As consumers, the dollars we spend everyday makes a huge impact on the businesses we see tomorrow. The protests against systemic racism and police brutality spurred by the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 led to many major brands and companies to invest more money into Black-owned businesses. This led major fashion retailers and brands such as Kith, Moda Operandi, Gap, and Matchesfashion to take the 15 Percent Pledge—an initiative which calls on major retailers to commit a minimum of 15% of their shelf to Black-owned businesses.
While these efforts are well and good, there are still a countless number of fashion brands that profit off of Black culture, but lack diversity in their offices or have failed to speak out on these issues head on. While the influence the Black community has on streetwear and fashion is undeniable, independent Black creators are still often overshadowed by others in the space.
Granted we have seen some notable strides forward. The late Virgil Abloh was appointed as the first Black creative director of Louis Vuitton Men’s in 2018. Brands like Abloh’s Off-White and Heron Preston’s eponymous label received investment from New Guards Group. Jerry Lorenzo’s Fear of God has been the face of the streetwear-meets-luxury fashion metamorphosis. Tremaine Emory now leads the creative direction for Supreme.
Although these are some of the names at the forefront, there’s a lack of Black ownership in streetwear. So it’s up to us as consumers to celebrate and be aware of the work of Black designers. And even if the 15 Percent Pledge is targeted towards large corporations, individual consumers also have the purchasing power to dedicate at least 15% of their own monthly budget to supporting Black-owned businesses. While the total number is not limited to what is listed here, we have decided to highlight 65 Black-owned fashion brands that you should know. Consumers could also familiarize themselves with resources such as Black Fashion Fair to find even more Black-owned brands to discover. Check out more details on our selects below.
10 Deep
Founded by Scott Sasso in 1995, 10.Deep is a pioneering New York City streetwear brand that influenced many of your favorite streetwear brands today. Sasso’s label is well-remembered as being one of the premier brands that lead the wave of streetwear during the Karmaloop era in the late-2000s and early-2010s. Never forget that 10 Deep hosted Kid Cudi’s debut mixtape A Kid Named Cudi in 2008. Although Sasso announced that he was moving on from 10 Deep to start a new label in 2022, we salute him for holding down one of streetwear’s greatest labels for over 25 years.
4Hunnid
Relaunched in 2017, YG’s clothing label is more than just a line of rapper merch. The assortment offers seasonal collections that showcase everything from cut and sew jackets to graphic T-shirts.
All Caps Studio
All Caps Studio is an emerging streetwear brand founded by Saeed Ferguson, who was formerly the creative director of the Ps and Qs boutique in Philadelphia. Check out our full profile on on Ferguson and All Caps Studio here.
Wata
Jasmine Plantin, a Haitian-American designer who formerly worked for Nike, started hand-dying shirts during the Covid lockdown in 2020. For Plantin, water is what bridges together her upbringing on Long Island and her Haitian roots. From that she developed Wata, which is known for its hand-dyed, long sleeve cotton T-shirts. Plantin’s brand was previously highlighted in ComplexLand’s Brands To Watch space.
Walker Wear
After being inspired by Dapper Dan’s atelier in Harlem, April Walker went on to open her own custom clothing store, Fashion in Effect, out of her house in Brooklyn in 1987. Following that she opened a clothing store that was also located in Brooklyn, and introduced her line, Walker Wear, in the ‘90s. Walker Wear was one of the first streetwear lines to have mass distribution in major retailers and it was worn by celebrities including Tupac, Biggie, and Aaliyah. The line is still active today.
Baby Phat
Kimora Lee Simmons started Baby Phat in 1999. It was the sister line to Phat Farm and one of the first women’s lines in the “urban” streetwear space. It helped open up a new market and made the urban streetwear category more aspirational with its extravagant runway shows and celebrity network. In 2004 Kellwood Company purchased Baby Phat and Phat Farm for $140 million. Simmons stayed on as creative director but in 2010 they pushed her out. In 2019 she reacquired the brand and relaunched it via a collaboration with Forever 21.
Billionaire Boys Club
Originally launched in 2003 alongside close friend and streetwear legend NIGO, Pharrell’s BBC ICECREAM helped define an entire era of streetwear with its bold prints and bright colors in the 2000s. Pharrell reclaimed full control of the brand in 2016 after buying out Iconix Brands Group Inc’s 50 percent stake.
