Try These Global Streetwear Brands to Look Way More Euro Chic
Over the past few years, streetwear has fully been welcomed into the world of high fashion with open (and slogan adorned) arms, after designers such as Demna Gvasalia, Gosha Rubchinskiy and Virgil Abloh led the way.
Amazingly, many of us would now pay just as much for a statement hoodie or pair of sneakers as the next girl would for some Louboutins or a going-out dress. We’d rather hit the clubs in an oversized hoodie and thigh highs or a high-end tracksuit and heels.
If you’re unconvinced, just check out Karrueche or Jhené Aiko in MISBHV or Halsey in Christian Wijnants. The reasons for our love of sportswear may range from a mere “it’s comfy” to feeling major TLC vibes, but either way, it doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.
US-based brands like Nike and Adidas, while super cute, are everywhere these days. We’ve highlighted some international streetwear brands, from affordable to wishful thinking, that won’t have you looking like every girl at the party.
£: You Can Cop
££: Treat Yo’ Self
£££: Ask For a Raise First
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1. WASTED PARIS, France £
You wouldn’t be blamed for thinking Wasted is just another brand smacking gothic font slogans onto sweatshirts a la Yeezy, but it’s actually a very reasonably priced high fashion streetwear brand. It’s essentially a Parisian skate store selling boarding paraphernalia and Thrasher garms and magazines, but for those of us who can’t even Ollie – there are other options.
Instead, there’s the ‘permanent collection’ responsible for slogans such as ‘Teenage Apocalypse,’ ‘Burning Youth’ and ‘Enjoy The Silence’ accompanied by snapshots of Winona Ryder, Kurt Cobain and (obviously) Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction.
A sweet lemon shade makes up most of the current collection, whether it’s trimming a black body-con dress, printed over grey camo, or a plush velvet tracksuit. Dreamy. Then there’s a ton of graphic tees and hoodies mostly featuring cars on fire (giving us Frank Ocean feels).
International shipping is 18 EURO.
2. ILLUSTRATED PEOPLE, London East £
Championed by the coolest of girls around London, Shoreditch-based womenswear brand Illustrated People is Instagram-ready 24/7. The brand has spun out some serious ‘It’ pieces over the past couple of years, for example some silky tomato red ‘octopus trousers,’ single-handedly igniting a comeback for early Noughties, TLC inspired cargo pants.
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IP staples are cute prints, sweaters, and of course – slogan tees, which are printed by hand from their super cute studio (read: fluffy lampshades, palm plants and tons of G&T’s). The current season draws references from everyone’s fave cult movies and features cactus prints, 2003-esque baby pink track-pants, bandeaus, and turtlenecks emblazoned with ‘Romeo.’
Shipping to US is 15 GBP, if you want some inspiration before you buy just check out the brand’s tagged photos or the hashtag #ipgirls to see a bunch of cute girls spotted around London!
3. THAMES LONDON, London Soho ££
Obviously, you’ve heard of the London skate brand Palace? Thames London is created by Palace top-boy Blondey McCoy, so it’s like the brand’s little brother in a way. Blondey’s designs are almost always inspired by London. This season sees an embroidered print of the Statue of Eros which sits atop Shaftesbury Avenue Memorial Fountain.
Then, as a major George Michael fan, he’s recreated Katherine Hamnett’s ‘Choose Life’ for WHAM!’s video for ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go Go.’ This particular t-shirt donates its whole profit to KAYANY – a charity for Syrians amongst conflict.
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Our faves are the collage designs scanned from Blondey’s artwork and printed onto hoodies and tees. Namely one that reads ‘How To Get More Girls.’
Thames ships to the US for 20 GBP.
4. PALM ANGELS, Milan £££
Predominantly a menswear brand, Palm Angels’ tracksuits in juicy shades (grape, sugary pink, turquoise) are too cute to leave to the boys. The brand is based in Milan, however creative director Francesco Ragazzi takes influence from LA, in particular Venice beach and “the sand, skating guys, and smoking.”
The latest collection sees camo print halter tops teamed with pinstripe trousers, ultra cropped rugby shirts, tracksuits stamped with the palm angels logo, and highly reflective silver trousers (to die for).
Shipping to the US costs a whopping 35 EURO, but if you’re willing to splash out 826 euros on a tracksuit (just under 1k in dollars) then YOLO!
5. HYEIN SEO, South Korea £££
Antwerp graduate Hyein Seo’s brand is streetwear at it’s finest, an example (other than Vetements, for once) of high fashion and culture woven into sweatsuits.
It’s the kind of stuff you could wear to a party and look bougie as fuck. Always with plenty of nods to her South Korean background, motorcycling graphics and shapes are very common as well as patches and badges.
Check out Hyein Seo’s work and you’ll find faux fur coats printed with gothic font slogans, glittery slip dresses, jeans with reflective logos appliquéd on to the ankles, and t-shirts so oversized they are screaming for some thigh highs and no pants!
The latest collection, aptly titled ‘South of The Border,’ includes a to die for white shell-suit with flared pants, Rihanna-ready boxy suits, and graphic tees with the words “Our Tomorrow Never Came.”
The best part about the collection? The shoot makes anti-Trump reference via two non-white models sticking their middle fingers up in front of some blow up Trump dolls! Whilst this may be the most expensive brand we’ve featured, it may be consoling to know that the shipping price this time is $0!
6. MISBHV, Poland £££
It’s highly doubtful that you wouldn’t have heard of high end streetwear label MISBHV, especially since they started showing during NYFW last year, moving their work more towards womens’ shapes.
Highlights from the two collections so far are pink sheer chaps (yes, chaps – with bikini bottoms), monogram knee high boots, deconstructed denim, bright fuchsia velvet puffa jackets, the list really could go on forever.
What’s more, Sita Abellan’s a close friend and ambassador for the brand, so just check her Instagram for a hundred ways to wear the Polish designs.
Shipping is approximately 36 EURO (ouch…but worth it?).
