The Dutch aren’t famous for their fashion sense. And I’m not just talking about the sea of orange that makes an appearance at the Olympics, the World Cup (when they qualify) and on King’s Day.
But there are a few exceptions, most notably those mentioned below:
Scotch and Soda
Marc’s favourite quality Dutch brand is Scotch and Soda. Although they’ve opened up stores around the world, you’ll still find the greatest choice on offer in the Amsterdam branches. Selling wearable and high quality clothes for men and women (as well as super-hip but pricy clothes for kids under the brand Scotch Shrunk) these are some seriously nice threads. Quality and detail like this comes at a price but it’s true to say we’ve never regretted a purchase. They have particularly hip (if eye-wateringly expensive) clothes for boys in the Scotch and Soda Kids stores.
Sissy Boy
I really love Sissy Boy stores (it’s just a shame about the incredibly odd name). Selling own-brand stylish women’s clothes, interior nick nacks and a great range for kids, I guess the closest comparison would be a brand like Anthropologie but with a lighter and brighter look. Sensibly priced and endlessly tempting, hip Dutch mamas love Sissy Boy and there was a near riot when I went along to their Christmas market last year.
Laundry Industry
If you see someone wandering the streets of London with a black Laundry Industry shopping bag, you’ve probably tracked me down. Although they demand a designer price tag, the clothes from this Amsterdam brand are gorgeous (minimalist with a twist) and always a special treat.
Patta
Looking for streetwear? Then head to Marc’s favourite urban label, Patta. Although they’ve opened a small store in London’s Soho, The Netherlands is the home of this sportswear/hip-hop brand who’s hoodies and joggers are beloved by Amsterdammers especially when they team up with other brands for special, limited editions. A recent collaboration saw a range of retro football shirts hit the shelves.
Nuff Said
Another surefire hit with “Meneer Abraham” is the brand Nuff Said. Their clothing available from three stores in the city is based on their pride for the streets of Amsterdam and nothing could be more appropriate for Mr A than his Amsterdam Problem Child tee.
COPA
Head to this post to find out all you need to know about the coolest football t-shirts on the planet (no exaggeration). We love COPA and their little shop close to Central Station is a favourite hangout whenever we get a chance.
G Star RAW
G Star is a Dutch brand that has seen rapid International expansion. The denim mega-brand which started in 1989 was part acquired by Pharell Williams in 2016 and there are various collaborations making the most of the association. Although I tend to prefer local brands that are hard to find elsewhere, G Star who specialise in raw, untreated denim are a big draw on the Dutch shopping scene.
Suit Supply
Looking for something a little smarter? Suit Supply have cornered the market in affordable but upmarket suits (if that’s not a contradiction in terms). Loved across the world, from Belgium to Belarus; Texas to Tallin, their ethos of convenience, quality and price was brought to the fore in a Wall Street Journal article when two suit experts conducted a blind test to compare $614 Suit Supply outfit with a $3,625 Armani suit and saw “little difference,” ranking the suits in a tie for first. With marketing campaigns that are risqué enough to have had them banned (nothing like some extra publicity) it was a struggle to find an image even moderately acceptable to show off the brand here – a search online will reveal the full glory of their marketing madness.
WE
You’ll find lots of branches of clothing store WE in Amsterdam offering easy and affordable men’s, women’s and kids clothes. Style-wise think GAP and H&M, but with some striking prints. I particularly like the kids’ t-shirts in a range of bright colours.
HEMA
HEMA is a wonderful store that has recently expanded to the UK. Beloved by the Dutch, (virtually a national treasure!) and selling all-manner of food, household items and clothes, the baby and younger kids’ clothes are particularly wonderful and it was a sad day when my two finally outgrew the baby range.
Imps and Elfs
Another wonderful clothing brand for young kids is Imps and Elfs. Our little style-setters grew up in their tees. Mostly available from department stores like De Bijenkorf, its worth hunting this great label down for your mini-hipsters if you’re that way inclined.
For more kidswear be sure to check out all our favourite kids’ concept stores including Blender, De Kleine Parade and Mini Markt!
So that’s it. Sorted. Now all you need to do is hit this link to find out most stylish streets in town…
Absolutely fantastic. Easy to treasout, Easy to choose. easy to marketing.Thank you.