When Jansport introduced their heritage line in 2010, it was a signal to the industry that heritage had made its way to the outdoors market. The backpacks that were once synonymous with the collegiate and back-to-school market was looking back to its roots as an outdoors brand. Kelty, the 50-year-old company followed suit with the launch of its Vintage line in 2011. But as many trends go, its origins were traced back to a small group of fanatics.

Despite being a native of Japan, Daiki Suzuki is the designer behind some the best Americana-inspired clothes out there today. After some years in America as a buyer, Suzuki founded Engineered Garments in 1999, which has continued to produce beautiful and utterly unique collections every season since. With intricate construction, vintage influence, and modern panache, he has been the driving force behind a bold and fresh take on American workwear, and his efforts have not gone unnoticed.

After years of designing for American menswear stalwarts Ralph Lauren, Gap, and J.Crew, Todd Snyder’s breakout F/W ’11 collection somehow managed to feel both fresh and satisfyingly classic. While the elements to Snyder’s aesthetic may be familiar – and have since become pervasive, due in no small part to his efforts – the foundations of rugged, vintage-inspired work and military wear were blended effortlessly with sharp, modern tailoring. The fluid way the two disparate inspirations came together displayed all of the best elements in his previous brands with a subtle new sophistication, and this idea has matured with each new collection.