There’s no denying that streetwear has definitely made its way into luxury fashion. Simply ask any hypebeast and they’ll tell you that streetwear is not just a trend —it’s a lifestyle. Once reserved for the skater kids, it’s now common to see a pair of sneakers and a hoodie on a model walking down the runways of Paris as it is to find them in the streets.
To help you amp up your streetwear game, we take a deep dive into what streetwear is and we’ve rounded up some of our favourite streetwear brands you need to know for sartorial success.
What Is Streetwear?
Taking inspiration from hip-hop culture and the skater style, streetwear incorporates comfortable yet trendy clothing such as graphic tees, sweatpants and expensive sneakers. Followers of the latest trends in streetwear are known as hypebeasts and thy would go to great lengths to get their hands on limited edition hoodies, sneakers and more.
Unlike other areas of fashion, streetwear is often size-inclusive, gender-neutral and made or worn by people of colour.
Throughout history, streetwear has been predominantly influenced by hip-hop — such as the 80’s and 90’s rap scene for gold chains, bucket hats, tracksuits and white Nikes. Recently, streetwear has seen a new influence: K-Pop. Streetwear is expanding its musical taste, thanks to the worldwide popularity of K-Pop bands such as BTS and Blackpink.
Streetwear Brands You Need To Know
1. CDG Play
Known for its outlandish designs and bizarre runway shows, Comme des Garçons can be easily identified by the iconic bug-eyed heart logo. The fashion house’s imprint, Play, is known for quite the opposite. It’s more subtle and focuses on simple staple items such as Breton tops, hoodies and logo tees. Play also has a long-running collaborative effort with Converse, which has been the heart shape stamped on the Chuck Taylor All Star 70.
Converse Big Heart Low Top
$220.00
COMME des GARCONS PLAY ConverseConverse Peek-A-Boo Heart Low Cut Sneakers White These COMME des GARCONS PLAY x Converse sneakers feature a premium canvas upper with an oversized, iconic CDG PLAY heart-and-eyes graphic, and ortholite insoles for comfort. Upper: Cotton / Sole:… read more
Double Eye Men's Cardigan
$490.00
COMME des GARCONS PLAYDouble Eye Men's Cardigan Up your knitwear game with the help of this simple - but luxurious - COMME des GARCONS PLAY cardigan. Staying true to the label's minimalist aesthetic, it features the brand's iconic heart logo… read more
Upside Down Word Tee Men
$110.00
COMME des GARCONS PLAYUpside Down Word Tee Men Playful, graphic-heavy styling is a hallmark of COMME des GARCONS PLAY's aesthetic, and this white cotton tee is a prime example. As always, the diffusion lines signature heart mascot gets a feature… read more
2. Undercover
Brand’s founder Jun Takahashi was greatly influenced by the UK punk scene, which heavily inspired some his most daring designs. Once popular in the 90’s fashion in Tokyo, Undercover has grown to becoming one of the most respected and prominent labels in the streetwear industry. Expect quirky tees splashed with over the top printed graphics.
3. Yohji Yamamoto
Hailed for his much lauded success in high fashion and streetwear, Yohji Yamamoto challenges convention. Known for his dark, evocative palettes and androgynous silhouettes, his designs are the opposite of Harajuku’s colourful subcultures. Yohji Yamamoto has also collaborated with Adidas to create Y-3, one of the brands at the forefront of streetwear.
4. Blackjack
Blackjack started in 1996 as a multi-label boutique and a love-child of first-line boutiques, Club 21 and Club 21 Men. Having influenced a generation of progressive thinkers in the 90s, Blackjack created a community of like-minded and inclusive fashion forward fashionistas of today. It was a ‘club’ for the alternative, the brave and the die-hard rebels. The label features oversized tees for men and women and i's is back to inspire as a fashion brand to a new community that is all about Peace, Love & Unity.
