Image via Complex Original
Streetwear can get boring after a while. When you're already up on the hottest collections of the season and in dire need of some freshness, it can be discouraging trying to find new brands. Even if you're boys with all the shop guys at your local boutique, there's only so much new shit arriving in stores each week. Which is why the Internet has been changing the game and encouraging young brands and designers not only to put more thought into their gear, but how to sell it.
Peddling wares primarily online means you don't have to deal with middlemen like stores and buyers, and you can even save the customer some cash because there's no retail markup. It's great for new start-up brands, and better for the people who discover them early—because once they blow up, chances are the prices will too. Get a headstart on the next big thing by looking at these 10 Online Streetwear Brands Worth Checking Out Right Now.
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Garnering influences from soccer culture and current graphic tendencies, First Twelve makes some really cool tees we wouldn't mind having in our closets. Admittedly, the selection right now is pretty slim, but we hope to see more releases down the line.
Prodound's accessories offer up bucket hats and five-panels adorned with patterns like all-over bird prints. Their tees and sweatshirts play on Americana and camo, with a bear mascot that's slightly reminiscent of Kanye West's own "Dropout Bear."
London's Trapstar may have opened up its first retail store, but they remain independent with robust online offerings. In addition to baseball jerseys, caps, and plenty of tees and knits, they recently dropped a collaboration with 40 Oz. NYC giving the English city its own Balmain-inspired ballcap.
Love the street goth look but can't afford high fashion prices? Consider the knits and tees from Gold Line Fashion. Side zips on hoodies and T-shirts give these menswear staples a modern touch, while leather accents add a luxe feel.
Exit Left Apparel excels at strong branding and easy-wearing staples like dark hoodies and oxford cloth buttondowns. Yes, there's a Supreme parody in there, but it works because it pokes fun at the very notion of Supreme parodies—very meta.
Despite people being up in arms about their recent collab with PacSun, there's still plenty of awesome stuff to be had on Been Trill's webshop. You won't find it roaming around streetwear stores, your best bet on getting your grubby hands on blurry "100" emoji tees and Hood By Air collaborations is the online store.
It's surprising that Miami-based Stray Rats hasn't blown up yet. The graphic tendencies are awesome, drawing from references like Shirley Temple while making often-mined fare like Scarface seem fresh. Lately the "Madge" shirt and shorts set proves the brand can still put out dope stuff—and it tends to sell out fairly quickly.
Believe the Hype. The UK brand may be clearly channeling vibrant prints, but it does it in a way that works. Placing its white logo over a trippy blue and yellow shirt is almost like playing "Where's Waldo?" Bright floral prints are balanced out with black colorblocking on T-shirts, while five-panel caps and tank tops get a summer-friendly tie-dye treatment.
When it comes to consistently strong collections and more Cam'ron gear than you can shake a box of Laffy Taffy at, Dertbag is that brand. Its crudely-scrawled logo is awesome in its own right, but how can you argue with a brand that clearly fucks with Dipset? Dertbag's recent "I Could Get It In Da Drought" T-shirt is also pretty amazing.
After dropping the hottest streetwear line of 2013, we're expecting nothing but good things from designer Rav Matharu and his young brand, Clothsurgeon. The label's only been around a year or so, but we can see it blowing up in a matter of months. What sets his webshop apart is that he also can do fully bespoke orders—yes, it costs a pretty penny, but the talented designer can literally make all your clothing dreams come true.
