Research into Streetwear brands

What is Stussy?

Stüssy is a streetwear brand founded in the early 1980s by Shawn Stüssy, a surfboard shaper from California. The brand began with a line of surfboards featuring a signature hand-drawn logo created by Stüssy himself, which soon became popular among surfers and skaters in the area. Stüssy then began printing the logo on t-shirts, which became highly sought-after among the youth culture of the time.

Stüssy is known for its bold graphics, loose-fitting silhouettes, and references to surf and skate culture. The brand has collaborated with a variety of other streetwear and fashion labels, including Nike, Comme des Garçons, and Dover Street Market. Stüssy has also expanded its offerings to include accessories, outerwear, and more, while maintaining its signature laid-back, California-inspired aesthetic.

What is Supreme?

Supreme is a streetwear brand founded in 1994 by James Jebbia in New York City. The brand began as a skateboarding shop in downtown Manhattan, but quickly gained a cult following due to its unique blend of skate culture, hip-hop, and high fashion influences. Supreme is known for its bold graphics, limited-edition releases, and collaborations with a wide variety of brands and artists.

Supreme has become one of the most sought-after and influential streetwear brands in the world, with a devoted fanbase and numerous celebrity endorsements. The brand has collaborated with high fashion labels such as Louis Vuitton, as well as with popular brands like Nike, The North Face, and Levi's. Supreme has also expanded its offerings to include accessories, footwear, and home goods, but remains true to its roots in skate culture and downtown New York City.

What is Palace?

Palace is a London-based streetwear brand founded in 2009 by Lev Tanju. The brand has gained a reputation for its irreverent approach to fashion, playful graphics, and collaborations with other brands and artists.

Palace has become known for its distinctive logo, which features a triangular design with the brand's name in bold lettering. The brand has collaborated with a wide variety of other labels, including Adidas, Reebok, and Ralph Lauren. Palace is also known for its limited-edition drops, which often sell out within minutes of being released.

Palace has been embraced by the skateboarding community and has expanded its offerings to include outerwear, accessories, and footwear, while remaining true to its roots in skate culture and streetwear. The brand has opened flagship stores in London, New York, and Tokyo, and continues to attract a loyal fanbase around the world.

What is BAPE (A Bathing Ape)?

Bape, short for "A Bathing Ape," is a Japanese streetwear brand founded in 1993 by Nigo. The brand is known for its bold graphics, camouflage patterns, and collaborations with other brands and artists.

Bape's distinctive style has been influenced by Japanese pop culture, hip-hop, and military aesthetics. The brand's logo features a cartoonish ape, and many of its designs incorporate bright colours, unique patterns, and playful graphics.

Bape has collaborated with a wide variety of other brands, including Adidas, Coca-Cola, and Marvel Comics. The brand has also expanded its offerings to include accessories, footwear, and home goods. Bape has gained a global following and has flagship stores in major cities around the world, including Tokyo, New York, and London.

What is Comme Des Garcsons?

CDG is short for Comme des Garçons, a Japanese fashion label founded by designer ReiKawakubo in 1969. Comme des Garçons is known for its avant-garde designs and unique approach to fashion.

Comme des Garçons has a reputation for breaking traditional fashion norms and experimenting with unconventional shapes, fabrics, and colours. The label is known for its minimalist aesthetic, often featuring asymmetrical designs, oversized silhouettes, and unusual textures.

In addition to its main fashion line, Comme des Garçons has several sub-labels, including CDG Play, which features the brand's iconic heart logo, and CDG Shirt, which focuses on more casual, wearable clothing.

Comme des Garçons has gained a global following and has flagship stores in major cities around the world, including Tokyo, Paris, and New York. The brand has collaborated with a wide variety of other labels and artists, including Nike, Supreme, and Converse.

What is Nike?

Nike is an American multinational corporation that designs, develops, and sells athletic footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessories. The company was founded in 1964 by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight and is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon.

Nike is one of the world's largest suppliers of athletic shoes and apparel, and its products are sold in over 190 countries. The company's iconic "swoosh" logo is recognised globally, and Nike has been a sponsor of numerous high-profile athletes and teams.

Nike is known for its innovative product designs and marketing campaigns. The company has introduced a wide variety of groundbreaking athletic shoes, including the Air Max and Air Jordan lines, and has partnered with major fashion designers to create high-fashion athletic wear.

In addition to its products, Nike is also involved in various social and environmental initiatives, such as reducing waste and improving working conditions in its factories.

What is Off-White?

Off-White is a luxury fashion label founded in 2012 by Virgil Abloh, an American fashion designer and entrepreneur. The brand is known for its signature stripes and diagonal lines, as well as its bold graphic designs and use of industrial elements such as safety stripes and warning labels.

Off-White has gained a following for its distinctive streetwear aesthetic and high-end collaborations with brands such as Nike, Converse, and IKEA. The brand has also been recognized for its innovative approach to fashion, often incorporating elements of architecture, art, and music into its designs.

Virgil Abloh, the founder and creative director of Off-White, is also the artistic director of Louis Vuitton's menswear line, making him one of the most influential figures in contemporary fashion.

What is Vetements?

Vetements is a luxury fashion brand founded in 2014 by Georgian designer Demna Gvasalia and his brother Guram Gvasalia. The brand gained popularity for its oversized and deconstructed designs, as well as its collaborations with various brands such as Reebok and Levi's.

Vetements is known for its subversive approach to fashion, often incorporating references to popular culture and everyday life into its designs. The brand has also been recognised for its diverse casting, featuring models of all ages, genders, and body types in its runway shows.

Under the creative direction of Demna Gvasalia, Vetements quickly became one of the most influential brands in contemporary fashion. Gvasalia also served as the creative director of Balenciaga from 2015 to 2020, during which time he brought a similar subversive aesthetic to the storied fashion house.