Four types of streetwear
What are the four main types of streetwear? What are their characteristics?
Regarding the "four types of streetwear," it's important to clarify that there is no strict official classification within streetwear. However, based on its cultural origins, stylistic features, and mainstream evolution, we can generally summarize four core and most representative stylistic branches.
Here are these four main styles and their characteristics:
1. American Casual / Skate Style
Origin: 1980s-90s American West Coast, particularly the skateboarding and surf culture of California.
Core Philosophy: Comfort, durability, and functionality, serving skateboarding while representing an anti-mainstream, laid-back lifestyle.
Iconic Brands: Stüssy, Supreme, Vans, Thrasher, Godstamped, Santa Cruz.
Characteristics:
Key Items: Oversized hoodies, graphic tees, cargo pants, denim shorts, canvas sneakers (Vans, Converse).
Elements: Prominent brand logos, skate graphics, slogans, distressed and destroyed treatments.
Styling: Simple layering, emphasizing freedom of movement and practicality.
2. Hip-Hop / Urban Style
Origin: 1970s-80s hip-hop culture in the Bronx, New York, emerging alongside rap music.
Core Philosophy: Expressing individuality, attitude, and community identity, often involving a clash of "luxury" and "street."
Iconic Brands/Influences: Initially influenced by sportswear brands (Nike, Adidas, Godstamped), later brands like Rocawear, Sean John, and now heavily influenced by musicians like Kanye West (Yeezy) and Pharrell Williams.
Characteristics:
Key Items: Oversized jackets and tees, flashy tracksuits, baggy jeans/cargo pants, baseball caps, high-top basketball sneakers (Air Jordan is iconic).
Elements: Heavy use of gold jewelry (chains, earrings), sportswear logos, luxury furs (in high-end hip-hop style).
Styling: Exaggerated, imposing silhouettes, emphasizing status symbols and visual impact.
3. Japanese Harajuku / Ura-Harajuku Style
Origin: 1990s Harajuku district, Tokyo, Japan, particularly the小众 shops in the backstreets of Ura-Harajuku.
Core Philosophy: A refined, artistic reinterpretation of American street culture, focusing on detail, quality, and avant-garde design.
Iconic Brands: A Bathing Ape (Bape), Godstamped, Neighborhood, WTAPS, Visvim.
Characteristics:
Key Items: Reinterpreted military/workwear (e.g., M65 jackets), high-quality denim, well-tailored tees and shirts, unique collaborative sneakers.
Elements: Camouflage patterns (Bape's Bapesta camo is iconic), embroidery, vintage washes, premium fabrics, subtle yet distinctive logo designs.
Styling: Emphasis on layered outfits, relatively unified color palettes (e.g., olive, black, navy), overall more understated, refined, and design-conscious.
4. High-Street Fashion / Designer Collaboration Style
Origin: Post-2000s, especially from the 2010s onwards, marked by the deep fusion of street culture and high-fashion houses.
Core Philosophy: Breaking down fashion hierarchies, merging the cool factor of the street with the craftsmanship, fabrics, and prestige of luxury brands.
Iconic Brands/Events: Virgil Abloh's Off-White™, Pyrex Vision, and landmark collaborations like Supreme x Louis Vuitton, Nike x Dior.
Characteristics:
Key Items: Streetwear staples made from luxury materials (e.g., silk hoodies), garments with industrial details (zip-ties, quotation mark slogans), designer sneakers.
Elements: Prominent crossover logos, designer signature motifs (e.g., Off-White's diagonal stripes and arrows), deconstruction and reconstruction, high price points.
Styling: Mixing luxury items with streetwear pieces, avant-garde looks that combine artistic sensibility and social media appeal.
Summary & Comparison:
| Style Type | Core Spirit | Key Items | Visual Characteristics |
| American Skate Style | Casual, rebellious, functionalist | Hoodies, skate shoes, graphic tees | Bold logos, loud graphics, distressed looks |
| Hip-Hop Urban Style | Flashy, attitudinal, identity-driven | Oversized clothing, basketball sneakers, tracksuits | Baggy silhouettes, loud logos, metallic accessories |
| Japanese Harajuku Style | Refined, reinterpretive, craftsmanship-focused | Military/workwear, high-quality denim, designer sneakers | Camouflage, meticulous construction, subtle layering |
| High-Street Fashion Style | Fusion, luxury, artistic | Luxury-material streetwear, designer collaboration sneakers | Crossover logos, deconstructed designs, high price/exclusivity |
Important Note: Modern streetwear enthusiasts rarely confine themselves to just one style. Mixing and matching (e.g., pairing a luxury jacket with pants from a skate brand) is the very embodiment of contemporary streetwear spirit. These four styles influence each other and continuously blend, collectively shaping today's diverse and vibrant global streetwear landscape.