25 Clothing Brands That Placed Their Stamp On Hip-Hop
While there have been a slew of dope clothing lines that have captivated the hip-hop audience, there are a few that have truly define the hip-hop aesthetic.
It's long been believed that there's a correlation between looking good and feeling good, hence there being no coincidence that wearing a new outfit for the first time is a special event of sorts for most people.
For fashion heads, stepping out into the world after popping a few tags is one of the most exhilarating feelings you'll ever feel, and the experience is as much about the process as it is the result.
From scouring clothing stores looking for that right piece to complete an outfit to laying it out on your bed to make sure the color coordination is an exact match, putting a great 'fit together is an achievement in its own right -- and separates the stylish and dapper from the shabby and tacky.
In the culture of hip-hop, getting fresh is all but a prerequisite to attaining popularity and admiration among your peers and the opposite sex. Staying "fresh" is key in any hip-hop situation and if your threads aren't up to par, it diminishes your "fly."
Some may take issue with flamboyance and materialism, but rap artists have been boasting about buying the most expensive brands since the earliest rap recordings. Having the latest fashions and being on trend has been an important part of urban culture and the power of branding is continuously wielded by an innumerable amount of companies, with their products becoming the uniform of the young and flashy.
Hip-Hop and clothing have always had a close relationship with each other, serving for countless trends and crazes in the culture and translating to millions of dollars for various high-end brands. It's a testament to the buying power of urban America. Corporate America took notice and introduced clothing lines catering to the tastes of rap fans while getting the most popular figures in the culture to sport them, thus giving the brand credibility. But the love affair between hip-hop and the fashion world truly blossoms when artists and moguls introduce their own clothing lines.
The business of rap fashion revolutionized how rappers branded themselves and ushered in a new era of product placement. While there have been a slew of dope clothing lines that have captivated the hip-hop audience, there are a few that have truly define the hip-hop aesthetic.
Here are 25 clothing lines that placed their stamp on hip-hop. Respect the fresh.
25 Clothing Brands That Placed Their Stamp On Hip-Hop
Polo
In terms of clothing brands that have captivated the hip-hop audience, Polo is king. Founded by Ralph Lauren (born Ralph Lifshitz), the brand was spawned in 1967 when Lauren's necktie store. With the help of clothing manufacturer Norman Hilton, Lauren started selling his own personal neckties of his own design under the name "Polo."
Later acquiring the rights to use the trademark Polo, Lauren expanded the brand in 1971, opening a boutique on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills and has dominated the fashion industry ever since. Due to its penchant for innovative logos and its aspirational aesthetic, Polo would become the go-to brand for urban youth in America, inspiring iconic crews like the Lo-Lifes out of Brooklyn, who made their name boosting coveted pieces of the wildly popular brand from retailers in New York City. Championed by legendary artists like Raekwon, rappers gave the brand an added level of street cred.
The iconc Snow Beach jacket is forever a part of history because of the Wu.
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Roc-A-Wear
The entrepreneurial spirit in hip-hop was in full-bloom by the late '90s. Rap moguls were beginning to diversify their portfolios with all kinds of business moves. Jay Z was among these artists to branch out from music, and he founded the clothing brand Rocawear with partner Damon Dash in 1999.
Mr. Carter debuted the line on the red carpet at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards, Hov would quickly make Rocawear a hot commodity among rap fans, grossing hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue, all the while establishing him as a reputable business man.
From tall-tees and denim jeans to parkas and bubble jackets, Rocawear catered to all ages and sizes, making it more than just a glorified side hustle, but a full-blown operation. But after Dame Dash and Jay Z parted ways, Hov sold the rights to the Rocawear brand to his stake in the company for
Gucci
High-end luxury brands have always been coveted by urban fashionistas and fly guys, but Gucci stands a head above the others as hip-hop's favorite. Founded by Guccio Gucci in Florence, Italy in 1921, the high end brand would first expand to Milan and Rome before planting its flag in New York City in 1953.
Soon, Gucci was being worn by high-profile entertainers and was viewed as a status symbol for the rich and famous. The iconic brand would flourish for years to come, save for a rough patch during the '80s -- due to internal conflict within the company.
