86% matchSaturdays NYC
Surf-minimal basics built for city wear, not the beach
What changes: Higher price, cooler-climate palette and café retail concept
Brand profile
Cotton Project
Independent São Paulo menswear label reworking 1990s surf and skate references into lightweight, tropical-climate clothing built for urban wear.
São PauloOrigin
MenswearFocus
Minimalist / ContemporaryStyle
$$Price
4 brands like Cotton Project like Saturdays NYC, Bather, Tombolo →
What to know about Cotton Project
Nineties surf codes, city clothes
It pulls 1990s surf and skate references off the beach: cotton chinos, shirting, tees and knits cut for São Paulo heat rather than the water.
Founder-run, not founder-trained
Rafael Varandas trained as an economist and runs the label as its designer and creative director, independent since 2006.
Runway presence at accessible prices
On the São Paulo Fashion Week schedule since 2016 with cinematic lookbooks, but priced in the low-to-mid range and sold mostly direct.
If you like Cotton Project
86% match
82% matchBather
Printed swim trunks anchoring a warm-weather wardrobe
What changes: Swim-led range, less shirting/tailored chino breadth
78% matchTombolo
Original-print cabana shirting for hot weather
What changes: Vintage resort prints rather than 90s skate references
70% matchEarls Collection
Sport-nostalgia reworked into relaxed warm-climate knits
What changes: Rugby/football heritage instead of surf-skate lineage
Brand facts
Cotton Project is an independent São Paulo menswear label founded by Rafael Varandas, an economist by training who runs it as designer and creative director. It reworks 1990s surf and skate references into clothing for the city rather than the beach: lightweight cotton chinos, swim shorts, shirting, tees and knits cut for a tropical climate, presented through cinematic lookbooks and runway shows. The brand joined the São Paulo Fashion Week schedule in 2016 and sells through its own e-commerce plus a small store and café on Rua da Consolação in Jardins.
- Founded
- 2006
- Origin
- São Paulo, Brazil
- Made in
- Brazil
- Price
- $$
- Focus
- Menswear
- Facts checked
- August 2026
- Styles
- Minimalist / Contemporary, Streetwear, Urban prep / Ivy