Something strange has been afoot in the world of men’s style over the past few years. The lines between what we once referred to as “streetwear” and high fashion have been becoming increasingly blurred.
Recent seasons have seen historic haute-couture houses partnering with skatewear brands. Meanwhile, hoodies and harness bags are now routinely sent down fashion-week runways by labels that, until very recently, were using the same platform to wheel out razor-sharp tailoring and trench coats.
Some say this crossover marks the final nail in the coffin for the term “streetwear”, but while there’s no denying we’re in the midst of a new fashion climate, the brands that have always championed this style are still very much doing their thing.
Here we run through the best streetwear labels on the face of the earth, and why they’re worth having on your sartorial radar.
Stussy
Streetwear, in its purest sense, may never have come to exist had it not been for Californian surfer Shawn Stussy and his line of graphic T-shirts back in the 1980s. It all started when Stussy began scrawling his surname on his handcrafted surfboards with a marker pen. The logo soon found its way onto tees, hoodies and beyond, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Buy now at FarFetch
BAPE (A Bathing Ape)
When thinking of Japanese streetwear, it’s impossible not to think of BAPE. DJ and fashion designer Nigo’s colourful and quirky label has long served as a gateway for teens getting into streetwear for the first time. Famous for its iconic camo print and bizarre design motifs (shark hoodie, anyone?), the brand is one of the most coveted and respected in the world of alternative fashion.
Buy now at FarFetch
The North Face
You may be wondering what a mountaineering brand is doing in a rundown of streetwear labels. The North Face has a knack for nailing brand hookups, the products of which often go on to become “grail pieces”.
A frequent collaborator with Supreme, TNF also has a habit of enlisting the help of renegade talent to create new and interesting garments for its Japanese “Purple Label” line, as well as teaming up with veteran designer Kazuki Kuraishi as part of The North Face “Black Series”.
Buy now at MATCHESFASHION
WTAPS
Combining military influence, workwear styling, utilitarian design and plenty of street appeal, WTAPS is a brand that’s as hard to pin down stylistically as it is to pronounce (it’s “double taps”, in case you were wondering). This Japanese favourite has earned something of a cult following off the back of its unique style and instantly recognisable aesthetic. Boxy cuts, baggy cargos and loose-fitting hoodies are all par for the course, but don’t be surprised to find the odd typically Japanese Ivy-League nod in amongst it all.
Buy now at MR PORTER
Undercover
Today, Japanese label Undercover is probably best known for its Nike-collab sneakers and joint Gyakusou sportswear line. However, this brand’s roots stretch much further back than that.
During the 1990s, Jun Takahashi’s renegade streetwear brand was a big part of the ultra-cool Ura-Harajuku scene in Tokyo and was one of the first labels to really make the crossover between streetwear and what might be considered “proper” fashion.
Takahashi was heavily influenced by the UK punk scene, which is something that can still be seen in the label’s output today, particularly in some of its more out-there designs.
Buy now at FarFetch
The Hundreds
You might not remember a time before streetwear and high fashion were both one and the same, but The Hundreds does. This LA original sprung up in 2003, making it, we suppose, a second- or third-generation streetwear label. One that came from a time when graphic tees and hoodies were what it was all about, and the idea of a Supreme x Louis Vuitton collaboration would’ve been just as unfathomable as Donald Trump becoming president.
Yet here we are, and despite all the unprecedented madness, The Hundreds is still very much doing its own thing on its own terms. That is, making no-frills, old-school streetwear that doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not.
Buy now at The Hundreds
KITH
Spearheaded by New York sneaker-scene legend Ronnie Fieg (it’s pronounced “faig”), KITH is a retail space first and foremost. But the store’s in-house label has become a streetwear phenomena in its own right thanks to a constant stream of high-profile collaborations, along with the odd weird one, too.
KITH has hooked up with everyone from sneakerhead favourites like New Balance and Nike, to less obvious brands such as Bugaboo and Disney. But it’s not all trainers. In addition to footwear, KITH boasts a successful apparel line, featuring box-logo hoodies and crews as well as all the other usual streetwear crowd-pleasers.
