Streetwear is characterized by its urban and edgy aesthetic, often incorporating elements of hip-hop and skate culture. It draws inspiration from sportswear, workwear, and loungewear, typically featuring unique color palettes, diverse textures, oversized silhouettes, and dynamic graphic designs.
Can you find a streetwear brand without an in-house graphic designer? We challenge you, as we believe there isn’t one. While a fashion designer may handle design aspects initially, as the streetwear brand grows, it becomes impossible to operate without a graphic designer. This is because streetwear has an unbreakable bond with graphic design, which is a key element of the industry’s visual identity. Indeed, graphic design led to the revolution of streetwear. Want to know how? Let’s find out through the international and local brands that successfully leveraged graphic design to achieve success.
STUSSY
Stussy started to gain popularity in the 1980s for its distinctive graphic designs, which were inspired by the surf and skate culture of Southern California. The founder of the brand, Shawn Stussy’s signature, paid homage to street and graffiti hardstyle, which is now the world-famous logo of Stussy.
The brand broke new ground by producing caps adorned with branding that catered to fashion and graphic design rather than exclusively catering to sports teams, which were the norm for caps at that time. Stussy drew inspiration from youngsters who would wear plain white painter’s caps; he creatively revamped them with his distinctive color combinations and graphic designs, which involved graffiti and street art.
Stussy’s styling through graphic design has revolutionized the streetwear industry by not sticking to the current trends of fashion but rather starting their own trends through experimenting with expressive and personal art styles, which then helped the industry expand its visual identity.
OFF-WHITE
Founded by Virgil Abloh in 2012, Off-White has gained a reputation for incorporating bold graphics and striking typography in its clothing and accessories. The brand’s graphic design language often features the use of diagonal lines, arrows, spray paint, and a signature striped pattern. Off-White’s graphic design direction is strongly rooted in Abloh’s background as an architect and artist.
Off-White’s designs are meant to convey a sense of disruption and subversion of the traditional fashion industry. Abloh’s work often challenges the status quo; its bold and loud yet somehow minimalist approach to graphic design serves as a symbol for his goal of blurring the lines between streetwear and high fashion. As a result, Off-White has become a highly sought-after brand, revolutionizing the streetwear industry through symbolic designs.
A BATHING APE
A Bathing Ape, or BAPE, is a Japanese streetwear brand founded by Nigo (Tomoaki Nagao). The brand name and logo are homages to Nigo’s favorite film, Planet of the Apes. Through the use of graphic design, BAPE’s logo is constantly being designed in new and creative ways, often incorporating different color schemes, patterns, and collaborations with other brands and artists. This has helped to keep the brand fresh and relevant in the ever-changing streetwear landscape while also maintaining its signature style and identity.
BAPE clothing is loud, brash, and colorful. The brand is responsible for some of the most iconic pieces in streetwear history, like the full-zip shark hoodies, camo-printed tops and bottoms, and shirts with the iconic BAPE logo. These unique blends of different graphic design elements have helped make BAPE’s clothing instantly recognizable and highly sought-after by fashion-conscious consumers around the world.
STREETWEAR IN THE PHILIPPINES
In the Philippines, we have proudly witnessed a diverse array of streetwear brands that have successfully crafted their visual identities through graphic design, showcasing the rich talent and creativity of Filipino designers. These brands draw inspiration from various sources, such as traditional Filipino art, urban street culture, and current fashion trends.
Here are some local streetwear brands that have contributed significantly to the growth and recognition of the Philippine streetwear scene:
ANTIBIOTIC SMILE
Jethro Olba, a designer and illustrator based in Las Pinas City, Philippines, runs the clothing brand Antibiotic Smile. The brand’s designs feature vibrant colors and original illustrations of various characters that portray smiling and happy faces.
With a focus on nostalgia, Antibiotic Smile pays tribute to pop culture of the 1980s and early 2000s. Drawing inspiration from vintage cartoons, comic books, and classic television shows, the brand’s visual identity is rooted in these iconic cultural touchstones. Olba’s unique illustrations bring his distinct artistic style to the forefront, making his illustrative and graphic design skills an asset to the brand.
CHARLOTTE FOLK
Through her talent and craft, Jan Charlotte Venzon, founder of Charlotte Folk, made the brand a pioneering local streetwear brand in the Philippines. Charlotte Folk is characterized by its use of classic typography and simple yet striking designs, incorporating elements of nature like illustrations of trees, flowers, and mountains.
In addition to her focus on nature-inspired designs, Jan Charlotte Venzon is also known for her skillful use of graphic design techniques. She often incorporates clean lines, bold colors, and carefully curated typography into her designs, creating a strong visual impact that resonates with the market. The result is a unique aesthetic that blends elements of contemporary streetwear design. These designs involve intricate patterns, geometric shapes, and innovative layouts that further showcase a fusion of fashion design and graphic design. The brand’s ability to seamlessly merge different design elements has garnered attention and admiration within the local streetwear community.
CLOUDS CREATE LOUD
Clouds Create Loud’s designs often incorporate striking color combinations, intricate patterns, and surreal imagery, creating a unique and attention-grabbing visual style. The brand heavily relies on graphic design to upgrade plain t-shirts and shorts, making them more stylish, creative, and colorful.
Clouds Create Loud also makes use of current graphic design trends like patchwork and monograms. By doing so, the brand is able to maintain a relevant and timely visual appeal, which is crucial in today’s fast-paced market. Additionally, as a local brand, Clouds Create Loud plays a key role in supporting and fostering the growth of the local streetwear industry. By offering unique designs that align with current trends, the brand is able to contribute to the local fashion community while also reaching a wider audience.
CONCLUSION
In the Philippines, we have proudly witnessed a thriving streetwear industry where each brand exhibits its own unique style and design techniques, serving as a testament to the creativity, talent, and passion of Filipino designers. While international streetwear brands exhibit as many strengths and recognitions, the edge of local streetwear is its ability to authentically represent its culture, support local designers, and create a more meaningful connection, all through the use of fashion and graphic design representation.
In conclusion, graphic design is continuously playing a pivotal role in revolutionizing the streetwear industry. As the industry continues to evolve, graphic design will undoubtedly remain a key driver of the industry’s growth and success. By keeping up with current design trends and experimenting with new techniques, streetwear brands can continue to push the boundaries of design and create exciting new fashion items with endless possibilities for innovation and growth.
