Top Streetwear Brands
Streetwear has made its way onto the most famous runways in the world. It’s not hard to trace where the name came from – it’s literally what you would wear on the street. It started out life as the comfortable clothes worn by skateboarders and surfers, but over the past ten years, it’s become a staple of high-fashion. What that means for us is that there is no longer a choice between fashion and comfort – they’re are becoming the same. In this article, we’ve found ten of the most famous and sought-after streetwear brands in the world. Here are ten of the best streetwear brands.
1. Palace
Palace is often seen as the UK’s Supreme. The brand has achieved a similar legendary status to Supreme and has put the UK firmly on the streetwear map. The brand takes a lot of inspiration from famous brands like Adidas and Reebok, and regularly collaborates with them both. Palace might have only been around since 2010, but they are definitely one of the major players in the streetwear game. And, they’re not afraid to push the boundaries of what counts as streetwear (think snakeskin loafers).
2. Supreme
Supreme started in 1994 as an NYC-based skateboard and clothing shop. Now, it’s one of the most recognizable streetwear brands in the world. It’s quite often cited as one of the main brands in streetwear and is constantly hyped by celebrities and other fashion brands. Supreme is also one of the best brands at collaborating with other brands. Their collabs with Nike, Fila, and North Face (to name just a few) has been an influencing factor in the rise of streetwear. And their recent collab with Louis Vitton has helped them go stratospheric.
3. BAPE
Bape is the nickname for Japanese streetwear brand A Bathing Ape – probably because it’s a much catchier name. It was started in 1993 by Tomoaki Nagao in Tokyo and has enjoyed a steady rise to superstar status. The brand is known for its obsession with camouflage patterns, shark hoodies, loud graphics, and sneakers. Now, it’s one of the most sought-after brands on the market and a pair of shorts can set you back more than $300. If you’re looking for budget streetwear, look away now.
4. Stussy
Stussy was born in California in the early 1980s. The brainchild of Shawn Stussy, it’s widely regarded as the first streetwear brand and remains one of the most important to this day. It was one of the first clothing labels to combine artistic creativity, a do-it-yourself mentality, and self-expression. Shawn Stussy actually started out selling surfboards in California and he realized that he needed to stand out from the competition with unique designs. Soon, people started asking for t-shirts and other clothing, so he started the clothing business. Since then, it’s had a huge amount of celebrity endorsements and has collaborated with almost every clothing brand in the streetwear game.
5. Off-White
Off-White is one of the new players in the streetwear industry. Started in 2013 by Virgil Abloh, it’s quickly becoming one of the most talked-about clothing brands in the world. The label is Milan based, but they’ve now got 15 showrooms around the world, with more expansion in the pipeline. Abloh describes Off-White as ‘the grey area between black and white’. His clothes have made a huge impact on the streetwear industry, with collections shown in Paris, New York, London, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. Their collaborations with Nike have catapulted them into the mainstream (more on that below).
6. HUF
HUF is one of the more affordable streetwear brands out there. You can actually pick up their clothes for less than $100, which is almost unheard of. But they still have an awesome streetwear pedigree. The brand started in the 1980s when skateboarder Keith Hufnagel started tagging ‘HUF ONE’ around New York. However, the actual streetwear clothing label didn’t start until 2002, when Hufnagel opened a shop selling skateboards, streetwear, and rare sneakers. He quickly realized the power of selling his own streetwear and the rest is history.
7. Nike
Whichever way you look at it, Nike is one of the biggest brands in the world. They were also one of the first brands to make sneakers cool. Starting out as a dedicated sportswear brand, they’ve moved into streetwear and have become one of the biggest players. Nike’s collab with Off-White cemented their reputation as a fully-fledged streetwear icon. Nike Air Jordans have always been cool, but when Virgil Abloh, the creative director of Off-White, reimagined them, they became one of the most important streetwear sneakers of all time. Find out more about Nike sneakers by checking our buying guide of the best ones on the market.
8. Kith
Kith is a bit different from the other brands on this list. They have two arms to their business – a shop that sells some of the most sought-after streetwear in the world and an in-house label. It was started in 2011 by Ronnie Fieg, a famous footwear designer with a passion for sneakers. If you look on their website, you’ll find hundreds of unique products from brands like Nike, New Balance, The North Face, and more.
9. Carhartt
Carhartt isn’t best known as a streetwear brand. It wasn’t born out of the 70s and 80s surf culture or 90s hip-hop scene. It started way back in 1855 and is one of America’s oldest and best-loved clothing brands. They started by making high-quality overalls for workmen, but now they’re better known as a fashionable and relatively affordable clothing brand. They’ve made some key collaborations in recent years to establish themselves as a serious streetwear prospect. Check out the Carhartt/Nike Air Force sneakers.
10. Yeezy
Yeezy is the brand created by rapper, Kanye West. It started in 2009 when Kanye collaborated with Nike to create a unique pair of Air sneakers. The brand has become infinitely more famous now, thanks to a collaborating with Adidas. They are known for being one of the most expensive and sought-after sneakers on the market. They are so well known, the market is now full of fakes – so if you want the real deal, you’re going to have to reach into your pockets.