After the Gucci family sold the company to Investcorp in 1988, they enjoyed a climb back to respectability after hiring fashion industry veterans Dawn Mello and Tom Ford, who would play an instrumental role in building Gucci into the titan that it is today. A staple for rap legends of yesteryear and the stars of today, hip-hop's love-affair with Gucci has been a lasting one and shows no sign of ending anytime soon.
LRG
One of the more unsung, yet beloved, clothing lines in hip-hop of the new millennium is Lifted Research Group, also known as LRG.
Founded in 1999 by Jose Bevacqua and Robert Wright in Orange County, California, the entrepreneur and tenured fashion designer would debut LRG in 1998 at the Action Sports Retailer Expo in San Diego, California. The success of the brand would foreshadowing the brand's rise to the top in the subsequent years.
Rising to prominence during the first-half of the aughts, LRG was embraced by hip-hop acts, including Kanye West, Black Thought, and Madlib, resulting in it becoming the unofficial go-to brand for alt-hip-hop enthusiasts and the socially conscious set. While the death of Jonas Bevacqua in 2011 may have put a damper on LRG's growth, the line remains one of the more notable brands of the past fifteen years despite the lack of eye-popping annual sales figures lately.
Akademiks
Designer Donwan Harrell may have made his bones creating dope concepts for brands like Nike, Donna Karan, and Joseph Abboud, but it wasn't until he stepped out on his own and launched his clothing line, Akademiks, that Harrell truly placed his imprint on urban fashion.
Debuting in 1999, Akademiks became an instant hit with hip-hop fans due to their street-savvy designs, as well as to align the brand with some of the biggest rap stars in the industry.
2001 would be a landmark year for Akademiks, with DMX wearing one of their outfits to the MTV Music Awards and Fabolous sporting garments from the brand on the cover of his debut album, solidifying its standing as one of the elite labels in urban fashion.
After reaching sales of over $110 million at its peak during the '00s, Akademiks would reach a crescendo before losing its place as a top seller among hip-hop fans.
FUBU
One of the most pivotal clothing lines in the history of hip-hop inspired fashions is FUBU. Started in 1992 by Daymond John, J. Alexander Martin, Keith Perrin, and Carlton Brown, FUBU (an acronym meaning "By Us, For Us) began as a line of hats made in Daymond John's home in Hollis, Queens.
The brand expanded to include t-shirts, jeans, rugby shirts and other apparel a few years later. FUBU would go on to unexpectedly blow up after LL Cool J wore one of their hats in a high-profile ad for Gap. The commercial pushed the brand into the spotlight, resulting in FUBU grossing $350 million in worldwide sales in 1998.
Holding the title for the most popular clothing line during the late '90s, FUBU started to lose its luster by the early aughts. The brand began to focus its efforts on strengthening their presence overseas -- in addition to acquiring other apparel brands. FUBU's more recent attempts to recapture the magic of their time as the hottest hip-hop clothing line in America haven’t panned out yet, but it remains an integral piece of hip-hop history.
Sean John
Sean "P. Diddy" Combs is known for his "Can't Stop, Won't Stop" mantra, which has served him well over the years when it comes to handling his business. After conquering the music industry with Bad Boy Records, the fly guy with Harlem roots turned his focus to the fashion industry by launching a clothing line called Sean John in 1998.
The brand, which debuted with a men's sportswear collection for the spring 1999 season, instantly became a hot item for those aspiring to the glitzy lifestyle that P. Diddy and Bad Boy embodied while also earning respect within the fashion community.
Sean John was awarded the CFDA Men's Designer of the Year award in 2004. SJ has raked in over $500 million dollars in annual revenue at its peak. Puff’s brand has done what other hip-hop inspired clothing lines haven’t done, and that's maintain its integrity as a fashion house rooted in urban culture while also being lauded by the fashion world's elite -- placing the brand in a class of its own
Tommy Hilfiger
If you were looking to add a little flavor to you arsenal of fresh outfits during the '90s, Tommy Hilfiger was definitely high on the list of brands you were checking for. Founded by Tommy Hilfiger in 1985, the brand aspired to modernize the Ivy-League, prep-school look -- and managed to accomplish that feat by the mid '90s, when Tommy was one of the more popular clothing lines among American youth.
