Here we go.
No matter who we chose for this list, someone, somewhere is going to be salty that their favorite brand wasn't picked. But as we look at the complicated history that streetwear has had—especially as it continues to evolve and change its relationship with other aspects of the fashion industry at large—we wanted to isolate the biggest, best, and most impactful labels to streetwear's current state (whatever that is).
With new labels cropping up literally every day, you'll find some obvious classics (and few surprises) among the names on this list. But as streetwear becomes even harder to define, we wanted to give shine to those who established the industry, added a unique flavor, and turned it into the influential juggernaut that it is today—all coming from within these 50 states. Take a deep breath, these are the 10 Best American Streetwear Brands Right Now.
10. Undefeated
L.A.'s true streetwear OGs, there's little to say about Undefeated that hasn't been said already. While Eddie Cruz's brainchild has produced season after season of streetwear staples for well over a decade, the line predates several of the labels on this list by years—innovating a mentality that focused on the streetwear basics and has risen to include collaborations with adidas, Bape, Nike, Neighborhood, Patta, Supreme, and several other of the industry's biggest and brightest. You can't even argue that the brand doesn't adapt, keeping in mind the label's recently launched “Technical Goods” collection. Putting L.A. streetwear on the map, even if you don't anything from Undefeated's storied catalog, you need to bow down to the power of the “five strikes.”
9. Billionaire Boys Club
Starting in 2005, Billionaire Boys Club benefited from the popularity of Pharrell and Nigo's Bape—bringing the flavor of the Japanese brand to the shores of America. A skate team and a variety of offshoot lines, and BBC has been in business for over a decade. As one of the most iconic brands of the mid-to-late 2000's in terms of hip-hop style, it's a brand that's been flexible over the years. As the brightly graphic style it pioneered faded from popularity, it has transformed and reworked itself into a brand that's created an upscale offering via Bee Line, covetedmonochromatic Timbs, and key collaborations that have benefited fromPharrell's pop culture resurgence and the brand's history. Is it the biggest brand on this list? Not necessarily. But we know that, even today, you can recognize the brand's “Moonman” when you see him.
8. Born x Raised
If you've ever wanted to dress like you're from the mean streets of Compton in the '90s, this is your brand. Paying homage to L.A. both past and present, Born x Raised utilizes OG "olde English" typefaces to critique gentrifying L.A., while recognizing it's gritty past—earning more credibility when you realize the brand was first conceived while co-founder Spanto was incarcerated. Gaining buzz early buzz after support from Prodigy, and Evidence of Dilated Peoples, the brand has grown to reach the wardrobes of names like Kendrick Lamar, and can be found L.A. menswear shop Union LA. As the name implies, it's a brand that's just about paying homage to the place where you're born and raised—warts and all. Making fire tees, well, that's just an added bonus.
7. Anti Social Social Club
An air of mystery surrounds a number of the brands on this list, but few can match the enigmatic nature of Anti Social Social Club. A home for dad caps as much as graphic T-shirts, Stussy affiliate Neek Lurk's brand is probably the closest thing to seeing a cool teen's Tumblr feed to come to life as an apparel line. The brand's website is a bizarrely abstract (yet intriguing) with most products having unrelated titles and nearly no information about what the product is. Some examples include the “What Do You Mean” and the “Never Gonna Give You Up” coaches jackets.
Of course, like anything with an insane amount of hype, each piece sells out almost immediately, and every single item on the brand's site is currently sold out—yes, this includes the $20,000 2012 Toyota Prius. Worn on the backs (and heads) of rappers like Travis Scott, you can bet this mysterious brand isn't going anywhere.
6. Brain Dead
Kyle Ng's lowkey skate-inspired label is one of streetwear's best new brands. A spot on the shelves at Union Los Angeles, and stints at NYC's Nepenthes and Kinfolk in the past year have helped to increase the label's notoriety among skaters and streetwear fans alike. Known for it's post-punk, almost “hand-screened” graphic appearance, the label examines culture at-large with a perspective that's reminiscent of Raf Simons and Supreme—while still remaining uniquely dark and humorous. While “skatewear” brands are becoming the more and more common, thanks in large part to the popularity of brands like Dime, Palace, and Supreme; Brain Dead stands out as a label that's inspired by the culture, without devoting itself wholly to skateboarding.
5. Bianca Chandôn
4. Stampd
Stampd is a brand that may have been considered simply “streetwear,” but now, it's hard to isolate it to just that category. As one of the forerunners of the monochromatic streetwear aesthetic, the brand is host to a variety of popular pieces, including its sellout “Strapped Bomber,” biker-style jeans, and longline, baseball-like tailed shirting. It's one of the faces of the L.A. fashion boom that's hosted names like John Elliott, and with a recent shoutout as one of GQ's “Best New Menswear Designers in America” (and the accompanying Gap collaboration collection) Chris Stamp's darker aesthetic is receiving the nationwide attention it deserves. With a rapidly evolving luxury-meets-streetwear style, it wouldn't be shocking to see the brand stretch well beyond its humble L.A. roots in the coming seasons.
3. Kith
Ronnie Fieg has been cautious with how he's built Kith. Focusing on collaborations tying in then-under-utilized brands like Asics and New Balance, he's crafted a retail empire that's extended beyond (but remained loyal) the sneaker-centric crowds of Kith's earliest adopters. With his revamped SoHo location nearing its first birthday, a brand new Brooklyn shopfront, and a Los Angeles shopfront opening at the top of 2015, Fieg and company are “all systems go” when it comes to expanding the Kith name. He's even brought the brand direct to a global audience vis-a-vis his "Sakura Project" in Japan. Selling coveted labels like Helmut Lang, Off-White, and Norse Projects in his stores,collaborating with the New York Yankees (yes, those Yankees), and running his own Kith-branded line…well, Kith is a lot more than just a few friends and a few pairs of “Mercer” jogger pants.
2. Stussy
While Supreme has taken the mantle as the biggest and most notorious American streetwear brand, it wouldn't have anything without theinnovation and foresight of Shawn Stussy. As '90s contemporaries likeMossimo came and went, Stussy stayed the course, with the brand's earlier days focusing on keeping tight control on product—utilizing a retail mentality that's akin to Supreme's current model. As the brand grew slowly over the decades, it became arguably the definition of what a streetwear brand can become—while still maintaining its roots. Now with smartly positioned collaborations with shops like Très Bien andDover Street Market, the once cult streetwear brand has broadened its appeal to some of high fashion's biggest retailers. Stussy's been hadstreetwear, well before it was ever an industry. Don't expect that to change any time soon.
1. Supreme
While Supreme has taken the mantle as the biggest and most notorious American streetwear brand, it wouldn't have anything without theinnovation and foresight of Shawn Stussy. As '90s contemporaries likeMossimo came and went, Stussy stayed the course, with the brand's earlier days focusing on keeping tight control on product—utilizing a retail mentality that's akin to Supreme's current model. As the brand grew slowly over the decades, it became arguably the definition of what a streetwear brand can become—while still maintaining its roots. Now with smartly positioned collaborations with shops like Très Bien andDover Street Market, the once cult streetwear brand has broadened its appeal to some of high fashion's biggest retailers. Stussy's been hadstreetwear, well before it was ever an industry. Don't expect that to change any time soon.
