There’s a reason Uniqlo has become shorthand for a certain kind of wardrobe essential: uncomplicated, well-cut pieces that are easy to wear, Japanese-leaning in their ability to be easily styled, and accessible enough to return to season after season. From the perfect white T-shirt to fine knits, crisp shirting and everyday layers, the Japanese retailer has helped make a compelling case for getting the basics right.
And right now, basics are having something of a renaissance. As wardrobes become increasingly considered, the pieces that once played supporting roles are taking centre stage: the tank, the cardigan, the crewneck, the perfectly proportioned tee. The appeal lies in their simplicity, but also their longevity – these are the clothes designed to work hard within a wardrobe, transcending seasons and passing trends.
Unsurprisingly, there’s now an expansive world of labels approaching the category from different perspectives. Some place an emphasis on organic and lower-impact materials, others on local manufacturing, considered production or elevated fabrication. Australian names like Bassike have long championed organic cotton and locally made essentials, while Baserange has built its own distinctive language around natural fibres and understated silhouettes.
So, if you love the ease and versatility of Uniqlo but are looking to broaden your basics repertoire, there are plenty of places worth exploring. Below, we’ve rounded up 22 brands making excellent everyday essentials – from plain white tees and socks to tracksuits, sweaters and cardigans – designed to earn their place in your wardrobe.
Best for: Japanese-leaning basics, boxy silhouettes
UNIQLO-adjacent is fellow global Japanese retail company Muji. They have stores in New South Wales and Victoria, as well as an Australia-wide online store that carries their full breadth of ready to wear, along with underwear and hosiery, homewares, stationary, beauty, food and even their elevated MUJI Labo line (in a similar vein to the UNIQLO : C line by British designer Clare Waight Keller).
Best for: Replenishing a sad sock drawer
The Australian rag trade lives! Australian Stitch manufacture locally in Thornbury, Melbourne, putting their spin on staples for all genders. Whether it’s ribbed singlets, track shorts or fold-over pants that fit all your yogalates needs, the company is picking up where Bonds left off.
Best for: The perfect crisp white shirt (or muscle tank or baby tee or midi dress…)
Flattering and chic is the design language of Flore Flore, a no-nonsense Amsterdam-based brand we’ve come to cherish. Wardrobe basics are streamlined and clean, produced with organic cotton and made by a mother-daughter duo in Portugal. I bought a Flore Flore black muscle tank and put it through its paces during summer. Next, I’m eyeing off the Jill baby tee. It has a v-neck and was named after RUSSH Beauty Annual cover star Jill Kortleve. I’ll take that as a sign…
Best for: Minimalist design through an uber-sustainable lens
The idea of wardrobe basics is that they’re worn often and go with everything. So if you’re going to commit to a style, you might as well make it the best. New Zealand-based label Kowtow is vying for that gold pedestal. It doesn’t observe trends, only uses 100% certified Fairtrade cotton, traced from seed-to-garment, and offers free repairs to Australian and New Zealand customers (pay a small fee and they’ll mend larger tears with Japanese patching technique Sashiko).
Best for: A tailored perspective on the classics
Nick Wakeman believes fabric should inform fit. Her garments take inspiration from Japanese architecture, 90s subculture and grunge, to create a line that is polished and functional. What we would call a capsule wardrobe, Wakeman rebrands as “modular”. There is power in the edit, she insists. For those who enjoy Uniqlo’s tidy take on denim, trousers, shirts and outerwear, meet the maker who is the real deal.
Best for: Your favourites favourites
Another label that just gets it when it comes to basics. We could wear these to the office or to bed, and both situations would make sense. We’re particularly fond of the pointelle range, which softens with each wear. Founded in late 2019 by Lili Chemla and made in Los Angeles.
Best for: Basics but avant-garde
Founded in 2012, Baserange offers a line of simplified garments that are constructed in line with a minimalist, do-no-harm philosophy. The brand is extra conscious of its environmental impact and has mapped its makers and producers on its website, where its also shares their stories. We love these garments, they’re sensual and body-focused. It’s also refreshing to see their designs modelled on bodies of all shapes, ages, and sizes.
Best for: That Miu Miu-inspired crew neck cardigan and polo you’ve been eyeing off
Lambswool cultivated in Geelong, Victoria is then sent off to Loch Leven in Scotland where it is spun and dyed. Later, the fibres will find their way to makers in Ireland and the UK, where each piece of the garment will be knit then linked together by hand and hand-finished. It’s a laborious process, hence the price tag, but one that results in luxury sweaters that will last a lifetime. &Daughter also offers a mending and refresh service, so there’s that too.
Best for: Dancing in your kitchen in your undies
Pansy began as an intimates label and sought out new horizons by inching into the activewear market. All the cotton used to bring a pair of Pansy panties to life is grown in Texas and milled in North Carolina before it finds its way to the San Leandro factory in California to be crafted. We love transparency!
Best for: Reliable, homegrown and beautiful basics
Bassike is one of the brands that is always pushing. They want to be better than they were yesterday and I think when sustainability is the focus, that’s an admirable quality. They’re B Corp certified, work only with organic cotton, and can proudly say 95% of its garments are made in Australia. So you can sleep easy in your cotton jersey. Thanks Deborah Sams.