Bephie’s Beauty Supply
Beth Gibbs, a wardrobe stylist, creative director, and Union co-owner, introduced her line Bephie in 2017. It later became Bephie’s Beauty Supply, a label that doesn’t just release T-shirts but also serves as a retail platform dedicated to brands by people of color and queer creatives. Bephie’s Beauty Supply recently landed a major collaboration with Jordan Brand in 2022, which included a pair of Air Jordan 7s. Bephie’s Beauty Supply was previously highlighted in ComplexLand’s Brands to Watch space.
Bianca Saunders
Bianca Saunders eponymous line investigates the nuances of black male masculinity through classic menswear pieces. She received her BA in fashion design from Kingston University and MA from the Royal College of Art. The British Fashion Council selected her line, which is sold on stockists including Matches and SSENSE, as One to Watch.
Bricks and Wood
Based in South Central, Los Angeles, Bricks and Wood was started by Kacey Lynch, whose pieces, specifically his signature beanies, have been worn by Tyler, the Creator and Anderson Paak. The line is informed by his upbringing in LA and Lynch aims to not only produce product, but give a platform to unheard voices. Lynch recently opened his own brick and mortar store in South Central LA and released a collaboration with New Balance.
Brownstone
The brainchild of twin brothers Warner and Waverly Watkins, Brownstone has been making waves within streetwear since launching in 2016.The brand has continued to expand its line of elevated essentials while releasing strong cut and sew offerings like custom-dyed shirt jackets and mohair hoodies.
Carlton Yaito
Queens native Carlton Yaito, who works with his partner Tulie Yaito, started out customizing denim. He customized a pair of jeans for jeweler Mr. Flawless and from there went on to make pieces for Kareem “Biggs” Burke and Aleali May. He’s since expanded to create stand out pieces including cropped jackets pieced together from different fabrics, faux fur coats, home items, and an oversized faux fur bag with Louis Vuitton insignias.
Carrots
Anwar Carrots launched his first brand, Peas & Carrots, after becoming deeply embedded in Fairfax’s booming streetwear scene during the 2000s. After that, he went on to launch his own brand Carrots in 2014. Nearly a decade later, Carrots has established itself as one of the West Coast’s best streetwear brands.
Cross Colours
Long before brands were saying Black Lives Matter, Cross Colours produced “clothes without prejudices.” Carl Jones started the line in 1989 just as hip-hop was establishing itself and then Thomas “TJ” Walker joined. Will Smith wearing the pieces on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air helped kick start the brand and it became omnipresent within hip-hop. Jones and Walker decided to shut the brand down, lost its trademark, but eventually got it back in 2014 and relaunched.
Come Back as a Flower
Esper founded Come Back as a Flower in 2018 and received some early co-signs from ASAP Rocky and Big Sean, who have both worn pieces the designer has tie-dyed. Named after the Stevie Wonder song, Come Back as a Flower is about sustainability and black spiritualism. Esper uses T-shirts made from recycled cotton he sources from Every World, a factory in Los Angeles, and hand dyes each one.
Free the Youth
Founded by Jonathan Coffie and Kelly Foli in 2013, Free The Youth is a rising streetwear brand from Ghana. The brand’s T-shirts have highlighted Ghanian musicians, local skate culture, and cities such as Accra and Tema. Free The Youth is also an non-governmental organization that aims to build shared workspaces for young creatives in Ghana.
Denim Tears
Supreme Creative Director Tremaine Emory originally made a name for himself with his Denim Tears label— a personal outlet for the creative outside of his No Vacancy Inn venture. The brand’s items, which include everything from Pan-African flag rings to Black Jesus trucker hats, promotes what Emory dubs as “positive Black propaganda.” Some of its most notable work to date have been its Levi’s collaborations featuring cotton wreath jeans inspired by the legacy of slavery in America. He has also collaborated with Uggs, Asics, and even luxury labels like Dior.
