Making a Statement at Fashion Week with Upstream: Menswear Looks We Streamed

During Fashion Week, it’s not just designers who have something to say—the attendees make as much of an impact as the runways themselves. Whether you’re seated front row at the Tolu Coker show, taking in the edgy vibes of Mowalola, or attending Fashion East’s avant-garde presentations, what you wear is a reflection of who you are and the fashion-forward choices you make. But let’s be real: premium fashion often comes with premium price tags, and making a statement shouldn’t break the bank. This is where Upstream comes in, offering fashion enthusiasts a new way to access premium menswear without the usual financial strain.

Upstream operates as an alternative retail model, connecting consumers directly to the secondary market, where pieces can be accessed at more affordable prices. The platform makes premium pieces more attainable, all while addressing current challenges like authenticity and availability in the resale space. As a hub for curated fashion looks, Upstream gives us the opportunity to pull iconic pieces from the brands we admire, all at price points that are far more accessible than traditional retail.

What sets Upstream apart is its trial-before-you-buy model. Driven by authentic music and video content, the platform ensures that your fashion choices aren’t just impulsive purchases—they’re thoughtful investments. The beauty of Upstream’s model is its sustainability. Multiple users can stream the same product, maximising the lifespan of each item and ensuring that each piece finds the right home.

At this year’s London Fashion Week, New Wave attended some of the most talked-about shows, including Tolu Coker, Fashion East, and Mowalola. For these shows, we streamed standout menswear pieces via Upstream. From elevated streetwear to tailored blazers, the platform provided us with access to key garments that made waves both on and off the runway. Each piece we pulled not only reflected the cutting-edge designs of the moment but also aligned with our ethos of supporting innovative fashion at a fair price.

For the Fashion East SS25 show, pairing standout pieces like the Martine Rose Logo print cotton jersey with Aries Lily Pale jeans creates a perfect blend of bold streetwear and laid-back cool. The Pop Company Logo Striped T-shirt adds a playful graphic touch, while the Our Legacy Mohair Cardigan layers on texture and warmth, balancing the casual with a hint of luxury. Together, these pieces fuse cutting-edge design with effortless style, making a strong fashion statement that complements Fashion East’s reputation for pushing the boundaries of contemporary menswear.

For the Tolu Coker SS25 show, the combination of the YMC Labour Core Jacket and Our Legacy Third Cut Straight Jeans offers a refined yet relaxed aesthetic, perfect for the occasion. The Labour Core Jacket by YMC, with its utilitarian design, brings a subtle nod to workwear, reflecting Tolu Coker’s emphasis on heritage and craftsmanship. Paired with the structured, straight-leg fit of Our Legacy’s Third Cut Jeans, the look balances functionality with a polished edge, capturing the essence of understated sophistication while remaining in tune with Coker’s socially conscious, forward-thinking designs.

For the Mowalola SS25 show, the combination of bold, expressive pieces like the Kartik Research Peace Cardigan, Magic Castle Trip Jeans, and Martine Rose Classic Logo Tee perfectly captures the rebellious and disruptive energy synonymous with Mowalola’s aesthetic. The Peace Cardigan’s vibrant, graphic design adds a statement layer of boldness, while the Magic Castle Trip Jeans bring an eclectic, psychedelic vibe with their abstract patterns and intricate detailing. Paired with the minimal yet iconic Martine Rose Logo Tee, this look effortlessly merges streetwear with avant-garde design, making it a powerful, fashion-forward statement that embodies the unapologetic and daring spirit of Mowalola’s runway.

From oversized, slouchy silhouettes to precision-cut tailoring, the menswear looks we pulled spoke to the versatility and dynamism of London’s menswear scene. Fashion East delivered experimental, gender-fluid designs, while Tolu Cooker played with the boundaries of traditional tailoring. Meanwhile, Mowalola served up bold, disruptive streetwear that was impossible to ignore. Each show highlighted the diversity in menswear, with Upstream allowing us to connect with these styles directly, bridging the gap between runway fashion and everyday wearability.