The massive success would result in Hilfiger being named Menswear Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 1995. They also introduced women's clothing in 1996, with the late R&B singer Aaliyah serving as the spokesperson and face of the brand -- a testament to its stronghold on the pulse of pop culture.
Tommy Hilfiger has seen resurgence in recent years, racking 6.7 billion in global sales in 2014. Once championed by the likes of former Brand Nubian member Grand Puba and many other hip-hop luminaries, Hilfiger is undoubtedly one of the memorable clothing lines to come out during the '90s and remains an iconic name in fashion circles.
Nautica
While its run as one of the go-to brands for rap fans looking to bolster their preppy look was more short-lived than Tommy, Nautica is among the more notable brands to touch down during the golden era of east-coast hip-hop.
Founded in 1983 by clothing designer David Chu and a business partner as an American apparel brand under VF Corporation, Nautica is memorable for its influential Nautica Sport division, which produced rain jackets with vibrant colors and captivating logos.
Worn by some of the more trendy rap artists of its era, Nautica may have not have had the staying power or history of other brands on this list, but its impact was felt in a major way and once rivaled the likes of Polo and other must-have labels on the market.
BAPE
Hip-Hop's allure knows no borders with fans of the culture residing all over the world. But one of the countries to prominently embrace hip-hop is Japan, the homeland of A Bathing Ape founder and owner Nigo. He is a life long rap fan whose earliest influences include Beastie Boys and Run D.M.C.
Launching the brand in Hong Kong in 1993, Nigo’s A Bathing Ape would remain niche until the 2000s, when stars like Pharrell Williams embraced the brand. In fact, Skateboard P would find a kindred spirit in Nigo and tap him as co-designer of his brands Billionaires Boys Club and Ice Cream, which both began to brings its eye-popping pieces to music videos and photo shoots.
Clipse and Lil Wayne were just two names who also began rocking Bape non-stop, resulting in it become wildly popular among fashion-forward rap fans. This turned Nigo into a household name in the hip-hop community. In 2011, Bape would be sold to Hong Kong conglomerate I.T. Group -- with Nigo remaining on board as creative director. The future of the brand uncertain, yet promising due to its legacy within the street-wear and hip-hop communities.
Phat Farm
Russell Simmons has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to the direction of hip-hop. The co-founder of Def Jam Records helped mold the culture of hip-hop into a viable industry during the '80s, but spent the '90s pushing the boundaries of what hip-hop was viewed as with his first major expansion being a clothing line named Phat Farm.
Launched in 1992, the brand was birthed after Simmons partnered up with a Soho shop owner named Marc Bagutta. He thenhired two former graffiti artists turned inexperienced fashion designers. Raking in $2 million in sales during its first year of operation, Phat Farm was quickly picked up by specialty stores and boutiques across the country. It soon became one of the more popular clothing lines catered to the hip-hop crowd. While Phat Farm's success would be eclipsed in the face of steady competition, its standing as one of the influential brands to the hip-hop community is far from understated.
Cross Colours
In the early 90s, Hip-Hop was beginning to influence the fashion world with their own clothing lines which were cultivated to represent the aesthetic of urban culture from our own point of view. One of the earliest being Cross Colours.
Founded in 1990 by Carl Jones, the label promoted positivity and knowledge of self and included jeans, t-shirts, baseball caps. C.C. helped open the door for other African-American fashion designers like Karl Kani.
Cross Colours might have faded out quickly to become a rap fashion afterthought by the time the mid '90s came around, but it was rebooted in 2014 as a multistyle street-fashion brand.
The brand expanded its target demographic and nows caters to a broader, multicultural group and is available at retailers like Jimmy Jazz, DTLR, Zumiez, and Dr. Jays.
Chanel
Many clothing brands that have enthralled the hip-hop audience have catered to both men and women or exclusively men, but Chanel has been one of the most beloved clothing brands of the female sect.
Founded by Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel in 1909, the former mistress would become renowned for her luxurious clothes, jewelry, and hats, but would see her largest success after introducing the perfume, no. 5 de Chanel -- for retail sale in 1922.
