The Changing Landscape of Luxury Streetwear Sneaker Brands

Chic colors, aesthetic graphics and vibrant designs are synonymous with streetwear fashion. One of the fastest-growing fashion styles in the world, it is estimated to be worth $309 billion dollars. Streetwear is for anyone who enjoys bold looks and loud colors. 

From vibrant and edgy clothing to stylish sneakers, streetwear has redefined fashion, making it a symbol of luxury and individuality. These brands have transformed fashion into more than just an outfit – they’ve turned it into a statement, capturing not just Gen Z’s attention but the imagination of people from all age groups. According to Forbes Magazine, the impact of streetwear on the fashion industry is truly remarkable, accounting for a staggering $185 billion in sales. This impressive figure translates to about 10% of the total global sales in the fashion market. At the forefront of the industry are a few brands that have established themselves through their unique sense of identity that translates to the designs they develop, but what exactly makes them stand out from the rest? 

The Kingmakers of Streetwear

1. A Bathing Ape

A Japanese streetwear brand founded by Japanese designer Nigo is one of the most popular names in the streetwear world. Its roots go back to the 90s when camouflage patterns, loud colors, graphic prints, and shark hoodies were popular and are still in heavy demand today. Initially, Nigo used to produce only 50 t-shirts a week but he wanted to offer more designs. He worked his way up and then started to focus on only one flagship store in Tokyo where the brand got recognised making it a huge success. 

The brand collaborated with celebrities for a variety of different products such as Lil Wayne for their chunky BAPESTA sneakers and with Rapper Wiz Khalifa to launch a host of graphic t-shirts and hoodies. 

2. Supreme

Supreme, established in 1994 by James Jebbia, started its boutique in Manhattan and brought streetwear to the skating community. 

It is primarily a brand marketed to skaters, and its stores are designed keeping the community in mind. They only release two collections every year, which enhances the sense of exclusivity that comes with the brand. They’ve also been responsible for some of the most iconic collaborations like the Supreme x Louis Vuitton collection which included hoodies, T-shirts, sneakers, wallets, jackets, pants, coats, keychains and hats which was a huge success as the demand for the collection skyrocketed worldwide.

3. Off-white

Off-white, a Milan-based streetwear brand founded by American designer, the late Virgil Abloh, has marked its place in streetwear history with its iconic typography and bold graphics mixed with pop culture references. This is the brand that started the trend of merging streetwear with luxury.

Abloh initially launched Pyrex Vision, which was plagued with controversy due to its practice of reselling Ralph Lauren shirts for exorbitant prices. Soon, he rebranded and introduced “Off-White” with classic, original designs, introducing them in Paris Fashion Week and Workwear. Over the years they’ve collaborated with Nike, Levis, IKEA, Jimmy Choo and many more. 

4. Heron Preston 

Heron Preston started in 2012 with a more creative take on the conventional streetwear aesthetic and has carved its place in the luxury streetwear world. Heron has worked with many artists, designers and brands and explored various styles. He has also had some of the most unconventional collaborations you’d see in streetwear, like that of his partnership with the New York City Department of Sanitation. With this partnership, Heron Preston also made it known that as a brand, it focuses on sustainability as it launched its zero-waste clothing collection. 

Quirky cuts, oversized fits and minute details are some of the hallmarks of any design under Heron Preston. Its orange color branding catches the eye of any fashion enthusiast. Image Source: Pinterest[/caption]

5. Neighbourhood

Another Japanese brand, this time founded by Shinsuke Takizawa in 1994, found inspiration from biker culture and the American military. This brand is the perfect blend of aesthetic design, quality and craftsmanship. Neighbourhood got the recognition it has today by collaborating with brands like Adidas and Supreme. 

The Streetwear Ecosystem 

Streetwear brought a new form of creativity to the fashion world with designs that only these artists could come up with, by breaking the mold of what was considered luxury all this time. Eventually, not only did they garner the admiration of the pop culture community, but they also inspired luxury brands and artists around the world. 

Seeing the demand for such styles and designs resulted in many streetwear brands joining hands with luxury brands to come out with limited edition collections that captivated audiences of both genres of fashion. From t-shirts to sneakers, brands collaborated to bring the one-of-a-kind style which became a phenomenon among the buyers. 

As per a PWC report, 62% of consumers are more likely to buy sneakers as they feel that streetwear will never go out of style. While statistics may lie at times, with how long this trend has been going along it’s hard to refute. We were truly convinced when we looked at some of the larger collaborations, which showed how committed these brands are to the streetwear movement. 

Street Meets Luxury

1. Supreme x Louis Vuitton

As explained earlier, Supreme collaborated with one of the world’s foremost luxury brands, Louis Vuitton and introduced its range of apparel and accessories. Using Louis Vuitton logos coupled with Supreme branding the collection is a hit among streetwear lovers, especially their three-way collaboration with Nike to create this fantastic pair of sneakers that catches eyes anywhere it’s seen. 

2. Dior x Nike

One of the most awaited collaborations of all time was the Dior Air Force 1. The white and grey colorway sneaker with Air Dior branding created an immense amount of buzz as only 8,500 pairs of high-top and 4,700 low-cut versions were released. Though Nike leans more towards sportswear and athleisure wear than streetwear, the line between the two has blurred for this brand as hip-hop’s love for Nike has allowed it to blend seamlessly into the streetwear aesthetic.

3. Off White x Nike Air Force 1 “Pine Green” 

Virgil Abloh worked with Nike for this stunning pair of sneakers with a dark green colorway. The color scheme gives the perfect visual balance, with Abloh adding a personal touch by increasing the size of the midsole towards the back to give it a look similar to high-heeled shoes, and a visibly spiked sole towards the front, making this sneaker look like an elegant intersection between a football, basketball, and luxury shoe.

4. Nike x Supreme 

Another streetwear collaboration between Nike and Supreme led to this surprisingly minimalist design. The usually loud and bright red aesthetic that Supreme had been associated with is contrasted by this collaboration by introducing a minimalist, pure white sneaker with a Supreme logo towards the ankle, which gives the sneaker a very clean look, coupled with the red laces filled with supreme logos results in a very well done and balanced piece. 

5. The North Face x Gucci 

The North Face x Gucci is the collection to check out if you’re looking for a more unique and wintery take on streetwear. The North Face is a well-known brand, not for luxury or streetwear, but as an essential for mountain climbing and rugged activities. So this collaboration with Gucci showed the brand can add some charm to its clothing and shoes. 

These brands included some inspiring puffer jackets to classic white sneakers. Their items carry logos of both brands with some aesthetic color schemes. 

As streetwear continues to captivate the fashion industry, its influence shows no signs of waning. With its ability to constantly innovate and surprise, streetwear maintains its stronghold as a dynamic and influential force in the world of fashion, leaving a mark on style and trends for years to come.