Diet Starts Monday
Co-founded by Davin Gentry in 2017, Diet Starts Monday was originally an experiment for himself and footwear designer John Geiger. It has been able to grow its fanbase with limited capsules through its online store and pop-ups activations around the world. It formerly operated a retail/restaurant concept space in Washington D.C.
Daily Paper
Based in Amsterdam, Daily Paper is a brand by Jefferson Osei, Abderrahmane Trabsini, and Hussein Suleiman. The line is heavily influenced by the backgrounds of the founders, who hail from Morocco, Ghana, and Somalia. What originally started as a streetwear blog has turned into a brand with formidable menswear and womenswear collections.
Who Decides War
Everard Best first started designing T-shirts and heavily embroidered jeans in 2016 under the name Ev Bravado. He’s since become known for Who Decides War, a ready-to-wear line that he produces with his wife Tela D’amore. WDW tells the story about the conflicts people face every day, the choices they make in response to those conflicts, and faith in God. What started as a label known for its anti-666 graphics has grown to become a fashion powerhouse producing one of the most anticipated presentations during every New York Fashion Week.
Fat Tiger
The quartet of Joe Freshgoods, Rello Jones, Vic Lloyd, and Des Owusu have operated this Chicago brand since 2013. A cornerstone of the city’s streetwear community, they run a popular brick-and-mortar location and each creator also works on their own respective releases and activation such as Joe’s Don’t Be Mad or Rello’s Vita Worldwide. The team has seen collaborations with the likes of New Balance, Adidas, and even McDonald’s between them.
Fear of God
Jerry Lorenzo’s Fear of God has helped push the luxury/streetwear relationship forward since launching in 2013. Defining an era with his baggy silhouettes and remixed vintage T-shirts, Lorenzo has continued to expand his independently-owned brand with the more accessible Essentials diffusion line and even a foray into suiting with Italy’s Ermenegildo Zegna. After releasing a number of hyped collaborations with Nike, Lorenzo moved over to Adidas in 2020 to develop Fear of God Athletics—an elevated line of basketball clothing and activewear. We are still awaiting the first official release from this collection.
FTP
Since launching Fuck The Population in 2010, Zac Clark has developed a loyal cult following with gritty streetwear that is provocative, but deeply authentic. Over a decade later, Clark has turned FTP into one of those streetwear brands that can sell out products mere seconds after they drop. As Clark said in his Complex profile: “My brand’s not going to die, FTP’s forever.”
FUBU
Daymond John, a Queens native and regular judge on ABC’s Shark Tank, founded FUBU, which stands for "For Us, By Us," in 1992 with his friends J. Alexander Martin, Keith Perrin, and Carlton Brown. At its peak, the brand was in over 5,000 stores, and in 1998 its yearly sales were more than $350 million. But after co-opting a Gap commercial via LL Cool J in 1999, outfitting pop acts like *NSYNC, and spending $5 million to make The Good Life, a compilation album under Universal—remember "Fatty Girl?"—the team decided to retreat from the U.S. market in 2003. It partnered with Century 21 in 2019 to bring the brand back to the U.S. market and it’s maintained Black ownership since its founding.
Gallery Dept.
Josué Thomas is the Los Angeles-based designer and contemporary artist behind Gallery Dept. The brand’s goal is to create quality products without sacrificing artistic integrity. It became largely recognized for its paint-splattered carpenter pants, which were co-signed by designers like Virgil Abloh. The brand has released notable collaborations with Lavin, Migos, and recently Vans. In 2021, Thomas announced that he would be withdrawing from the fashion industry. While the ambiguous message was interpreted by some to mean the end of Gallery Dept., the label is selling products today.
GOLF
Tyler, the Creator’s clothing brand needs little to no introduction. Tyler has been flexing his skills as a designer since launching his GOLF label in 2011. Following the footsteps of brands started by rappers like Pharrell’s BBC ICECREAM, GOLF has become widely recognized on its own accord.
The Good Company
Founded by Kumasi Sadiki and Quinn Arneson, The Good Company has been one of the leaders of the Lower East Side’s streetwear scene since 2012. The brand has been recognized locally for giving a platform to young New York City creatives. On a larger scale, it has also collaborated with brands like Girls Don’t Cry, Carhartt, Have a Good Time, and Reebok.
