The term ‘streetwear‘ is one that, at one time, could have been clearly defined as ‘an unflattering style of dress consisting of graphic T-shirts, baggy cuts and sneakers.’ Now, it is now a great deal trickier to pin down.

That’s because streetwear in recent years has made its way off, well, the streets, and onto the runway. Haute couture and urban fashion are now largely indistinguishable from one another, leaving people’s idea of what a streetwear brand actually is in disarray.

In actuality, streetwear now just has a broader definition. It covers the hip-hop-leaning old-school, the fashion-forward new-school, and everything that falls in between. So, to help set the record straight, here’s a rundown of the best streetwear brands on the planet right now and why they’re worth your attention.

The Best Streetwear Brands

Supreme

Releasing new items in highly limited weekly drops isn’t the most conventional way to introduce consumers to seasonal collections. Still, when you’ve got queues forming around the block with people who are prepared to sleep on the street just to be in with a chance of copping a brick with your brand’s name on it, well, you must be doing something right.

New York’s Supreme is one of the OG streetwear brands and one that revolutionized the scene by throwing the traditional supply and demand model out of the window. It’s a move that has seen the skate brand ascend to become one of the most revered names in fashion today, with collaborations with the likes of Rolex and Louis Vuitton.

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Stüssy

If Shawn Stussy hadn’t surfed his way into the T-shirt business back in 1980, today’s fashion landscape would be a very different place. After creating a buzz with its graphic tees, Stüssy the brand branched out into surf and skate apparel, becoming the first real streetwear label, laying a foundation for those to come.