(Photo: Davies + Starr)

M. CARTER
Designer: Milton Carter, 31
HQ: Greenpoint, Brooklyn; $60 at Dernier Cri, 869 Washington St., nr. 13th St.; 212-242-6061.
What is this? “The tea set on this shirt suggests the upper class as well as history, the past. It says classy and trashy at the same time.”
—Milton Carter

(Photo: Davies + Starr)

LOLA
Designers: James Cruickshank, 23, and Emmett Shine, 23
HQ: Lower East Side; $45 at Charlotte Ronson, 239 Mulberry St., nr. Prince St.; 212-625-9074.
What is this? “Instead of the standard ‘New York, London, Tokyo, Milan’ tagline used by fashion houses, we say, ‘New York, New York, New York.’”
—James Cruickshank

(Photo: Davies + Starr)

BARKING IRONS
Designers: Daniel Casarella, 29, and Michael Casarella, 24
HQ: The Bowery; $70 at Bloomingdale’s, 1000 Third Ave., at 59th St.; 212-705-2000.
What is this? “‘Bean Soup’ refers to the nickname of an old New York City fire truck. There is something very Popeye about it.”
—Michael Casarella

(Photo: Davies + Starr)

KENZO MINAMI
Designer: Kenzo Minami, 33
HQ: Lower East Side; $175 at Barneys New York, 660 Madison Ave., at 61st St.; 212-826-8900.
What is this? “This particular T-shirt is inspired by the million-mark banknote in the time of hyperinflation in 1923 Germany.”
—Kenzo Minami

(Photo: Davies + Starr)

YOKO DEVEREAUX
Designer: Andy Salzer, 34
HQ: South Williamsburg, Brooklyn; $70 at Yoko Devereaux, 338 Broadway, nr. Keap St.; 718-302-1450.
What is this? “Jewelry, in many instances, comes off as costumey on guys. On a tee, it is much more masculine.”
—Andy Salzer

Related:

• Articles by Jonathan S. Paul | Doria Santlofer
• Table of Contents: May 7, 2007 issue of New York | Subscribe!