Ih Nom Uh Nit
From stars like Young Thug and Offset to the virtual streets of NBA 2K20, Ih Nom Uh Nit has continued to grow since its launch in 2015. Chaz Jordan’s brand mixes more lux items like a painted denim jacket or floral button-up with hoodies and T-shirts referencing pop culture. A hoodie with the face of Stranger Things’ Eleven is perhaps Ih Nom Uh Nit’s most notorious item to date.
Infinite Archives
Easy Otabor’s way to bring the past to the present has been through his clothing line Infinite Archives. Otabor collaborates with various artists to create special graphics inspired by yesteryear ranging from paintings of Michael Jordan to a sketch of a popular Seinfeld episode.
Just Don
Perhaps most known for his python-brimmed snapbacks and premium quality takes on mesh basketball shorts, Don C has slowly evolved Just Don into a full-fledged brand in recent years. The basketball inspiration has remained intact with items including satin warmup pants, bomber jackets, and an array of graphic T-shirts all taking cues from the designer’s love for sports.
Karl Kani
Carl Williams, better known as Karl Kani, moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 1989 and would eventually start his brand, originally named Karl Kani Infinity, in 1994. He connected with celebrities including Sean “Puffy” Combs, who was relatively unknown at the time, and Tupac to appear in his early ads. At its height, Karl Kani was sold in around 400 retailers, ranging from Macy’s to Foot Locker, and Kani still wholesales to a handful of stores including Urban Outfitters and Dr. Jays. A couple of years ago he partnered with Pretty Little Thing on a capsule collection.
Kristopher Kites
Kris Kites, a self-taught designer based in Chicago, is known for his playful collection of jewelry that places superhero figurines and toys in clear cubes attached to plastic Cuban-link chains. He collaborated with J. Balvin on a line of glow-in-the-dark jewelry at ComplexCon Long Beach in 2017.
The Marathon Clothing
The late Nipsey Hussle's clothing, Marathon, has not only been a beacon for his community in Crenshaw, but also a way for the masses to honor Nipsey’s legacy. Collaborators have included Puma and Jerry Lorenzo’s Essentials line.
Martine Rose
Martine Rose, a London-based designer, has been producing her eponymous label since 2007. She’s created a cult following with her distinctive sportswear pieces that are just a little off-kilter—a look she helped popularize while also working for Demna Gvasalia when he launched Balenciaga men’s and tapped Rose to help with design. She also designs Napa by Martine Rose, a collection with Italian brand Napapijri.
Patta
Amsterdam’s Patta is an icon in the streetwear space. Founded by Edson Sabajo and Guillaume Schmidt in 2004, the Danish brand has built a legacy with its coveted Nike Air Max collabs, apparel with everyone from Stussy to Umbro, and seasonal in-line offerings that span from soccer jerseys to puffer jackets.
Nicholas Daley
Nicholas Daley is a British designer who has explored his Scottish-Jamaican roots with his collections. After graduating from Central Saint Martins, Daley launched his label in 2015 and has won accolades such as the International Woolmark Prize London Semi-Final Award. In 2020, he was a part of a group of finalists who split the prestigious LVMH Prize.
NoName
Charlotte native James Gregory is the creative behind NoName, a brand known for unique tapestry hoodies and pants boasting graphics like colorful butterflies and angels all-over. Celebs like Lil Yachty and NBA point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are notable customers.
Off-White
When Virgil Abloh launched Off-White in 2012, he built one of the world’s most popular luxury streetwear labels still existing today. From highly-coveted Nike collabs to his signature graphic hoodies, Off-White has grown to be a luxury house of its own making that LVMH even has a majority stake in. Even though Abloh is no longer with us, his design ethos is still being carried by their current Art and Image Director Ib Kamara.
Olivier Rogers
A favorite in NBA tunnels around the league, Olivier Rogers might be most known for his logo hoodies and T-shirts. But the young French designer also dabbles in cut and sew with custom suiting and baggy cargos being a few examples.
