Beams Plus

Beams began in 1976 as a small shop in Tokyo's Harajuku district and has since grown to become a major retail force in Japan. Beams Plus, the company's rugged, heritage- and workwear-inspired men's line, was introduced in 1999. Beams has been a launching pad for some of the world's coolest menswear since it first opened its doors in Harajuku nearly 50 years ago.

Today, the Japanese retailer has 150 stores, each housing an expansive array of goods from a global roster of elite makers, as well as exclusive collaborations that style-conscious fellas outside of Japan have been eying for decades. However, Beams is also the source of one of menswear's best-kept secrets: an in-house line of extremely cool clothing with a focus on gently-freaked Americana made with the retailer's trademark attention to detail.

Since the late '90s, Beams Plus—the juggernaut's most accessible menswear line—has functioned as a sort of Japanese J.Crew, producing neo-prep staples at prices that belie the quality involved. But the sub-label isn't interested in producing exact replicas of its inspiration; Beams Plus chinos are a little wider and more dramatically pleated than their counterparts, and its shirts are a little boxier and more interestingly patterned. The entire collection is a half-step more daring than what you'd typically find on the shelves of your local mall—though that's increasingly where you'll find it.

Founded: 1976

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan

Instagram: @beams_official (833.000 followers)

Website: https://www.beams.co.jp/global/