Sneakers and clothes go hand-in-hand. The sneaker boutique has always been a meeting ground for these two worlds, and it's the place where a lot of sneakerheads first explored their interest in how their complete kit looks.
A lot of boutiques carry a lengthy list of desirable brands from streetwear, menswear, and high-end labels. These shops, though, have also dabbled in creating their own clothes. They've launched their own in-house clothing brands that can be found at the shop, and, increasingly, other locations.
When we discuss sneaker boutiques having clothing lines, we're referring to stuff that's actually branded with the shop's name or designated as the boutique's label — not clothing lines that are ventures by those who own the stores (although those are great). Some of these lines are really good, too. To get a look at the ones you need to check out, here are 10 Sneaker Boutiques That Have Awesome Clothing Lines.
Location: New York
RISE is a newcomer not only to making clothing but also to being a sneaker boutique. Only having been open for a year, the Long Island, New York shop has taken on closet staples like slimmed-down sweats, the Omar pant, at a price that works for everyone: $45.
It's the details, though, that make RISE's clothing venture an easy sell. Sneakerheads love 3M, and the shop's clothing uses this motif to its advantage. There's not too much to expound upon about the sweats and tees, but it looks to be a precursor of more good things to come.
Location: Los Angeles
BAIT is doing a lot more than most people know about, and we’re not just referring to the West Coast boutique’s increasing number of collaborations. For those unaware, the shop has also started to carve out a space for itself on the apparel front with its own clothing line. The pieces might not be advanced yet, but they're solid and meant to build wardrobes around. Camo pants, button-up shirts, and varsity jackets look good on nearly everyone, and if you factor in a cozy pair of sweats, then BAIT's head-to-toe cipher is starting to appear complete.
Location: California
Paul Rodriguez's boutique/skate shop/clothing brand, Primitive, encompasses the lifestyle of a West Coast kid who's into skateboarding and dabbles in sneakers. As one would expect, the shop carries skate shoes (it did a collaboration with adidas earlier this year), but it also sells Air Maxes, New Balances, and more. To boot, the shop's clothing offerings are expansive. Graphic T-shirts, sweats, jogger pants, hoodies, and more can all be had from Primitive, and the shop's "P" logo has become well known in both the skate and sneaker communities.
If you're not quite ready to hop onto the menswear wave but want to look put together, then check for these Left Coast vibes.
Location: Canada
Canada is a cold and stylish place. While much of the country's hype lately has been placed on Drake and everything his associates do, Livestock has given everyone in the U.S. a reason to check for what's going on up North, too. We're not just talking about the shop's exclusives or restocks, it also has a private label clothing line, Illustrated Example, that's everything you'd expect from a Canadian boutique.
The pieces are made to keep you warm — there's plenty of fleece to go around — but there are also button-up shirts and chinos that fit well. It's also proof that the sneakerhead uniform isn't so uniform afterall. Of course, there are joggers, hoodies, and the like, but the shop also specializes in wool flannel shirts and bonded rain jackets. Because keeping yourself outfitted for the climate, while wearing sneakers, doesn't have to be so bad.
Location: Boston
Out of all the shops on this list, Bodega has one of the most abstract designs for its clothing collections with patches and panels mix and matched on the shop's pieces. Often, the pieces feature mixed materials, patterns, or prints, and the items range from baseball jerseys and sweatpants to outerwear and printed T-shirts.
Each collection by Bodega, however, continues to get better, and the shop has evolved from the cool store behind the Snapple machine to a worldwide name in both style and sneakers. What's cool about Bodega is that its clothing collection, aesthetically speaking, relates back to its sneaker collaborations. The same theme is delivered on both ends of the shop's business.
atmos
Location: Tokyo
Japan has a knack for making things cooler. For atmos, that's taking its sneaker collaborations and adding a wild but restrained flare to them. The shop's Air Max 1s will go down in history, but it also had a clothing line that ties together how far its progressed on the sneaker tip.
We champion the idea of "you need to be able to dress if you have fresh sneakers," and atmos' joggers, button-up shirts, and hats make it a little easier to not look like a bum with amazing footwear and a lackluster ensemble. If the basic nature of the shop's clothing collection is lulling you to sleep, peep game: they also make jeans that are joggers. They're not just denim with an elastic bottom, but legitimate jeans with a cuff. Call them jeagers, if you will, and they're just as left-field as the shop's design of the AM1 in 2003.
Location: Cambridge, Mass.
Cambridge, Mass.’s Concepts isn’t new to being a sneaker boutique — its doors have been open since 1996 — but this year saw the first time the shop put together a cohesive clothing collection. After collaborations with apparel brands such as Mitchell & Ness, The North Face, New Era, and Canada Goose, Concept’s in-house brand boasted Made in USA shirts and a take on the 1994 USA World Cup kits. For the colder weather, Concepts is layering up with chore jackets, denim and camp-print shirts, and cozy sweats.
Although still in its infancy, if Concepts can deliver the type of execution on its clothing that it has on its sneaker collaborations, and overall approach to being a lifestyle store, then the shop’s future is bright outside of footwear.
Location: New York City
Ronnie Fieg might be equally known for his sneaker collaborations as his shop Kith’s Mercer pants. While Kith has built a cult following around its cuffed bottoms, it’s also expanded into a complete clothing line - offering more and more pieces each season. For the foreseeable future, it’s hard to see the shop going away from slimmed-up pants and sweats, but its also becoming recognized for its sportswear-inspired designs as its higher-end collaborative garments with the likes of Japan’s Ones Stroke.
What Kith does well is it sells a complete look. It’s not random pieces strewn together and labeled a collection - it has packaged a lifestyle that starts from the feet up. But if you’re one of the kids who prefers Gel Lytes over Jordans, then this is the way to complement your footwear game.
Patta
Location: Amsterdam
Amsterdam is not only one of Europe's sneaker hubs, it’s also a place that takes its athletic-inspired clothing very serious. At the heart of this is Patta, the boutique that’s blessed us with Air Max collaborations, and, more recently, three solid projects with Diadora.
On the shop’s clothing front, we’ve seen collaborative soccer jerseys with Nike and varsity jackets in conjunction with Mitchell & Ness, but its private line is powerful, too. It’s exactly what would expect from a shop steeped in European sneaker culture: There are track pants, cuffed sweats, and tons of sweatshirts, vests, and other cozy items to complete your trainer-specific look. Don’t sleep on Patta’s in-line collaborations, either. Patta did a co-branded clothing collection with 24 Kilates earlier this year, and it has an upcoming line of tees releasing soon with sneaker legend Bobbito Garcia.
Location: Los Angeles
It’s crazy to see how much Undefeated has grown since its inception in 2002. It’s not only expanded its retail presence, opening stores across California and in Japan, but it’s also turned into a clothing brand that can be purchased at Urban Outfitters.
As the shop’s name suggests, Undefeated’s clothing has been inspired by the history of sportswear, both past and present. It’s also a shop that’s caught up in the L.A. street wear scene, too, and that plays off the brand’s selection of 5-panel, fitted, and bucket hats, tank tops, and other pieces that will get spotted around Undefeated’s Fairfax home. Throw a military influence in the mix, and it’s easy to see how this is one of the sneaker boutiques that has risen into the ranks of a streetwear king.
