Blog | Cuts Clothing

Clothes from minimalist clothing brands stand the test of time and offer versatility and quality. These six principles show what minimalism is about.

Minimalism may have started as a creative movement, seen in the work that filled modern art museums. But, its influence slowly spread. And now, minimalism has more gravitas than the most powerful influencer.

Minimalism is not just an artistic movement — it’s a mainstream design philosophy and a lifestyle. And minimalist clothing brands are bringing this lifestyle to your wardrobe. These brands help you reduce your clothing budget, simplify your closet, and free up brain space for bigger things.

We’ll explain what makes a clothing brand minimalist, and we’ll share the eight philosophies that inspire minimalist clothing brands.

# **What Makes a Clothing Brand Minimalist?**

Minimalist clothing brands are the opposite of [fast fashion](https://www.cutsclothing.com/articles/how-to-avoid-fast-fashion). Instead of chasing trends, minimalist brands put the focus where it should be — on quality. 

And yes, these brands also design for aesthetic minimalism — clean lines, neutral colors, and form that reflects function. It’s the same design principles that are behind [Scandinavian home decor](https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/scandinavian-design-262722). And when you incorporate these design principles into your wardrobe, you’ll still look relevant in pictures taken years ago.

The clothing from minimalist brands also empowers you to condense your wardrobe. The pieces are easy to mix and match, and they’re built for versatility and quality, so you won't have to buy as many pieces.

The majority of minimalist brands embrace and embody six philosophies of both ethical and aesthetic minimalism.

# **6 Philosophies of Minimalist Clothing Brands**

Minimalist style is about much more than an aesthetic. It’s part of the broader movement. Brands that embrace minimalism embody the “less is more” philosophy in both their clothing design and their company principles. Here are the principles minimalist clothing brands are using to change the fashion industry.

Living with less is an important part of minimalism. This means that each piece in a minimalist wardrobe needs to be able to fulfill multiple functions.

This could mean a pair of [joggers](https://www.cutsclothing.com/products/black-ao-jogger) doubles as activewear and workwear, or a pair of shorts can act as a [bathing suit](https://www.cutsclothing.com/collections/swim-2022). It also means that T-shirts should be high-quality enough to serve as loungewear or style under a blazer. And, outerwear should seamlessly transition from your day at the office to your night on the town.

Every piece of CUTS clothing is designed to perform in multiple settings, from errands to evenings out to movie marathons and New York meetings. Plus, they all offer the comfort that allows you to feel your best, no matter what life throws at you.

Minimalist brands offer timeless pieces in silhouettes that never go out of style. Picture collared button downs, fitted tees, bomber jackets, and hoodies. These classic fits ensure two things: First they make the piece more versatile, and second, they make the piece last longer.

When you look at a minimalist clothing brand’s collection, you’ll notice something very different from fast fashion brands: There aren’t that many pieces. Minimalist brands offer a curated collection of clothes. Most of their pieces are meant to be part of a capsule collection — a wardrobe consisting of 20-30 items that you can mix and match to create dozens of outfits.

A minimalist brand’s collection will feature silhouettes that are always in style, so the brands will likely offer many of their pieces season after season. This means you can always go back and repurchase your favorites in additional colors or in new sizes. Unlike fast fashion items, you won’t have to constantly replace your clothes to keep up with changing trends.

We keep our silhouettes classic by offering both fitted and [relaxed fit T-shirts](https://www.cutsclothing.com/collections/new-tees), plus [hoodies](https://www.cutsclothing.com/collections/sweatshirts-and-layers), [sweatpants](https://www.cutsclothing.com/products/deep-amber-wash-vintage-sweatpant), and [outerwear](https://www.cutsclothing.com/collections/all-outerwear) that are designed to help you feel your best, not follow the trends.

Most minimalist brands focus on solid colors. You may see some timeless prints like stripes or plaid, but you won’t see tie dyes, novelty prints, and other designs that come in and out of style. And because solids are the most versatile and timeless option for any wardrobe staple, minimalist fashion brands will offer mostly solid colors in their collection.

