American Dreamers

From crowd-funded startups to iconic brands that transcend generations, American ingenuity reigns supreme this season. EDGE takes a look at some of our favorite domestic brands - some familiar and others on the cusp - that will have you looking on trend for any occasion.

AVIATOR
Who says the adventurer can't also look stylish? Aviator's owner, founder and designer, Colby Kane, has a passion for travel, and he translates that experience into an essential collection of high-performance garments and stylish denim that's perfect for anything from a weekend getaway to a mountain trek.

Kane's latest launch is a high-performance hoodie with a natural antimicrobial finish and 360-degree stretch. We also love Aviator's Fly/Jeans, featuring single-needle construction and 2 percent Spandex for just a bit of give. All products are made in Aviator's Los Angeles factory.

ACE RIVINGTON
Who is Ace Rivington? It's the dream turned reality of Beau Lawrence, who created the character as the face of his spirited new clothing brand that launched in 2013. The iconic homespun French Terry sweatshirt is knitted and sewn in Los Angeles, while the rest of the collection includes such must-haves as a resin-coated hooded flight jacket and selvedge denim.

Lawrence is also breaking ground with Ace Rivington's latest ad campaign, which features androgynous model Rain Dove and LGBT spokesperson Cory Wade, though he's quick to say he didn't pick the models but rather created a character and story that intrigues and inspires people.

"Adventure and freedom are the traits most important in the Ace Rivington brand. Rain resonated with this message and was inspired to use our product for a spontaneous photo shoot," says Lawrence.

"When she showed me the images, I understood the feeling the pictures shared about adventure and freedom, and about embracing that spirit. If touching our soft fabrics, appreciating our fits or studying our branding and the stories behind the Ace Rivington character can for even a moment bring a sense of adventure and freedom into the lives of our fans and customers, then I accomplished what I set out to do. This is a campaign about people, adventure and freedom."

Levi's
Who hasn't owned a pair of Levi's classic 501s? Founded in 1853 by Bavarian-born Levi Strauss, the company has grown from a dry-goods business to one of the foremost denim manufacturers in the world. But that expansion is grounded in responsible and ethical leadership. Levi's once again scored a perfect 100 on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index, and continues to advocate for LGBT rights.

"Over the course of our history, we've stood for equality for all people in a number of ways. From being one of the first factories to desegregate in the country (before it was mandated to do so) to addressing economic equality through the Levi Strauss Foundation's involvement in the asset-building movement," says Chief Merchandising Officer Grant Barth. "And this year, during this historic time, we wanted to step up our support for LGBTQ equality in an even bigger and more visible way." Levi's 2015 Pride collection emphasizes the 1969 Stonewall Riots, with net proceeds donated to the Stonewall Community Foundation.

And back to those 501s: this summer Levi's reworked the classic silhouette to create the 501 CT, which features a slightly roomier waist and tapered leg from knee to ankle.

George Loves
The summer sun shines bright in the latest collection from George Loves, a Los Angeles-based, contemporary womenswear brand making a splash with its unique hand-painted production process.

Founded by world traveler George Moringer, a South African-born bon vivant with a background in philosophy and film production, George Loves' ready-to-wear collection offers comfort and ease with staple pieces including moto sweatpants, crop tops, and ribbed tank dresses. The muted palette of mint green and soft white will showcase your healthy glow, while the more dramatic pieces in black are the perfect accent for a sultry summer night. Made in the U.S.

Gr�f & Lantz
"If there's anything [we'd] like to teach the American male, it is that bags are not purses," says the design duo of Holger Gr�f and Daniel Lantz, who met in Los Angeles by way of Germany and Japan, respectively. Their sophisticated and clean-lined handbag collection utilizes classic as well as unconventional materials that include Merino wool, leather, canvas and denim.

For the guys, be sure to check out the color-block waxed canvas Bedford weekender in eye-popping colors including blue, yellow and orange. And for a bag that defies "purse," consider the Jaunt tote, featuring zigzag stitching, Merino wool, genuine leather, and magnetic snap closure. Women will flip over the Andie clutch in wet-process denim and veg-tan leather.

Hudson Made
Clean up your act with Hudson Made's skincare and shaving products, produced in the bucolic hills of upstate New York. Bill Hovard, whose background includes award-winning creative design for numerous Fortune 500 companies, is at the forefront of a movement to return to small-batch, high-quality goods for the home.

Some of Hudson Made's latest products to hit the market include a premium silvertip badger hair shave brush, along with a pre-shave and face oil with notes of agarwood, sandalwood, frankincense and pink peppercorn. These welcome additions complement Hudson Made's Beard & Shave Soap collection, available in cedar clove, citron neroli and original white.