Remaining a giant in the fashion industry despite turmoil between Coco Chanel and business partner Pierre Wertheimer, Chanel would experience resurgence after Karl Lagerfeld took over as chief designer of the brand. Under his watch, they incorporated new fabrics, as well as accessories to the brand.
Over the years, Chanel has been name-dropped by rap vanguards like Lil Kim and Foxy Brown, just to name a few -- and has become a prized possession for around the way girls looking to upgrade their chic.
Supreme
Many street-wear brands have come along only to disappear after a short-lived run, but Supreme has remained as consistent as they come while continuously expanding its reach. Founded in 1994 by James Jebbia, Supreme, which was also the namesake of the brands flagship skateboarding shop on Lafayette Street in downtown Manhattan, has grown from a mom-and-pop style operation to an industry titan.
The influence of the skateboard brand is evidenced by their frequent collaborations with some of the biggest names in the world. In 2016, Supreme is sone of the hottest clothing lines in hip-hop, with artists like Kanye West, Tyler, The Creator, Chris Brown, and Nas all sporting their.In an era where longevity is scarce, Supreme continues to hold the crowd as one of the most coveted brands in the game -- and looks to hold that title for years to come.
Pelle Pelle
The leather jacket has long been a staple of hip-hop fashion and while there are multiple brands that are specialists in manufacturing them, Pelle Pelle is the undisputed king in urban culture. The brand, which was founded in 1978 by Marc Buchanan, became popular for their array of color-options and immaculate designs, causing the jackets to be a must-have garment in any street-savvy fellas wardrobe.
Pelle Pelle would be firmly established as hip-hop's leather jacket brand of choice and has been worn by stars like 50 Cent, Usher, Ludacris, and many other entertainers, not to mention being name-dropped in an innumerable amount of rap lyrics over the years. Also known for being one of the first companies to embrace the baggy-jeans phenomenon, Pelle Pelle is one of the more recognized and respectable brands in hip-hop history. It’s still considered timeless by fans.
Wu-Wear
When the Wu-Tang Clan descended on the rap game with their 1993 debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), few people foresaw the impact the crew would have on hip-hop culture.
Aside from revolutionizing how artists are introduced to the public and pioneering the use of a rap group as an incubator for solo talent, The Wu also helped usher in the trend of rappers creating their own clothing lines to sell to the public.
Founded by Oli "Power" Grant, the brand was launched in 1995. The childhood friend of Wu-Tang opened Wu-Wear stores in New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Norfolk, Virginia, pulling in an estimated $10 million in 1998. While Wu members like Method Man, who admitted to not being fond of the commercialization of the Wu brand, were less than enthusiastic about the venture, Wu-Wear was a game-changer and paved the road for the avalanche of artist-inspired clothing lines that would infiltrate hip-hop over the subsequent years.
Stussy
In hip-hop, California may be known for gangbanging, good smoke, and palm trees, but to the majority of people, Cali is popular for its chill vibes and carefree style of living -- both of which Stussy embodies. Founded in the early '80s by Shawn Stussy, the line began as skate/surf brand with t-shirts, shorts, and hats that Stussy would sell out of his car around Laguna Beach before partnering with a friend and officially going into business.
By 1988, the Stussy brand boasted operations in New York City and had expanded to Europe, leading the company to report $20 million in revenue in 1992. In 1996, Shawn Stussy would resign as president of the company and sell his share of the company, but the line would continue to be one of the signature street-wear brands in fashion and continues to bridge the gaps between hip-hop and surf life.
Baby Phat
Around the same time that Russell Simmons launched his first clothing line, Phat Farm, the mogul also created an accompanying women's line in 1993 called Baby Phat. Although it didn’t equal the same success of its counterpart, Baby Phat rose in 1998 under her direction of Uncle Rush’s ex-wife Kimora Simmons.
Eventually, B.P. went on to trump Phat Farm in terms of revenue and ubiquity. It became one of hottest clothing lines for around the way girls during the aughts -- and produced hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue.
