The Hottest Streetwear Collections of the Summer

DC brand DURKL went back to basics for a summer drop of jersey-inspired tees in hometown-appropriate colors like the Washington Redskins' burgundy and gold. They followed it up with a collection of awesome hats and printed socks, and they made it all right here. The whole "made in USA" thing usually gets more love from the menswear set than streetwear heads, but it's refreshing to see more domestic brands striving to get their stuff made in America.

Most notably taking inspiration from Polo's Cold Wave collection—more specifically, the "Snow Beach" parka that Raekwon made iconic, Raised by Wolves' spring/summer collection turned out some really thoughtful sportswear. Running the gamut from Maison Martin Margiela parodies that also play on the mark of the beast, black baseball jerseys, and patterned caps, there's also a T-shirt and snapback that pays homage to rap legend Big L.

Ronnie Fieg is the king of collaborations, and he pulled a LeBron when he decided to take his talents to Miami a few months ago. Playing on a tale of two cities, Miami and New York, Fieg's week-long pop-up brought even more heat to a city that's known for it. Teal and orange Miami Dolphins colorways were juxtaposed with the familiar blue and orange scheme the New York Knicks are known for. Collaborations with Just Don, Stampd, Herschel, Play Cloths, and other brands fleshed out two coordinating pairs of Asics Gel Lyte IIIs.

When 4/20 came around this year, The Hundreds lit up the Internet with this too-appropriate drop. Drawing on the graphic heritage of trippy band The Grateful Dead, the California brand had the opportunity to infuse their own sensibilities on the iconic Steal Your Face skull and dancing bear logos by Bob Thomas and Owsley Stanley. Tie-dye had already been having a moment in streetwear, but the coloring method has a natural place amongst Deadheads. The result was an (ahem) organic way of melding an of-the-moment trend with the notion of retro style and hippie culture. The vibes were good all around.

Stussy went back to basics with its 8 Ball collection, resurrecting a pool hall-inspired logo on a selection of long and short sleeved tees, hoodies, snapbacks, and a cool lighter. While pieces exclusive to Stussy chapter stores came in colors like red and purple, the classic black and white colorways really stood out from the pack, probably because they could easily be worn as a part of any street goth ensemble.

French label Brooklyn We Go Hard (BWGH) channels the vibe of a different kind of Canal Street—we're talking Venice. Dip-dyed cable knit sweaters and suede bombers with colorblocked sleeves bring fresh new clothes to the old world. The laid back button-downs, graphic tees, and trousers not only showed BWGH is capable of more than just chenille-embroidered sweatshirts, but that founder David Obadia has a distinct vision for the brand.

The New York City surf brand has always done a good job of balancing wavy staples like board shorts, T-shirts, and tank tops with pieces that look good off the beach. This season they've turned their attention to exploded prints like polka dots and wide block stripe short sleeve button downs. Chambray shorts pair well with cobalt blue hoodies, and as always, they've released some well-designed graphic tees emblazoned with creative ways to display everyone's favorite day of the week.

10.Deep has become known for their ability to use awesome all-over prints in numerous pieces of their collections while styling them in an understatedly cool way. Their spring/summer collection features patriotic stars, pineapples, and polka dots combined with colorblocked and paneled gear. American-flag polos have a patchwork feel similar to Ralph Lauren, while blue camouflage gives the tried-and-true print a fresh feel.

Erik Brunetti remains one of streetwear's most interesting figures with this thoughtful collection inspired by US/Mexico immigration tensions. Shooting the lookbook in Juarez, one of the world's most dangerous cities, channels the subversive, edgy vibe the streetwear world is known for and none of the corniness that plagues the current state of the industry. The fact that the collection relies on strong imagery riffing on cartoons like Wile E. Coyote, Road Runner, and Mighty Mouse gives a dose of levity to clothes inspired by an issue with serious gravitas.

Summer may not be the best time for dark colors, but Black Scale proves you don't have to sacrifice your street goth cred when the mercury nears the top of thermometer. Pops of color permeate the usually dark brand in their latest lookbook, neon green T-shirts and dip-dyed purple tank tops coexist with pale blue oxford shirts and black tanks with grayscale roses printed on them.

SOPHNET's spring/summer 2013 collection channels motorcyclists and surfers in its graphic tees, with a hint of skinhead culture in the black tipped polo. There are also some choice outerwear pieces like a navy and blue paneled windbreaker and awesome camouflage blazer. Fabric mix tees add some nuanced patterns to solid wardrobe staples, while footwear collaborations with Visvim and Generic Surplus provide kicks for guys on a budget and those who only live luxe.

Carhartt's Work In Progress (WIP) line has always catered more to streetwear heads than blue collar workers, and their summer Heritage collection melds both worlds perfectly. Bright yellow chore jackets with coordinating pants stand out next to re-interpreted work jackets with Nordic prints on the chest, channeling a vibe similar to designer Patrik Ervell. Meanwhile, Carhartt's signature brown duck canvas finds its way to more dressy silhouettes like cropped mac jackets and waistcoats, bringing a dressier vibe to the rugged material.

Rav Matharu hit the ground running. The Clothsurgeon capped off his first year with an amazing collection that took sports staples like hockey jerseys, football shirts, basketball jerseys, and baseball shirts to a luxurious new level. Known for his work with leather goods, Matharu avoids being a one-trick pony by dialing back on using the fabric in this collection—elevating these sporting goods with leather accents instead. The result is a cohesive collection that has us eagerly anticipating his next move.