Los Angeles-based Brain Dead has teamed up with heritage menswear brand Brooks Brothers to introduce a new collaborative venture: Brooks Brothers California.
Founded in 1818, Brooks Brothers is the oldest continuously running clothing brand in the US. Needless to say, it has a ton of history—from being the first brand to introduce ready-to-wear clothing, to straight-up changing the menswear game with the button-down collar shirt.
But lately? Brooks Brothers has seen better days. The brand filed for bankruptcy in 2020 due to a decline in sales caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they turned things around after appointing Ken Ohashi as CEO in 2021, who repositioned the company to immense profitability in less than two years.
So how do Ohashi and Brooks Brothers keep the momentum going in the ever-changing fashion landscape? Like many luxury brands have done before, they pull from streetwear culture.
The new partnership with Brain Dead marks Brooks Brothers’ first real streetwear link-up since collaborating with Supreme over a decade ago. However, Brain Dead x Brooks Brothers is more than just a one-off collab—Brooks Brothers California is a whole new line. It follows a similar model to how Brain Dead teamed up with Oakley to form Oakley Factory Team.
According to Brain Dead, the new line is “our take on the idea that this historical brand was not just about suits and shirts, but about the American dream of innovation and creativity. BROOKS BROTHERS CALIFORNIA is not just a repro of Ivy Style, but an attempt to break tradition, adding personal identity to the classic American style.”
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First teased by Brain Dead founder Kyle Ng back in June 2024, we now have a full look at the debut Brooks Brothers California collection. While it sticks to traditional American menswear styles, Brain Dead’s experimental elements give it a fresh edge, creating a tasteful compromise between clean formalwear and graphic-heavy streetwear.
A collaborative logo—merging Brain Dead’s signature head with Brooks Brothers’ floating sheep—appears on several pieces, such as oxford shirts and black dress pants. The matching black blazer, however, keep branding to a minimum, featuring only a discreet tag on the left sleeve. Rounding out the collection are graphic tees, striped ringer tees, a navy zip-up hoodie with matching sweatpants, and a grey wool cap.
Brooks Brothers California’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection launches March 11th at Brain Dead stores, on the Brain Dead website, and at select retailers. Check out the lookbook photos and product shots below.
