streetwear Archives - Cartel Circuit

You have a choice to what you wear on your body. You define yourself through clothes, tattoos, piercings, and accessories. Look for inspiration at Cartel Circuit in the hottest street wear, skateboard, and surf brands. Remember everyone is looking at you.

1. Profound

Profound Aesethic is a premium street wear line that merges clothing and lifestyle to make all things beautiful and profound. Their ready to wear clothing line feels like it is fresh off the runway. Their design aesthetic is one of our favorites as it mixes basics with fashions pieces. Their collaboration with Pepsi make us crave a new Starter jacket. It is inspired by 90’s sports nostalgia, with colors and moods of an era that will forever be iconic. “A New Generation” capsule collection designed and crafted by Profound Aesthetic for Pepsi, carries signature systoles curated in a minimalistic light. Rich stain fabrics with classic cotton baseball cap silhouettes take part in the capsule. The Americana foundation that Pepsi has cultivated for decades is reflected in the capsules red, white, and blue color palette.

2. Dope Couture

Drawing inspiration from both luxury lifestyle and street culture, DOPE’s clothing and accessories have built a unique following including tastemakers and music icons alike. The brand’s initial lines and boutique built a community of like-minded individuals that saw DOPE as more than just a brand, but as a lifestyle. Self-proclaimed as the Bougie Crew, the founding members embodied DOPE’s progressive style and growing presence in the streetwear industry. With an extended line now including accessories, cut and sew, and snapbacks, DOPE set out to build a flagship boutique on the iconic Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles and to extend the reach of the Bougie Crew. Today, the Fairfax location has become a streetwear staple filled with DOPE’s latest pieces including beanies, pullovers, and intricate cut & sew. Featured in international publications and music videos, and selling at accounts across the globe, DOPE is taking the Bougie Crew worldwide.

3.The Quiet Life
Andy Mueller was raised in the mid-west on a healthy diet of BMX, skateboarding, music and magazines. At an early age, Andy became addicted to the art of image making and photo taking. In 1993, Andy founded OhioGirl Design, a small design/photo/film studio. In 1997, Andy started “The Quiet Life” with a few friends from within OhioGirl.

In addition to the Quiet Life, Andy works full time at Girl Skateboards as a member of the infamous “Art Dump.”At Girl, Andy’s main duty is to art direct Girl’s shoe company Lakai Limited Footwear, but he also designs skateboard deck graphics to Girl Skateboards and Chocolate Skateboards, shoots photos for Fourstar, Ruby and the other brands within Girl, and contributes elsewhere when time allows. Andy also continues to do freelance photograph, design, and special projects under the name OhioGirl, and co-runs a small “indie” music label called OhioGold Records,

Andy currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife, his son Owen and daughter Edie, a cat and bird. He also really likes to play ping-pong and recently picked up his golf clubs for the first time in 15 years….

4. Vissla
Vissla is a clothing brand that represents creative freedom, a forward-thinking philosophy, and a generation of creators and innovators. We embrace the modern do-it-yourself attitude within surf culture, performance surfing, and craftsmanship. This is a surf-everything and ride-anything mentality. We are creators and innovators.

5. Dime

Antoine Asselin Lunch Break full part from Dime Mtl on Vimeo.

6. Publish
Publish will stir your imagination. They are truly clothiers who are setting the quality bar. They aspire to delivering premium, timeless products and ideas that transcend the realms of art and fashion. Their collection includes street wear fashion that is utilitarian. Categories include premium outerwear, denim, tees, accessories and many cut & sew pieces. Publish’s designs are classic, some say they may even be timeless in their sensibility. You won’t find any stuffy pieces and they are quite the opposite leaning towards a casual vibe with an heir of sophistication.

7. A Bathing Ape
Located in the center of Tokyo, Japan. Bape is a fashion leader that strives to introduce Japanese fashion culture to the rest of the globe. Their story began 22 years ago and has remained streetwear focused the entire time. Producing iconic designs, original patterns and characters such as “APE HEAD”, “BAPE® CAMO”, “BAPE STA™”, “SHARK HOODIE” and “BABY MILO®”. Their newest collab with Futura will certainly become your favorite new collaboration.

8. Born X Raised
If Born and Raised doesn’t make you a little uncomfortable then you should be wearing it. If you feel uncomfortable at all then their goods probably don’t belong on your body. Their line is the edgiest of the top 10 street wear brands list and certainly demands the most respect. Born x Raised is focused on family and doesn’t care if you don’t like their logo, lifestyle, or values. If you want to share in their lifestyle make sure you are local.