Pyer Moss
Kerby Jean-Raymond is the Haitian-American designer behind the label Pyer Moss. After freelancing for designers like Marc Jacobs, Jean-Raymond launched Pyer Moss in 2013 and has become recognized for collections that are deeply inspired by his New York City upbringing and the Black experience. For example, Moss has collaborated with brands like Cross Colours, held shows in historic Black venues like the Kings Theater in Flatbush, and highlighted the Black Lives Matter movement in one of his earliest runway shows. In 2018, Pyer Moss won the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund prize, one of the most prestigious awards in fashion. The luxury conglomerate Kering even dedicated millions of dollars to fund Pyer Moss’ ‘Friend in New York’ a fashion incubator for emerging designers of color that included labels like Head of State, Theophilio, and AFRA. Although Pyer Moss hasn’t been active as of late due to some business troubles, it has made a significant impact on the fashion industry within recent years.
Ahluwalia Studio
Priya Ahluwalia, who is Indian and Nigerian, launched her men’s line in 2018 shortly after graduating from Westminster with an MA in menswear. Her line is built on sustainability and she makes pieces using deadstock and sustainable fabrics.
Saint Avenue
In 2016 LaStar Jackson II founded Saint Avenue, a streetwear brand based in Indiana that’s meant to inspire others.
Sheila Rashid
This Chicago designer calls Chance the Rapper and Zendaya customers. She is most known for her drop crotch overalls, which she has been designing in small batches since 2011, but also offers graphic T-shirts and bespoke jackets. A crowning achievement for any designer, Rashid released her own Air Jordan collaboration in February 2020 in celebration of Chicago playing host to NBA All-Star Weekend.
Places + Faces
This UK brand began as a Tumblr page in 2013 that acted as a way for Imran Ciesay and Solomon Boyede to display their collection of backstage hip-hop concert photos. An initial line of logo T-shirts and hoodies has grown into a full-fledged brand that's been worn by stars including ASAP Ferg to Playboi Carti. P+F even dropped an official collab with Guess in 2019.
Spencer Badu
Spencer Badu is a Toronto-based designer behind an eponymous label known for avant-garde and genderless garments. The brand has been cosigned by celebrities such as ASAP Rocky, Kendrick Lamar, and Young Thug.
Supervsn
Gavin “Mizzle” Mathieu is a product of South Central Los Angeles. He launched Supervsn in 2019 offering an assortment of essentials with a unique twist ranging from logo hoodies and T-shirts with the brand’s signature grid pattern to tie-dye cargo pants. Mizzle is the former creative director of YG’s 4Hunnid label. The brand has recently worked with the likes of Union and Microsoft. They also currently design a collaborative clothing line developed with Pacsun named “Studio.”
Telfar
The Liberian-American designer Telfar Clemens became a household name ever since he released his iconic leather tote bag that was dubbed the “Bushwick Birkin.” However, the Queens, New York native has been changing the game for years and won the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award in 2017. Clemens has built a unisex brand with eye-catching graphics, garments, and of course accessories, that feel accessible to anyone. That’s why we’ll likely be seeing everyone wear Telfar for years to come. Telfar has also released mega hyped collaborations with White Castle, Moose Knuckles, Eastpak. It has been seen on the likes of congresswomen like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and on Quinta Brunson’s award-winning sitcom Abbott Elementary. Telfar is truly for everyone.
Tier
Tier NYC is a Brooklyn-based streetwear brand founded by Nigeria Ealey, Esaïe Jean-Simon, and Victor James in 2015. The brand’s colorful windbreakers and plaid flannel tops have been seen on basketball players like Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul.
Union
Originally founded by Mary Ann-Fusco and James Jebbia in 1989, New York City’s Union is known as one of the first streetwear stores to ever exist. Today, it is based in Los Angeles and led by Chris Gibbs, who has kept the pioneering streetwear store’s legacy alive and has developed its in-house label.
Yeezy
After Ye, (formerly known as Kanye West) launched his Yeezy clothing line in 2015, it became one of the most well-recognized clothing labels ever designed by a rapper. Yeezy clothing was known for monochromatic, elevated, essentials and became a household name brand after it collaborated with Adidas to release a massively successful line of sneakers. Yeezy even had a short-lived collaboration with Gap that culminated into a high-profile team-up with Balenciaga. However, Ye’s Yeezy empire began to crumble in 2022 after he presented his ninth Yeezy collection in Paris. There, Ye wore and included a “White Lives Matter” shirt inside the collection that drew plenty of controversy. The unveiling of this incendiary garment was then followed up by a slew of anti-semitic remarks that led to Ye losing his Yeezy sneaker deal with Adidas shortly after he cut Yeezy’s ties with Gap. Despite the controversy he’s created, Yeezy still has a diehard fanbase. However, it’s unclear if Ye’s label will return anytime soon.
