The Evolution of Streetwear: From Skate Culture to High Fashion

Have you ever wondered where the term "streetwear" came from? The term is now synonymous with the high fashion industry, but how did it come about? In this article, we will not only explore the history of streetwear: where did it start as a movement inspired by skateboarding culture, but also how it developed into a subculture independent of, but in homage to, the skateboarding community, and how high fashion brands The likes of Gucci and Louis Vuitton copied the look (and made millions).

Skate culture is about freedom of expression and embracing alternative lifestyles, so it makes sense that clothing associated with this subculture would have its own distinct aesthetic. Streetwear labels like Supreme, Palace, and Stussy were created to fill a niche in the market for sleek, skater-friendly apparel - and they're now some of the most popular names on their respective runways.

Skate culture is a subculture centered around skateboarding. It's associated with indie, underground, and DIY culture. So what does this mean for your wardrobe? You can expect to find clothes designed in collaboration with skaters and featuring the logos of their favorite brands. If you're wondering what the difference is between streetwear and skatewear, we've got you covered:

Skatewear is more about graphics than technical features like waterproofing or breathability.

Streetwear tends to be more fashionable than utilitarian (as in skate culture).

Skate culture is a movement that started in the 60s and it's all about freedom of expression and embracing alternative lifestyles.

Skateboarding culture originated in California, USA, when kids started riding skateboards on the slopes of Venice Beach. Skateboarders would don t-shirts and shorts when boarding planes to show off their love of surfing – eventually becoming known as surfers on wheels.

The term "streetwear" was first used when they released a line of skate shoes called "Off The Wall". Before you knew it, companies like Element, Blind, Nike SB, and Birdhouse became popular skate brands and released graphic tees, oversized tees, and jeans.

Today, skate brands dominate the fashion world with names like Supreme  (New York label) and Palace (London label). Each of these skate brands was created out of necessity to fill a gap in the market for stylish, skater-friendly apparel.

As you might have guessed, skateboarding culture is all about freedom of expression and embracing alternative lifestyles. But before streetwear and skateboarding became synonymous with high fashion brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton, it was inspired by something far less refined: skateboards.

The skateboarding community originated in California in the 1960s as a countercultural activity influenced by other subcultures such as surfing, punk rock music, and later hip-hop. Although skateboarding is not considered a traditional sport, skaters need practical clothing and skate shoes that can withstand the wear and tear when grinding on concrete obstacles - the result is a so-called "skate suit" ( Or simply "skate style") a new breed of "streetwear").

By the late 1990s, streetwear had grown from its humble beginnings to a global phenomenon - uniting skaters around the world through a shared passion for fashion trends in skate apparel, skate shoes, and overall skate style.

When skatewear took off, streetwear expanded into its own subculture, separate from but paying homage to skateboarding culture.

When streetwear became popular in the early 2000s, it expanded into its own subculture, separate from but paying tribute to skateboarding culture.

You've probably heard the term "streetwear" before, and you probably know exactly what it means. But to fully understand how streetwear evolved into what it is today, we need to step back a bit.

So in the early 2000s, the skate culture was still having a big influence on the design aesthetic of streetwear. You’ll see this in brands like Supreme or Palace Skateboards - they all strive to make clothing that’s functional as well as cool. Skateboarders need clothes that can stand up to their lifestyle, so these brands use hard-wearing materials like denim and leather to create their apparel. Because fashion is part of the culture, they also make sure the pieces look great!

Known as "high and low" dressing, the fusion of streetwear and high fashion has become a global phenomenon. This trend was spearheaded by brands like Supreme and BAPE, which sold only through skate shops in the early 2000s. Today, however, you can find the brands on the shelves of luxury department stores such as Selfridges and Saks Fifth Avenue. Gucci's collaboration with Takashi Murakami (one of Japan's most famous artists) is another example of how streetwear has spread from its origins in skate culture to high fashion - it's even called "Gucciing."

This fusion of high fashion and streetwear is known as dressing high and low, or wearing expensive clothing with a casual vibe.

The high-low mix is the last frontier in streetwear, and it's been around for decades. It's just a way of showing that you can afford expensive clothes and still want to keep your feet on the ground - a trend that has many different iterations.

High fashion tends to be more expensive than streetwear, which is why pairing them together can create an interesting visual tension that catches the eye. The key to successfully dressing high and low is knowing where your budget should go for each category: for example, if you have £100 worth of jeans and £100 worth of T-shirts in your wardrobe, it won’t make those items look completely Different (unless it's antique) makes sense. If anything, this blending should be done in moderation: mixing too many elements from both worlds can end up looking too busy or chaotic.

Looking at the evolution of streetwear, it's easy to see how it evolved from what started as a skate culture movement to a global fashion phenomenon. If you are looking for a streetwear manufacturer to help you start your streetwear brand, welcome to contact us.

RAINBOWTOUCHES is a professional custom streetwear manufacturer. The company was established in 2013. It mainly produces and sells casual men's and women's wear, fashion brands, and sportswear. It has the brand characteristics of casual, avant-garde, comfortable and fashionable. We take "customer first, quality as culture" as our business principle. We have always attached great importance to every customer, and regard producing and designing exquisite products as our basic purpose and core purpose.