Buy now at Kith
Noah
After cutting his teeth at scene stalwart Supreme, Brendon Babenzien left his post as creative director armed with a vision for a streetwear brand with a difference. The result is Noah, a curious label that’s perhaps best described as what might happen with Supreme and Polo Ralph Lauren were to have a baby.
Yes, you’ll find all the usual suspects – hoodies, caps, logo tees, etc. – but you’ll also find plenty of the unexpected, too. Preppy pieces like sports jackets, rugby shirts and loafers are just as likely to crop up in seasonal collections, and with a focus on sustainability, you don’t need to feel quite so guilty about making a purchase.
Buy now at Noah
CDG PLAY
To fashion types, Comme des Garcons is best known for its boundary-testing, avant-garde collections and often bizarre runway shows. To everyone else, it’s all about bug-eyed heart logos on crew-neck T-shirts and Converse All Stars.
This is all down to CDG PLAY: the streetwear-leaning offshoot of Rei Kawakubo’s hallowed Japanese label that takes stripped-back wardrobe basics and reimagines them using offbeat design motifs and bold branding. Expect classic pieces like hoodies, T-shirts, Breton tops and more, all infused with a pinch of CDG personality.
Buy now at SSENSE
Cav Empt
With clothing that looks like it might have emerged from some sort of streetwear time machine from the future, Cav Empt is probably one of the most unique and interesting streetwear labels around.
Brought to life by SK8THING – the guy behind the iconic graphics of Nigo’s Human Made, Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream – and music industry veteran Toby Feltwell, this Japanese heavyweight produces streetwear for the thinking man.
Something to move on to once the box-logo hoodies and Supreme x The North face collabs have lost their allure.
Buy now at Slam Jam
Needles
A subsidiary of Japanese fashion house Nepenthes, the brand that spawned Engineered Garments, Needles is a streetwear-leaning fashion label that takes Japan’s obsession with Americana to the next level. The brand’s collections blend American military and old western styles, reworking and remixing classic designs in Japanese textiles, with a heavy dose of sportswear styling.
Needles’ velour tracksuits have become hugely popular with everyone from fashion insiders to A-list rappers and given things have been going strong since 1988, the label’s appeal doesn’t look to be losing traction anytime soon.
Buy now at FarFetch
Represent
Represent is a British luxury brand label that is currently making waves within streetwear thanks to its blend of contemporary graphics, fashion-forward silhouettes and a laser focus on producing the highest quality garments. Although the label has seen its popularity soar over the past couple of years, it was actually founded in 2011 by brothers George and Mike Heato, who started out selling box logo T-shirts from Merch Asylum print house.
Fast forward to today and the range runs the gamut from summer-ready shorts and swimwear through to staple logo hoodies, drop shoulder Tees and even sneakers – with each piece worthy of the premium price tag.
Shop now at END.
Pop Trading Company
Amsterdam’s Pop Trading Company began life – as so many streetwear labels do – as a skate shop stocking multiple hard-to-find brands and various cool things. It was only in 2016 that the store’s owners introduced their own clothing line, making Pop Trading Company one of the youngest entries on this list.
Still, while it may lack the heritage of some of its contemporaries, the Dutch label has quickly established itself as one of the most interesting new forces in the scene. Is it a skate-influenced menswear brand, or is it a menswear-influenced skateboard brand? We’re not quite sure – and by their own admission, neither are its founders – but one thing we do know is that whatever it is, we’re all for it.
Buy now at SSENSE
Maharishi
Palace may be the big British streetwear brand of today, but here in the UK we were making our mark on the scene way before the London skate label was even a twinkle in Lev Tanju’s eye. Case in point: Maharishi. This camo-loving, Asian-inspired, hip-hop-influenced melting pot of a brand marked Britain’s first real foray into streetwear and in the 1990s it was everywhere.
But Maharishi wasn’t just trailblazing in terms of style, it also had – and still has – a focus on fair trade that is central to everything it does. Maharishi was “woke” before woke was even a thing and in the here and now, its ethos and styling are more relevant than ever before.
