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Where Does Streetwear Come From and What Does it Mean?

By Aaron Crist on March 21, 2022
Where Does Streetwear Come From and What Does it Mean?

What is Streetwear?

We use the term “streetwear” a lot, but have you ever wondered what it means? How does one word seem to encompass such a diverse aesthetic? We’ll go into the history of streetwear and what it means.

What is streetwear

Streetwear design is a young, informal style of wearing inspired by California’s sneaker culture and skateboarders, as well as New York’s hipsters. It first appeared in the 1980s and has since evolved into recognizable clothing genres.

When it comes to streetwear, the two words that come to mind are fashionable and informal. You’ll not only look good, but you’ll feel really good. You might even feel seductive, but you won’t be restricted in any way. To some, that may be oversimplifying things; the style includes graffiti, hip-hop, skateboarding, and surfing subcultures. A few major players inspired what you know about streetwear today. 

Where does it come from and what it means

Skateboarding culture gave birth to streetwear. The 1980s were the first decade in which streetwear became a fashion trend. Shaun Stussy, a surfer from Laguna Beach, California, founded one of the most well-known streetwear labels from the trunk of his car in the early 1980s. By the 1990s, major fashion houses had caught wind of its popularity. The fashion of streetwear has progressed from the edges to the mainstream.

There were numerous brands to choose from. Many of the designs in this line were made by Japanese streetwear designers catering to Japanese pop culture, and they have had a huge influence on many of the designs. Streetwear became a fashion phenomenon in Europe and America in the late 1990s.

Since the 1980s, streetwear has gone a long way. The introduction of ‘Limited Edition’ streetwear labels provides uniqueness in all of the craziness that is street-level attire. Music industry celebrities and media personalities cooperate with major businesses to make streetwear more desirable.

Because streetwear is continuously changing, it’s tough to pin down this trend. Individuality is important to those who adopt this style, so categorizing it into a sector is challenging.

However, much like any other style, streetwear fashion has several key pieces of apparel that the entire look revolves around. These components can be used in a variety of ways to create your own unique aesthetic.



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