STREET-ART VEST
Design a peice of apparel that resonates with street culture through highlighting it’s history and embracing it’s underground subcultures.
Scroll down to view summary
The Gentrification of Streetwear
The gentrification of streetwear culture refers to the process by which streetwear, once a subculture associated with urban youth and hip hop, has become mainstream and commercially lucrative. This has led to a shift in the demographic of those who participate in the culture, as well as changes in the designs and brands that are considered authentic.
As more people adopt streetwear as a fashion trend it appears more younger audiences are buying into brands and hype without educating themselves on the origins of certain styles or their cultural significance. This has caused some to argue that the spirit and cultural significance of streetwear has been lost, as the focus has shifted towards profit over creative expression.
The motive behind this project is to highlight a piece of culture that is not being represented in the current market and to bring streetwear back to its roots…the streets.
Graffiti is one of the 5 key elements of Hip Hop culture, yet it is often left undiscussed and underrepresented in popular Hip-Hop centric media. Many successful streetwear brands started by designing for a specific niche market and focusing on growing a community around underrepresented subcultures. Most popular brands today found success in the rise of skate culture, rap, and regional diversity.
Graffiti is Hip Hop, and as we know Hip Hop is a worldwide phenomena. What unites graff writers around the world is the strong sense of community and shared appreciation for the art and drive to create. Real streetwear should grab inspiration from the voices of the streets, not just rappers.
Design Challenge
The takeaways that I learned through observation, interviews, and personal experience led me to explore aesthetic and functional storage solutions for paint and markers. A key insight was the need for storing cans and markers close to the body - allowing for easy and quick access to supplies when painting in tight or difficult areas.
Function Driven Fashion
-
Technical Outerwear
Technical garments have grown in popularity within streetwear for the last decade. They offer weatherproofing and functionality
-
Milsurp
Practical, on body storage solutions for quick access. Milsurp’s integration into high fashion has been increasing since 2017
-
Workwear
Workwear is a streetwear staple. One of the most practical foundations of streetwear, popular for its integration of pockets and strong structured garments
Next Steps
This project is still a work in progress. The next steps are to learn CLO 3D and ideate 3D concepts. This next step will allow me to explore material options and designs before sampling.