Buy now at FarFetch
Manastash
Manastash is one of an increasing number of brands that bridge the gap between outdoor gear and streetwear. Founded in the Pacific Northwest, it has always made eco-frindly clothing for the great outdoors, but since settling in Japan, there’s an increased emphasis on aesthetics, which in our book is no bad thing.
You can expect to find a lot of fleece, plenty of patterns and no shortage of sustainable materials like hemp. The vast majority of the range is made in Japan, so the quality is great, and alongside the usual outdoorsy favourites like technical jackets and cargo pants you’ll find streetwear staples like hoodies tees and beanies.
Buy now at END.
Aimé Leon Dore
New York City’s Aimé Leon Dore will be looked back on as one of the brands that defined “streetwear” in the 2020s. Founded by Teddy Santis, it has become famous for its signature mix of sportswear, Ivy League prep, Americana and streetwear.
Unsurprisingly, there are often parallels drawn with Ralph Lauren, but the difference is that ALD has also managed to bottle Supreme levels of hype that ensure its pieces fly off the shelves at lightning pace every drop day. But as the brand has grown, so too have its prices, so don’t be surprised to find yourself paying well over the odds, even for the more basic pieces.
Buy now at Aimé Leon Dore
Dime
Straight outta Montreal, Dime started life as a small skate crew with messrs Antoine Asselin and Philippe Lavoie at its centre. It wasn’t long before they started to make their own logo tees and sweats, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Today, the brand’s collections have evolved far beyond those humble beginnings, often including knitwear, sporty pieces and collab sneakers alongside all the usual streetwear suspects.
Buy now at MR PORTER
Brain Dead
Brain Dead isn’t strictly a clothing brand in the traditional sense of the term. Instead, it describes itself as a collective of artists and designers from all over the world that just so happens to make awesome clothes and accessories too.
There’s a definite streetwear influence that can be seen in Brain Dead’s collections, with additional inspiration coming from underground comics, post-punk imagery and more. Expect to see heavily graphic-led designs printed on streetwear staples like hoodies, tees, caps, beanies and bags.
Buy now at END.
Fear of God Essentials
Jerry Lorenzo’s hugely successful Fear of God label has become one of the defining brands in West Coast fashion. It was instrumental in popularising oversized fits and bridging the gap between streetwear and athleisure.
Essentials is basically FoG’s diffusion line, offering up simple pieces at lower prices. Think hoodies, joggers and tees, all emblazoned with the now-iconic ‘ESSENTIALS’ logo.
Buy now at SSENSE
Adsum
New York City’s Adsum brings together seemingly unrelated elements in a beautifully cohesive way to make something totally unique and highly aesthetically pleasing. It blends sportswear, outdoor wear and classic casual silhouettes to create a range of super versatile pieces with an overarching and unmistakable East Coast look that references the area’s hip-hop history and skate-culture connection.
As with many brands on this list, it’s so diverse that it feels almost criminal to pigeonhole it as simply streetwear, but that’s definitely a key part of the brand’s aesthetic influence.
Buy now at SSENSE
Gramicci
American climbing brand Gramicci started life making pants for people who spend their days hanging off rock faces. That was back in the 1980s. Since then, the brand has rapelled down off the mountainside and into everyday wardrobes thanks to its acquisition by a Japanese firm who have leaned into Gramicci’s outdoor heritage while embracing a more street-orientated look.
We’re big fans of the original Gramicci Pants, which offer the look of a chino and the comfort of a jogger, tied together with the brand’s signature built-in webbing belt.
Buy now at END.
Stone Island
Italian luxury sportswear label Stone Island has a long history of experimenting with textiles and dyeing techniques, becoming synonymous with a number of style subcultures along the way. It’s famous for its compass logo badge that adorns the left arm of many of its pieces, and has strong links to Italian youth culture, football casuals and streetwear alike.
Its more experimental pieces, like outerwear made using pioneering fabrics, are well respected in the world of men’s fashion, but the core products like sweats, tees and overshirts have become commonplace in the streetwear scene.