Solids are also easier to mix and match, especially neutrals, like black, white, and tan. However, you don’t have to limit yourself to a neutral color palette. Most minimalist fashion brands will also offer seasonal colors to help you find the palette you like most. The most important aspect of putting together [minimalist aesthetic outfits](https://www.cutsclothing.com/articles/minimalist-aesthetic-outfits) is choosing pieces you can rock day in and day out. So, you should incorporate colors that make you feel ready to take on the world.

At CUTS, we’ve centered our collection around solid colors. Every piece we make comes in classic colors, like black, navy, and white, as well as a variety of seasonal colors.

If you buy a pair of [women’s sweatpants](https://www.cutsclothing.com/products/ivory-cloud-fleece-sweatpant?variant=39988479295576) from a minimalist clothing brand, we can promise you this: It won’t advertise the brand, as so many sweatpants do. Classic silhouettes and solid colors would lose all of their timeless appeal if they were covered in obvious branding.

Minimalist fashion brands put the focus on you, not on themselves. At CUTS, we incorporate subtle brand embroidery on the seam of our clothing. It will never distract from your personal brand.

Most minimalist fashion brands work toward becoming more sustainable clothing brands with steps such as offsetting supply chain emissions.

Other choices brands make can have pros and cons. Even brands that believe they’re choosing sustainable materials may end up making serious environmental trade-offs.

For example, brands that rely on 100% natural materials can contribute to [monoculture farming](https://www.challenge.org/knowledgeitems/the-dangers-of-monoculture-farming/), which depletes the soil. And brands that rely on animal-derived fabrics — to make items like silk bras and panties or cashmere cardigans — can run into animal welfare issues.

Plus, both cashmere and silk are delicate materials that require special care. This means that your cashmere knitwear is more likely to get pills or pulls, and more likely to end up in landfills, contributing to [textile waste](https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/textiles-material-specific-data) and undermining its status as a sustainable fabric.

Because every material has pros and cons, the quality of a material will be more important than the type of material. Durable fabrics last longer, reducing waste in the process.

At CUTS, our line of [Pima cotton T-shirts](https://www.cutsclothing.com/pages/pima-cotton) is made from 100% natural fiber. And our signature [PYCA Pro](https://www.cutsclothing.com/collections/pyca-pro) blend is pre-shrunk, anti-pilling, and designed to maintain its fit and color long term so it won’t end up in a landfill anytime soon. We also [offset the carbon emissions from our supply chain](https://www.cutsclothing.com/articles/ecocart).

If you’re going to buy less, you need to buy quality. True minimalist clothing brands understand this, and they typically invest in high-quality construction. You can see this in the fabrics they choose, which should be thicker fabrics to prevent tears, fraying, and pilling. And you can see it in their seams and hemlines.

High-quality clothes have finished hemlines, meaning every hem is folded over and stitched. And when you pull at the seams on a piece of quality clothing, you shouldn’t be able to see any gaps or light peeking through.

When you shop with minimalist clothing brands, you may have to pay more upfront for one simple reason — quality clothes cost more to make. But, you’ll end up paying less in the long run. Buying high-quality clothes that don’t go out of style means you can buy less and enjoy your favorite pieces for longer.

CUTS clothing is designed to last with thick, durable material, finished hemlines, and attention to detail at every part of the production process.

With minimalist clothing brands, you can build a wardrobe that simplifies your life. These clothing brands help you create a capsule wardrobe with fewer items that do more. You can mix and match every piece, and wash and wear them time and time again.

Unlike fast fashion, minimalist fashion doesn’t go out of style every season. And because most minimalist brands use high-quality fabrics, these pieces will perform the same way every time you wear them. You give it your all everyday — your clothes should too.

All that’s left to do now is find a minimalist clothing brand that fits your style. Start exploring minimalist style with [CUTS](https://www.cutsclothing.com/). Our high-performance pieces are designed to help you compete and win in the sport of business.

What Makes a Clothing Brand Minimalist?

6 Philosophies of Minimalist Clothing Brands

1. Versatility

2. Classic Silhouettes

3. Classic Colors and Prints

4. Minimal Branding

5. Sustainability

6. Quality Construction

Minimalism Looks Good on You