Fashion in my opinion is one of the purest forms of self-expression. Before even meeting someone just by looking at what a person is wearing, you could get a glimpse into that person’s life. Their favorite color, what they stand for/against, what music they listen to, what they enjoy doing in their free time, or even get a glimpse into a piece of a story that is meaningful to the individual. Clothing can make you feel big, when you’re small. Clothing can reflect your current mood and most importantly empower you to be the best form of yourself.
When I first discovered streetwear, it was something special. It was organic; it was a product from niche communities: Skateboarding, surfing, underground music, etc. You bought the clothes because you were a part of the community and respected the culture. It created a sense a belonging and before social media it was a way to recognize another “one of us”. However somewhere along the way the culture began to shift. The product became more than the culture itself. Instead of asking what does this piece mean? We asked how much is it worth? Who designed it? Who wore it? Brand logos became more important than the brand story. Streetwear became overtaken by hype, algorithms, scarcity, and status signaling rather than genuine self-expression, art, and community.
Today you can scan social media and see it flooded by a number of new brands with new designs every single day. Yet for me, it all feels so empty. A new logo, a new graphic, a new collaboration, a “viral” drop, another piece of clothing signaling who we could become if we bought it. Streetwear didn’t die; I think it just lost its soul.
What would happen if we attempt to put the meaning back into clothing? A reason for existing. The world doesn’t need another streetwear brand or another shirt with a cool design. We don’t need to buy clothes to tell us who we should become. We should want to wear something because it represents something already in us: a memory, a belief, your community. A reminder of who we are, what we’ve lived through, or how we want to live.
Maybe the future of streetwear isn’t about creating more things for people to want. Maybe it’s about creating fewer things that mean more.
If this moved you