There are a number of subsidiary brands that fall into the category too, like Shadow Project, which produces highly technical garments in a muted colour palette, and Marina, which focuses on elevated casual pieces.
Buy now at SSENSE
Acronym
Originally a boutique design agency founded in 1994, Errolson Hugh’s Acronym has become the leading force in the techwear movement, which blends elements of sportswear, technical outerwear, tactical clothing and streetwear.
The German label swerves runway shows and advertising, keeping its seasonal collections small and extremely limited. This all helps to foster an air of mystery that compliments the label’s otherworldly designs and dark, moody aesthetic. We’re not sure what rebel forces might wear on future battlefields in the fight against an Orwellian regime, but chances are it’ll probably look a lot like this.
Buy now at SSENSE
Battenwear
Taking its cues from surfing, beach culture, classic outdoor gear, workwear and vintage sportswear, Japanese/Californian/New York label Battenwear oozes cool. The brainchild of Shinya Hasegawa, it makes playful spins on pieces like anoraks, classic mountain parkas, climbing pants and cargos, as well as the usual streetwear staples like hoodies and graphic tees.
Buy now at END.
Nanamica
Nanamica is a Japanese brand known for applying technical performance fabrics usually found in alpine outerwear to classic menswear silhouettes. The label’s Gore-Tex outerwear blurs the line between performance apparel and casual style, with pieces ranging from taped-seam trench coats to techy waterproof shells.
But it’s not all coats and jackets. In fact, Nanamica makes a full range of unmistakably Japanese clothing that straddles the line between streetwear, workwear and outdoor gear. It’s also the creative force behind cult Japanese brand The North Face Purple Label, along with The North Face.
Buy now at SSENSE
Awake NY
Founded by Supreme’s former brand director, Angelo Baque, Awake NY takes inspiration from the city it calls home. There are references to ‘90s sportswear, hip-hop, first-wave streetwear and classic menswear, which come together to make a range that’s both tasteful and unique.
The brand’s pieces are often playful too, with bold graphic prints, eye-catching patterns and colourful imagery featuring heavily.
Buy now at SSENSE
And Wander
The worlds of outdoor gear and fashion have been becoming increasingly intertwined over the last decade or so, largely thanks to the emergence of gorpcore and its success as an ongoing niche within men’s fashion. Japanese label And Wander is one of the brands at the forefront of the movement, creating aesthetically conscious clothing using high-performance fabrics and drawing heavily on sports like climbing, hiking and mountaineering for inspiration.
The pieces aren’t cheap, but they are unlike anything else out there, featuring an overarching techy, futuristic vibe that marries perfectly with other outdoors- and streetwear-inspired pieces.
Buy now at MR PORTER
New Balance
New Balance is a brand that should need no introduction at this point. A big name in the running scene for many decades, the Bostonian brand has been behind some of the best athletic and lifestyle shoes ever created and remains a firm favourite of both athletes and sneakerheads alike.
In recent years, New Balance has embraced the world of streetwear by appointing Aimé Leon Dore’s Teddy Santis as the creative director of its Made in USA line of sneakers. Check out models like the 990, the 991 and the 550 to get a feel for why NB is one of the most important sneaker brands in the streetwear scene.
Buy now at Farfetch
Huf
Huf is a well-established name in the streetwear scene, having been founded by pro skater Keith Hufnagel back in 2002. It was a skate shop to begin with, but as its reputation grew so did the demand for its in-house apparel, and in 2001, Huf swapped bricks-and-mortar retail for full-time footwear and clothing production.
It was one of the brands instrumental in popularising low-profile skate shoes and is well known for its not-so-subtle nods to weed and stoner culture.
Buy now at Huf
Elwood
Established in the mid-90s as a skate brand, Elwood Clothing has undergone a dynamic evolution since its inception. What began as a skate-focused endeavour has transformed into a passion for vintage apparel, a boundless source of inspiration for the label.
Elwood’s mission revolves around consistently creating authentic, vintage-inspired clothing that will endure the test of time. Drawing inspiration from their personal collection of vintage items, the brand diligently endeavours to recreate some of the most iconic fabrics, washes and silhouettes.
