Streetwear has become so prevalent over the years; yet after all this time, no one knows what streetwear actually is. Ask people in the industry what streetwear is and you won't get the same answer twice. Streetwear is typically described with various combinations of the following words: skateboarding, hip hop, art, Nigo, sneakers, subculture, urban, and Japan (plus a few verbs and adjectives). skateboarding tips end result is usually a broad definition that seems to describe five different styles of clothing. I blame the widespread confusion of what streetwear is on its misleading name. The term seems deceptively simple; combine the word "street" with the word "wear." So it's the clothing of the streets right? The problem is a person's image of "the streets" differs greatly from person to person.
To understand what streetwear really is, we have to go back to a time before streetwear became a worldwide skateboarding tips It really wasn't that long ago, but people have already forgotten what it was like. Oh it was a bleak time; a young person's clothing choices comprised mainly of the mall favorites like Macy's, Abercrombie, and Old Navy. Most clothing available was bland and unremarkable. My friends and I had to drive halfway around the world (back when gas was cheap) just to find rare new brands such as "LRG" and "Akademiks." But then Nike started to come out with colorways no one had ever seen before (like "green"). Brands with weird names started coming out of nowhere, like "Stussy" and "Bape." People were amazed with the clothing and shoes coming out in designs and materials that they've never even imagined. Back then, all these pioneering streetwear brands would sell like crack.
Fast forward to 2009 and it's obvious why some cynical uber cool people would think that "streetwear is dead." No longer can someone produce a multicolored all-over-print hoodie and make millions upon millions of dollars. However, by no means does this indicate that streetwear is dead. The reason most people fail to accurately define streetwear is because they try to define it as a style of clothing. However, STREETWEAR IS NOT A STYLE OR GENRE OF CLOTHING. Contrary to what many believe, streetwear is not simply some trendy branch of urban clothing.
Quite frankly, streetwear is a new industry that was born because of the new superefficient clothing factories, which allowed designers to produce high quality unique clothing in limited quantities and with quick production time. Streetwear is what gives unknown talented artists and designers the ability to produce their own clothing. It allows every subculture to produce clothing that is true to their lifestyle. Streetwear provides the fastest method of distribution for fashion, making the latest trends available quickly. Streetwear will not die because it's not just a new style or fad; it's the newest method of production and distribution of fashion that facilitates variety, creativity, and freedom of ideas. Although many streetwear brands seem to share similar influences, it is not a certain style that makes something "streetwear." Streetwear brands are typically characterized as smaller independent companies, with relatively limited production numbers. LRG used to be a small streetwear brand; they still stick to a distinctive style, but it's arguable if a big company that sells in thousands of malls across America can still be considered streetwear. Clearly, the lines that define streetwear are still blurry and continuously changing. No one knows how the streetwear industry will evolve, but it is here to stay.
Felix Cheung is a DJ and founder of http://www.asseenfit.com His company has been a long supporter of independent streetwear and urban clothing.
No comments:
Post a Comment