Popular for their form fitting jeans, coats, and assortment of accessories, Baby Phat became a staple within the hip-hop community -- and has yet to be surpassed by another female-friendly brand in terms of cache with urban consumers. Baby Phat has taken a bit of a hit in terms of visibility after Kimora Lee Simmons cut ties with the brand in 2010, but its stamp as a landmark clothing brand in hip-hop circles is indisputable and unchallenged.
PNB Nation
PNB Nation is one of the more unheralded streetwear brands to help pave the way for the plethora of t-shirt lines that are all the rage today, but to those in the know, props are definitely due.
Created by a crew of graffiti enthusiasts during the mid '80s, PNB Nation (which stands for "Post No Bills) truly hit its stride during the '90s, when the brands logo began to be sported by celebs in the entertainment biz.
Popular for the gritty aesthetic it embodied, not to mention its variation of fly logos, the most popular being the letters PNB underneath a crown, PNB Nation would flourish during the first half of the '90s before it began to lose its luster throughout the latter-half of the decade.
Karl Kani
Karl Kani may not ring many bells to the younger generation of hip-hop fans, but twenty-five years ago, the brand was making its bone as one of the clothing lines that would help change the way the fashion industry looked at hip-hop culture. Born Carl Williams in Brooklyn, New York, Karl Kani would move to Los Angeles in 1989 and open a shop on Crenshaw Boulevard, but wouldn't breakthrough until paying a friend to hold up a sign advertising the brand during a taping of The Today Show. The unconventional move gave his brand a boost and resulted in him quickly becoming one of the hottest designers in the urban landscape. However, Karl Kani would begin to see increased competition from rising brands looking to get a piece of the street-wear boom, eventually causing Karl Kani to lose its stronghold on the market in the late 90s.
The North Face
The East coast is notorious for its treacherous winters, and it's hard to imagine braving the cold without any apparel from The North Face at your disposal.
Originally a climbing equipment retail store in San Francisco, the brand was founded in 1968 by Douglas Tompkins and Susie Tompkins, its name birthed after a hiking trip on Minnesota's Eagle Mountain. Initially targeted at climbers, backpackers, and other outdoors-men, The North Face would begin to rise in popularity on the East coast for the effectiveness of the brands products in the face of harsh conditions, not to mention the fly designs of the various jackets, coats, windbreakers, and other apparel.
The North Face, like many other clothing lines, has been so popular that its resulted in people sporting the brand being robbed or assaulted for the gear, which is one of the detriments of its power as a status symbol. Nonetheless, The North Face remains one of the most trusted brands in hip-hop and has yet to lose its footing in the outerwear industry.
DKNY
Most rap fans may associate Donna Karan with soccer moms and glamorous housewives, but it may come as a surprise to some that the famed fashion designer had her imprint on hip-hop in a big way with DKNY.
After teaming up with Takihyo Corporation, Donna Karan New York would debut for fall of 1985 and cater to the modern woman, resulting in mass success for Karan and her being dubbed "The Queen Of Seventh Avenue." But it would be the launch of DKNY, her less expensive line for younger women who aspired to the Donna Karan aesthetic while remaining in tune with the Generation X.
Launched in 1988, DKNY would become wildly popular with urban fashionistas, leading to artists like Lil Kim and the Notorious B.I.G. famously referencing the brand in various rap songs. Spawning divisions like DKNY Jeans, DKNY Men, and DKNY Active, the urban-friendly arm of the Donna Karan brand may be an afterthought when listing clothing lines that define the hip-hop era, but those in the know would agree that DKNY holds a special place within the fabric of the world where hip-hop and fashion collide.
Mecca USA
Just when hip-hop fashion was going into full bloom, a new clothing line by the name of Mecca USA emerged and helped add to flurry of black designers putting their own spin on how clothes should be worn and made. Founded in 1994 by Tony Shellman, Lando Felix, and Evan Davis, Mecca USA quickly became respected as one of the dopest brands out, with rappers like The Notorious B.I.G. and other entertainers wearing the brand during it's peak in the mid-'90s.
While Shellman and company would sell the brand to International News in 1996 and create another pivotal clothing line in Enyce, Mecca USA would continue to be one of the strongest brands in hip-hop fashion throughout the '90s and remains memorable for playing a major part in bringing hip-hop fashion to the forefront.