By infusing their garments with subtle modifications, Elwood crafts an assortment of distinct and unforgettable menswear, seamlessly blending nostalgia with innovation.
Buy now at Elwood
Supreme NYC
Ask anyone to name a streetwear brand and chances are one of the first names to roll off their tongue will be that of skateboard label Supreme. The transcendent New York brand’s unique approach to the supply-and-demand model revolutionised the scene by introducing “drops” as a means of releasing new products in highly limited numbers.
This created a sense of hype that sees fans routinely queuing up for days just to get their hands on anything bearing that iconic box logo – even if that does happen to be a brick or an ashtray.
Buy now at Farfetch
Palace
If there’s one brand that could be called the living embodiment of London’s gritty skate scene, Palace is surely it. In just 10 short years the UK label has gone from an underground imprint for skateboard decks and T-shirts to one of the most respected names in men’s fashion.
Head to their webstore on drop day and you’re likely to find five-panel caps juxtaposed against velvet smoking jackets and snakeskin loafers.
Buy now at FarFetch
Neighborhood
It was arguably the Americans that invented streetwear, but if anyone’s serious about it, it’s Japan. Neighborhood is one of Nippon’s proudest exports when it comes to dark, moody streetwear, and has been a frequent collaborator with heavyweights such as Adidas, Converse, Dr. Martens and even affordable watch brand Timex.
Buy now at MR PORTER
Pelota
Newcomer Pelota is making waves in the UK streetwear scene with its minimal, sports-inspired pieces. Designed to be worn ‘Aprés Sport’, it’s a distinctly British take on the new-wave preppy aesthetic that has rose to prominence off the back of Noah NY and Aime Leon Dore. Expect high quality fabrications, tasteful branding and an athletic yet comfortable fit.
Buy now at Pelota
Off-White
After cutting his teeth at Fendi alongside Kanye West, the late Off-White founder Virgil Abloh exploded onto the scene, quickly becoming one of fashion’s most prominent figures.
The legendary designer has since sadly departed us, but the label has maintained his ethos of poking fun at the industry with tongue-in-cheek branding and an ever-present sense of irony.
Buy now at FarFetch
Jordan
The basketball GOAT, Michael Jordan revolutionised sneaker culture (with a little help from Nike and legendary sneaker designer Tinker Hatfield) with the launch of his signature line of footwear. Since the beginning of the scene, the Jordan brand has been a cornerstone of streetwear, churning out some of the most iconic trainer silhouettes in history.
Buy now at Nike
Patta
Dutch brand Patta began life as so many streetwear brands do – as limited line of graphic T-shirts. The tees were originally sold out of a multi-brand boutique, but as demand grew for them Patta began to morph into a streetwear label in its own right. Now with a string of high-profile collaborations with everyone from Carhartt to Nike under its belt, the brand has cemented its name as one of the finest around.
Buy now at END.
Nike
There are a handful of brands that have earned respect in all corners of casual menswear. Oregonian sportswear behemoth Nike is one of them. From iconic sneakers to genre-bending sportswear, as well as knockout brand hookups with every major name on the scene – including the likes of Supreme and the late Virgil Abloh – Nike is one of the kings of streetwear.
Buy now at Nike
Carhartt WIP
For a long time, in the States, Carhartt was nothing more than a workwear brand, making high-quality overalls and apparel designed to take a beating. However, in Europe, the label took on another form. Here, you were more likely to see DJs and skaters wearing its goods than mechanics and carpenters. Carhartt’s response to its newfound fanbase came in the shape of Carhartt WIP (Work In Progress): a streetwear-orientated line that focused on ultra-cool designs, without sacrificing any of that trademark rugged quality.
Buy now at East Dane
Polar Skate Co.
Skate culture and streetwear have always gone hand in hand, to the point of often being indistinguishable. Polar Skate Co. is a solid example of this. A skatewear company at its core, the Swedish brand has found favour among the streetwear community too. Expect graphic tees, cool outerwear and, unlike a lot of streetwear, prices that won’t leave you with a hole in your pocket.
Buy now at END.
