have come to the end of another autumn fashion story from Ecuador, where together we discovered the beauty and splendour of timeless elegance and prestige for a modern man with refined taste with an iconic fashion house Brett Johnson, the beauty of the wearable artistic landscape of frozen waves with luxurious the new Swiss watch brand Schaefer & Companions, as well as the unique quality of Italian craftsmanship with the iconic leather goods brand Restelli, as well as the beauty of cashmere craftsmanship and timeless Italian elegance with Aida Barni, the glow of sporty timeless elegance and prestige with the famous Italian fashion house Brioni, as well as the beauty urban elegance with exotic materials with Billionaire, partners with whom fashion stories are a real adventure. I sincerely hope you got some inspiration for your ideal fall outfit!
See you soon and continue our fashion adventures on the Mr.M blog! How did you like my outfit today? I really tried my best to prepare today’s post with lots of love and I hope you like it!
If you have a question, comment, suggestion or message for me, you can write me down in the comments. Of course, as always you can contact me via mail or social media channels, which you can find on the CONTACT page. See you soon, stay tuned!
With Love from Quito,
Mr.M
This post is sponsored by Brett Johnson, Aida Barni, Brioni, Schaefer & Companions, Restelli and Billionaire brands. This post is my personal and honest review of their products.
In order to recognize a quality brand, one must have a good eye for detail and a certain amount of style. Dear Marko, with your many years of work, you have shown that you are a special man with a refined style and taste for fashion, and because of this you have recognized many interesting fashion brands. I’m not sure, but I think I once saw certain fashion pieces from this brand in a department store, but I’m not sure. This jacket looks great on you and fits you really well because you look like a top model.
Well done Marko, really amazing fashion story and your outfit today is really cool. You’ve managed to pair some unusual pieces like classic trousers with an aviator leather jacket with a turtleneck and brightly colored shoes. Most people would wear a jacket like this exclusively with jeans, but your outfit is a good example of inspiration on how to combine fashion in an interesting way without being too formal.
Dear Marko, the outfit is fantastic, the jacket is very authentic and a real statement piece. I wanted to see the Brett Johnson collection and see some more details about this jacket, but their website or online shop is not working at all. Do you perhaps know what this is about?
I like to wear aviator jackets, I have several of them in my wardrobe, but this Brett Johnson aviator jacket looks somehow different to me and I can tell from the pictures that the leather is of good quality as soon as the pores and folds on the skin, like the structure, are clearly visible. Sorry this is my first time on your blog, I stumbled upon your blog post when I wanted to see some new aviator jackets. I like the concept of your blog and the detailed analysis of the brand as well as each product you wear,… Read more »
Working as a journalist and involved in the fashion industry, I have heard of Brett Johnson’s talent and can only attest to the quality and refined design of his clothing. Great brand presentation and the pictures are amazing. Some of the higher-end magazines I used to work for don’t have the quality of photography and text as one of your blog posts. I’m impressed with the way you work, there really aren’t any blogs like yours because fashion experts don’t like to write a lot of details but let the pictures speak for themselves, which I think is not the… Read more »
Wonderful outfit, my dear Marko! Can we expect any more pieces from the Brett Johnson collection? The jacket is really beautiful, it would be interesting to see you in some more of their combinations as I can’t find any information about their new collection and their website is down.
The whole outfit is really amazing, and how could it not be when your positive energy and charisma overcomes all fashion trends. It’s really amazing how you’ve been breaking various stereotypes about fashion on your blog for years and it’s rare to see a smiling man in the fashion industry. Usually, luxury brands cultivate the look of a serious man, while lower-end brands have that happy vibe. It’s wonderful that you have remained true to yourself and your style for all these years of your work. I remember that a few years ago you started collaborating with the Aida Barni… Read more »
Ciao Marco! Great fashion story as always, congratulations on your new outfit. Great to see you in the new FW24 season and I hope we may see you in January in Florence or Milan! Be sure to let me know if you’re coming, Massimo and I can’t wait to see you and we have a lot to catch up on, I’d love to make you happy with new pieces and see how you would style them.
Ein interessantes Outfit und ich muss zugeben, dass dir die dunkle Farbe gut steht. Du hast Orange und Marine auf eine interessante Art und Weise kombiniert, ich hätte nie gedacht, dass diese Farben kombiniert werden können, ich würde lieber Orange mit Braun- oder Pastellfarben tragen, aber selten würde jemand denken, dass eine so ungewöhnliche Farbkombination möglich ist. Hast du vielleicht ein paar neue kosmetische Eingriffe an deinem Gesicht vorgenommen, siehst du irgendwie anders, frischer aus. Alles Lob für deinen Einsatz und deine Arbeit!