Barriers
Steven Barter has been running his streetwear brand Barriers since 2015. Since day one, his brand has been dedicated to highlighting some of history’s most important Black figures on T-shirts and hoodies. The brand’s clothes have featured graphics of political activists such as Marcus Garvey, Bobby Seale, Assata Shakur, Malcolm X, and more. Barriers seeks to teach its streetwear enthusiasts about Black history. The brand has held pop-ups in historic Harlem Brownstones and at St. Luke Penny Savings bank in New York, which was one of the first Black-owned banks in America. The brand has also properly given its flowers to graffiti pioneers like Edwin “Phade” Sacasa and Blake “KEO” Lethem for a pop-up in Atlanta as well. The brand has released official collaborations with Converse and 2Pac’s estate.
Head of State
Founded by Taofeek Abijako at the age of 17 in 2016, Head of State is a Brooklyn-based menswear label that’s heavily inspired by the designer’s Nigerian background. Abijako hails from Lagos and moved to Albany, New York when he was 11-years-old. Growing up watching his father work as a tailor in his homeland, he launched his own label as a teenager with no fashion school background. The brand’s name is derived from a song by Fela Kuti, a Nigerian activist and musician who dedicated his life to fighting social injustices and political corruption in Nigeria. Two years after launching Head of State, Abijako became recognized as one of the youngest designers to show a collection at Men’s New York Fashion Week. Abijako’s brand seeks to represent postcolonial youth culture today by paying homage to diverse and marginalized spaces while also critiquing the effects western imposition has had on it. The brand’s collections have been inspired by youth counterculture in post-civil war Nigeria, the afrofuturism of Sun Ra, and books by the late Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe.
Mowalola
Mowalola Ogunlesi is a British-Nigerian designer who runs her own eponymous line. A Central Saint Martins dropout, she spent three years working for Grace Wales Bonner before presenting her first menswear collection in 2017. Ogunlesi told SSENSE she left the revered fashion school because she felt the curriculum was a bit dated and was disappointed that the school’s faculty had barely any people of color teaching. Instead, Ogunlesi joined Fashion East, a nonprofit organization that supports young designers and gives them a platform to show at London Fashion Week. She went on to make her London Fashion Week debut in 2019. Ogunlesi’s clothes are defined by her love for glossy leather, gender-fluid garments, and her Nigerian background. Ogunlesi has also made inroads as an artist and presented her first exhibition Silent Madness at the Now Gallery in London. Her label has released collaborations with Bratz and New Balance.
Vale
Founded in 2014, Vale is an Black and Asian-owned streetwear brand that’s been co-signed by a number of stylish celebrities. Owned and operated by Brian Phuong, Jesse Fields, and Devon Byrd, the brand’s recognized for its unique knitwear and denim pieces. Their products have been seen on the likes of Aleali May, Eva Apio, Swae Lee, Coi Leray, Tyga, and more. The brand was even tapped by Kyrie Irving to design a Nike Kyrie 7 model.
Circulate
Circulate is a Black-owned, Los Angeles-based streetwear brand by Corey Populus. The Leimert Park native launched his brand in 2018 after working for Diamond Supply Co. for several years. One of the brand’s most notable collaborations was an activation with PacSun dubbed“Circulate Market,” which showcased Black-owned brands in Pacsun stores that included Carrots, Supervsn Studios, Reserved Essential, Bricks & Wood, and the music collective Blondie Beach Records.
Advisry
Advisry is a California-based label by Keith Herron. Founded in 2014, Advisry is known for bold graphic apparel and elevated cut and sew offerings that range from jackets to tapestry shorts. One of the brand’s earliest designs was a Krispy Kreme logo flip. Other T-shirts released by the label have referenced legendary figures from WWE wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin to Black Panther Huey P. Newton. The brand has also held memorable live runway presentations during New York Fashion Week in recent years.