9. Lurk Hard
It started in 2008 with a sticker and a couple skateboarders. Today it is still a couple of skateboarders with a cult like following. Now offering a few more products including t-shirts, beanies, and many other accessories you need on your person. Buy Lurk Hard at your local skate shop.

10. Fucking Awesome
Legendary skateboarder, Jason Dill, has been running his brand, Fucking Awesome, for 13 years now and still it is somewhat of a mystery to many. Here Jason sits down and shares 6 things that you probably don’t know about FA.

Street Wear

Whatever your goals are for putting clothes on in the morning (assuming that you sleep naked) below we reviewed ten up and coming skateboard brands, street wear brands, and surf brands. If you are retailer carrying any of these brands and would like to be featured on Cartel Circuit email us at [matt at cartelcircuit dot com].

Why did only 9 street wear brands make the list? Because as 8&9 describes below nine is the most perfect and powerful number and is now our favorite number. So away with top 10 lists, here’s the top 9. BTW, put on some headphones and turn up the volume as FrancisGotHeat beats are awesome!

#1 UNIF

It’s time to familize yourself with Unif if you do not already know. This bold men’s and women’s apparel line was created by Eric Espinoza + Christine Lai and is unique and original in every essence. This prêt-à-porter line looks to be bespoke at first glance but isn’t which sets it apart from all others.

#2 ZANEROBE

ZANEROBE is a progressive streetwear label designed in Sydney, Australia. They don’t know me like you know me. All we can say is watch the video and then go take out a loan to pick up all this gear. It is no wonder they are number one on our list!

#3 HOONIGAN

Ken Block is the founder of Hoonigan and their cultural icon. Hoonigan stands out from the rest of the street wear brands being highly focused on only those that drive or hoon cars. Hoon activities can include speeding, burnouts, doughnuts or screeching tires. Those commonly identified as being involved in “hooning” or street racing are young and predominantly male, although increasingly female, drivers in the age range of 17 and 35 years.

#4 8&9

8&9 is streetwear brand based in beautiful Miami, Florida. While 8&9 mostly appears in small boutiques in major metropolitans it is carried worldwide by over 250 retailers. 8&9 design aesthetics combine a fierce anti-establishment attitude with quality design, old school color ways and re-appropriated sub-culture references. The grittiness of the Miami street scene is where 8&9 gets their influence. So how did the number eight and nine become the name of the brand? Thge symbolism is found within each number…the number eight represents infinity, and number nine is the highest most powerful and perfect single digit number. If you refuse to settle and are a constant path of evolving then find infinite perfection in 8&9 clothing.

#5 KINFOLK

The bicycle culture streetwear brand Kinfolk was formed in 2008 by a Salah Mason and a couple friends from New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo, Japan. The concept of a “Kinfolk life” grew from their desire to create products and experiences that weren’t available to purchase. They live true to their mantra and some of their best digs aren’t easy to acquire. Combining experience from a variety of disciplines, the friends set out to source the highest quality designers, builders and techniques to develop lasting products and unique experiences. As the Kinfolk family continues growing by the day, the missions of working hard and having fun remain steadfast.

#6 SUPREME

In April 1994, Supreme opened its doors on Lafayette Street in downtown Manhattan and became the home of New York City skate culture. At its core was the gang of rebellious young New York skaters and artists who became the store’s staff, crew, and customers.

Supreme grew to be the embodiment of the downtown culture, playing an integral part in its constant regeneration. Skaters, punks, hip-hop heads – the young counter culture at large – all gravitated towards Supreme.

While it grew into a downtown institution, Supreme established itself as a brand known for its quality, style and authenticity.

Over its twenty year history, Supreme has worked with some of our generation’s most groundbreaking designers, artists, photographers and musicians – all who have helped continue to define its unique identity and attitude.

#7 RHYTHM

Rhythm brings together a group of individuals with a shared dream of creating a livelihood doing what they love. Drawing on influences from art, music and surf – past, present and future. Rhythm speaks to creative self-expressionists who yearn for new frontiers off the well-worn path.

#8 AMBIG

Founded in 1995 this brand was on the brink of shutting down before re-inventing the brand as more of a street wear clothing brand rather than an exclusive skate brand. Today Ambiguous is looking fresher than ever and has broadened their category selection which helped reach a wider consumer. Expect this brand to continue to grow and take it to the next level.

#9 NAKETANO

The most elusive brand of all the street wear brands this No fur. No down. No silk. No leather. No wool. brand is infamous for keeping it low key. Good luck tracking down a website other than Blue Tomato that carries Naketano products.

Tag: streetwear

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