Best for: Robust crew necks and henleys with a thick collar
I’m drawn to the workwear-inspired design of Goodwear t-shirts. Just as Merz B Schwanen has mastered the bicep-enhancing dirtbag white tee, Goodwear has nailed the oversized style for all genders. The cotton is farmed then spun in the USA, with Goodwear utilising a range of different knits depending on the style of shirt. They’re tough, give one to someone you love.
Best for: Durable knits that will stand the test of time
A family-owned company established in 2009, each piece is designed in Denmark and crafted by the best knitters in Italy. Sure, the buy-in price is steep, but it’s worth it when you consider the cost-per-wear of each garment over a decade and more – which is exactly the sort of lifespan Andersen-Andersen knits have. They’re heavy! The styles are inspired by Danish maritime traditions and are crafted from 100% new wool sourced from Patagonia. The label also offers in-house repairs or you can buy a care and repair kit to service it yourself.
Best for: Fleeces, puffers and all your outdoorsy needs
Patagonia has been B Corp certified since 2011 and was one of the first fashion brands to achieve this status. On top of this, they support grassroots activism with their 1% for the planet self-imposed tax, will mend your clothes and offer a buy-back scheme too. Whether it’s a wetsuit, thermals, rain jacket or a little vest for your run club, ignore Airism and get your tech-forward clothes here instead.
Best for: Merino wardrobe essentials fit for the office
There’s plenty to love about all is a gentle spring. Everyone talks about bolstering Australian manufacturing and eradicating synthetic fibres, but Isabelle Hellyer walks the walk. On top of this, her clothes, which are sultry, refined and extremely wearable, are really freaking nice. This is reflected in the price tag, of course. Though that’s what it costs to make things responsibly in 2024, something we forget when we walk into most fast fashion stores. Read more about Hellyer’s design philosophy in her interview with RUSSH.
Best for: Scarves, gloves, wrist-warmers and beanies
Eldon Cashmere has been appearing on my feed thanks to its fruitful collaboration with an Instagram page I love (@we_are_stripes). The forces of marketing convinced me to purchase one of their slim and versatile stripy cashmere scarves. I’m obsessed. They’re made in Scotland from cashmere sourced from farmers and herders across Nepal, China and Afghanistan to the standards upheld by the Sustainable Fibre Alliance.
Best for: Sumptuous wool socks
For 10 generations Andrew Lindner’s family has been making socks. He continues the tradition from his Crookwell factory in the southern tablelands of NSW. Using vintage machinery brought to Australia from Germany by his parents, Lindner knits and hand-finishes each pair of socks, which are made with Australian Merino wool and alpaca yarn. They’re the only socks my boyfriend will wear and he’s been buying them for years. The company is workings towards a 100% Australian supply chain. Plus, you socks have been crafted with specific occasions and needs in mind, whether that’s cosy socks for home, dress socks for business or celebrations, work boots or hiking. Who needs Uniqlo when Lindner has you covered?
Best for: Slinky bodysuits and basics with sex appeal
If it’s wardrobe basics you seek, then none hit the intersection of affordable and well made quite like those from designer Eliana Gil Rodriguez. Her eponymous label is form-fitting and body forward, speaking to those who unapologetically take up space and refuse to feel uncomfortable in their skin.
Best for: Sweats in every hue of the rainbow
Using environmentally-friendly dye and organic cotton, Colourful Standard is a sunny alternative for those looking for new tracksuits, hoodies, crewnecks, half-zips and sweatpants. All the manufacturing takes place in Portugal, which means makes must comply with EU laws.
Best for: The original 90s baby tee
Last year, the prolific Pretties baby tee turned 30. The style, made with dead stock fabric in downtown LA, has been seen on Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Winona Ryder, Sofia Coppola and all your favourite Gen Z influencers. There’s a reason it’s so enduring, and that’s because the fit, feel and vibe is perfect. Venture further for the Pretties take on a picot-trimmed floral summer dress.
Best for: Close-fitting tank tops and midi skirts
Tank Air has grown its repertoire, which now contains every skirt length, a handful of body suits, baby tees, the perfect basic singlet and tank top, among its more glamorous statement pieces. While the brand found an audience on social media, it’s proved to be much more than a passing fad. Tank Air manufactures their pieces in LA using deadstock fabric where possible. It’s also worth noting the brand caters to a 2XS through to a 3XL, because it’s 2024 and there’s no excuse for not having size diversity.
Best for: Pointelle loungewear for bed, beach and beyond
Designed in London and made in Portugal, Cou Cou Intimates creates nostalgic cotton basics, the kind you’d see on Liv Tyler or Cameron Diaz in the 90s. You can find comfy white knickers for your underwear drawer or soft flowy pants to wear on long haul flights. Best of all, Cou Cou uses 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton. A win is a win.
Best for: Japanese craftsmanship applied to American streetwear silhouettes
The legendary Japanese brand has been around since the 70s, originally created to curate, import, and introduce West Coast American lifestyle and Ivy League clothing to a fascinated Japanese audience. It’s since evolved into a massive cultural pioneer, operating on a “Basic & Exciting” framework that pairs workwear, military, outdoor, and Ivy styles with Japanese precision.
