Streetwear brands all over the world appeal to countless different niches within the subculture. A certified brand will not try to cater to everyone’s needs. The Hundreds knows their audience well just like Supreme and Stüssy know their own. A well-run streetwear label embraces their differences and what sets them apart from their competition.
Timeless labels stick around for various reasons. First, they respect those who came before them. Anyone who is new to something must learn from or simply appreciate the greatness of the top of that specific field. Also, streetwear labels achieve a sense of longevity once they have a clear purpose and focused audience/target customers. Nobody can build something substantial without a clear sense of direction. Lastly, brands who make it in the long run never stay complacent. The best of the best are always looking towards what’s next and what’s to follow. Greatness takes no days off.
Honor the Gift
One of the most popular recent streetwear brands, Honor the Gift has made a name for itself since coming onto the scene in 2017. Founded by NBA star Russell Westbrook, the label is heavily influenced by Los Angeles street culture and the inner city. Westbrook has created his own path to separate his style from others.
By using his personal style to form his own streetwear brand, the California native is already well ahead of the game. Westbrook has been able to translate his personal knowledge about the fashion world and transform a new brand into a force to be reckon with.
Honor the Gift continues to put out quality pieces that are high quality yet still affordable compared to many other streetwear brands. Some brands only appeal to a select few, but Honor the Gift knows its audience well enough to cater to numerous streetwear enthusiasts.
Kith
A New York classic label is sure to have heavy influence on the streetwear world. Anyone who keeps up with streetwear knows how influential Ronnie Fieg’s touch has been over the past decade. He started the label to bring streetwear and high-end fashion together in an effortless manner. With tons of collaborations already in the books, Kith will continue to look to work with powerhouses like Adidas, Nike, Mitchell & Ness, Levi’s, Columbia, Coca-Cola, and Tommy Hilfiger.
Kith’s collabs instantly set themselves apart from other streetwear labels. Streetwear brands are abundant in the twenty-first century; labels who separate from the pack often make it much longer than those who look to follow the status quo. By working with extremely credible brands, Fieg has been able to boost Kith’s credibility in return. A trustworthy brand like Coca-Cola wouldn’t work with a streetwear company if the said brand could potentially harm the beverage giant’s social image.
Undefeated
California and streetwear go hand in hand. Undefeated was founded in Los Angeles in 2002. Since then, the label has made a remarkable name for themselves in the streetwear world. Countless enthusiasts can appreciate the craftsmanship and quality of clothing produced by Undefeated. Many streetwear brands look to put out clothing at a fast pace which often sees the quality of the garments suffer. The California-based streetwear brand prides itself on releasing quality clothing that will last for years to come.
The collaborations at Undefeated have been worthwhile and eye-catching since the brand’s inception in the early 2000s. Sneakers with Nike, Jordan Brand, Puma, Adidas, and Reebok all headline some of Undefeated’s most notable collabs. Again, proof of a trustworthy brand can be found by looking at the labels they have worked with in the past. A solid collaboration record with global organizations often indicates the longevity and well-regarded reputation of a particular streetwear brand.
Streetwear Brands Leaving a Lasting Impact
Many streetwear brands find themselves all over the place. The power of one of well-known streetwear brands like Honor the Gift, Kith, and Undefeated comes from having a strong identity and never changing key values and ideals for anyone or any company.
The products do not solely represent a particular streetwear label. Quality is all around when you know the right places to look. What separates brands from one another is an unbreakable identity, a clear purpose, and distinct target audiences/customers. Without these three key concepts, a clothing brand is heading down an unexpected path.
Nobody or no organization can prepare for everything that will happen in the future. However, many can still have ideas of what they want to do and create executable plans to focus on what they control directly. Streetwear is forever evolving. A powerful streetwear brand must be adaptable and open to every type of change imaginable.