Homage Year
After cutting his teeth within the industry as an intern at Yeezy, Antoine Manning has recently blown up with his label Homage Year. The brand is well-recognized for its trademark Ova bag, an egg-shaped handbag that has gone viral since its debut in 2021. Homage Year’s vegan leather bags have been spotted in television shows like Gossip Girl and are now found in department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue.
True to Us
Jourdan Ash founded her label True to Us in 2020 after she was asked to build out an Instagram page while competing for a job at a streetwear publication during her edit test. Although the position shuttered because of COVID-19, Ash turned that Instagram account into True to Us. The platform focuses on “centering Black and Brown womxn as the foundation of the streetwear and sneaker industry.” Aside from being a great Instagram account to follow, True to Us also produces merchandise inspired by the account’s ethos.
Corteiz
Corteiz RTW (Rules The World) is a British streetwear label founded by Clint 419. Since dropping his first collection in 2018, the British-Nigerian designer has amassed a cult following built off guerilla marketing tactics and surprise drops. Today, the brand’s logo of Alcatraz Island has been spotted on rappers like Central Cee, slowthai, Stormzy, Drake, and Dave. The late Virgil Abloh was even one of the brand’s biggest supporters. Corteiz’s most popular items include cargo pants and graphic T-shirts. In 2023, the brand revealed that it will release a collaboration with Nike centered on a pair of Air Max 95s.
Edas
Edas is a Brooklyn-based jewelry and accessories label by Sade Mims. Founded in 2013, Edas is known for its Yshaia leather bags, eclectic earrings, and crochet hats. The label has been worn by movie stars like Tessa Thompson and Laura Harrier.
Curves
If you’ve scrolled through Twitter these past couple years, you’ve likely seen Sean Brown’s CD rugs go viral on the timeline. Brown is the creative mind behind the label Curves, a brand that’s gained traction for its contemporary take on mirrors, furniture, and other home goods. Besides his rugs of iconic hip-hop albums, Brown is well known for his puddle coasters and Archway Chairs. The designer has also produced smaller home goods like bubble sleeves to protect hard drives, slim gas lighters, dry flower bouquets, and sculpted incense holders.
Darryl Brown and Midwest Kids
Darryl Brown is the designer behind his own eponymous label and Midwest Kids. Darryl Brown is a cut and sew line inspired by workwear and his father’s background. Whereas Midwest Kids is centered on classic sportswear, graphic T-shirts, and hoodies inspired by his mother’s style in the ‘80s. Brown, who was once a stylist for Kanye West, has independently built himself up to be one of the most exciting designers to come out of the midwest. Recently, he released major collaborations with both Adidas and Hollister.
Public Housing Skate Team
Public Housing Skate Team is a Bronx-based skateboard label founded by Victor Gomez and Ron Baker. The brand’s founders are both avid skaters who grew up inside the Gun Hill Housing Projects in the Bronx. What originally started as a skateboard team that filmed videos in the North Bronx has evolved into one of New York City’s most popular skateboard labels. The brand releases garments heavily inspired by New York City’s housing projects and has been co-signed by celebs like ASAP Rocky.
Crenshaw Skate Club
Crenshaw Skate Club is a skateboard label founded by Tobias McIntosh. Before heading off to study Economics at Stanford University, McIntosh had already garnered a cult following for the hometown skateboard label he started when he was just 14 years old. McIntosh originally launched Crenshaw Skate Club because he wanted to see more Black representation within Los Angeles’ skateboarding scene. Crenshaw Skate Club has since collaborated with brands like Lacoste and been stocked in stores like Supreme.
The Crate
The Crate is a Jamaica, Queens-based streetwear label founded by Terrill Kirk and Tyrell Oliver. In our ComplexLand Brands to Watch profile, the Crate said they seek to be the “new Russell Athletic or Champion” and specializes in making T-shirts, hoodies, and sweatsuits. The Crate has been worn by celebs like Issa Rae, J.Cole, and Jadakiss. It’s also stocked in department stores like Nordstrom and is one of the only clothing labels to ever collaborate with Stack Bundles’ estate.
