The evolution of streetwear is one that’ll always be striking in nature, for its attempts to not only revolutionise fashion, but also go against the grain of its established bearings. There are several streetwear brands paving a path towards fashion-forward and sustainable structures of garments, both homegrown and across the ditch. Here’s a list of five streetwear brands whose threads you need to get amongst.
Joining forces in a new development are brother-sister duo, Hansika and DOCG, for docGIRL. docGIRL is easily one of Melbourne’s most exciting brands to surface in recent times, and is the feminised partnership to DOCG’s self-titled brand. Drawing on Y2K aesthetics with emphasis on the preppy, plaid-shrouded girls of the early 2000s, docGIRL meshes together notions of carefree youthfulness and female empowerment, in order to transform the dialogue surrounding women’s fashion.
After a delay in launch due to COVID lockdowns in Melbourne, docGIRL were able to release their first collection ‘Girls Are Lovelier’ in November 2021. The drop featured the ‘Girls Are Lovelier Skirt’. They are made-with-love, plaid pleated skirts, hand-stitched by Haniska herself. Hansika has a more stylistic take on the traditionally monotonous plaid skirt. The vertical brand embroidery near the bottom seam brings a new dimension to the skirt, and adds a far larger level of appeal to it. With the yearning to challenge tradition and mix in rebellion further, Hansika adds an all-around tile graphic on the inner lining of the skirt, which is a super fun element that truly elevates the piece as whole. From the framing of the embroidery, to the surprise graphic on the inner lining, to the craftsmanship and handiwork by Hansika, her passion and love for her products can truly be traced down to the ‘Girls Are Lovelier Skirt’. It proves to be a massive testimony to her authenticity as a designer, and of the brand itself.
More recently, docGIRL had a mini drop of Baby Tees and a singlet, with all being an ongoing reflection of the brand’s Y2K influences. The “Kawaii Phone Baby Tee” is a sweet homage to the flip-phone era of the early 2000s. Emulating this imagery of the “2000s it girl”, with lipgloss in one hand, and a pink Nokia Slider in the other, this baby tee allows for the perfect reminiscence of a prominent time in fashion. The infiltration of Y2K trends has allowed girls the freedom to embrace their femininity wholeheartedly. As such, docGIRL transports its customers to a time of pretty pinks, Hello Kitty, and rhinestones through the “Kawaii Phone Baby Tee”.
Though still in its early stages, docGIRL is a staple ready to infiltrate your wardrobe at the click of a button. You can shop docGIRL online through their website now.
Up-and-coming label Byrejjie has already made a name for itself in the design scene in Western Sydney that is still very much in its early stages. His work is incredibly compelling, extracting his roots in Mount Druitt and mixing it in with his idealisation for music, film, pop culture and art, allowing it to pour out into sickly-curated garments. Marching onto the scene in early 2018, local designer behind the brand, Riley, has always utilised an uncompromising approach to his craft. Providing a selection of limited luxury items per drop, Riley’s expertise lies in his skill of unique upcycling. He uses various mediums, such as screen printing, hand painting, vinyl attachment, hand distressing, bleaching and patchwork for each piece to live in orbit of their own atmosphere. His love for music runs deep throughout his work, with Stevie Wonder, Kid Cudi, Frank Ocean and Andre 3000 holding a tumultuous direct reference on some of his most notable pieces. The simplest of canvases range from a plain white tee to socks to a pair of vintage denim, taken on a journey of complete and utter creative rage, before finally evolving onto a specially-articulated garment. His designs have led him to work with names like Roman Jody and rapper Yibby, as well as curating pieces for Kwame, Jade Le Flay and Manu Crooks.
Written messages on Byrejjie’s clothing are far from subtle, with it being commonplace for several of his released garments. One of our picks of his is the “Eat The Rich” trucker hat drop from 2020, in collaboration with Jody Just. Embroidered and printed trucker hats still remain the wave, and we love this playful take on the typical trucker hat. The colour palette allows it to be universal in its ability to be paired, however the imagery and messaging brings in an element of pleasure, striking it as more than just your typical day hat. Additionally, his area pride reigns highly in many of his pieces. His Lethbridge Park Collection drop, also from 2020, saw him create jersey sloppy joes, with reference to the surrounding Mount Druitt suburb of Lethbridge Park. This release enlists the style of sports merchandise, brandished with graphics and messaging that relate to the type of sport and the team. The sloppy hoes were paired with a string strap bag and a custom water bottle, to tie in the athleisure influence. It’s a real hearty collection that denies any space for postcode envy. Shouts out to the ‘70.
Byrejjie doesn’t work off a set schedule, and allows himself to drop his work when he feels it’s the right time to do so. To keep you on your toes, chuck him a follow on Instagram here.
Melbourne brand Pangaea has been traversing the scene for a few years now, with Hunter and Harry kicking it all off in 2019. Taking inspo from the boutique sneaker and streetwear stores they spent most of their teen years in, they opened up their Flagship store on Brunswick St in Melbourne. The brand name ‘Pangaea’ and its historical notions as a supercontinent is bound by unity. The name reference is a direct reflection of the duo’s ultimate goal of offering up a comfortable creative space that brings community together. To enable this, they even have a bench seat that runs all the way through the entire store, a communal seat for those who want to relish in the space before them. Wanting to close the gap between the fashion world and the art world, Pangaea’s selection of pieces aim to help represent their community of creatives and be a welcoming space of comfortability for all who pass by. With their feet planted firmly in the scene, and a home for their pieces that double as a place of refuge for minds alike, Pangaea are making a conscious effort to intertwine fashion and art across Melbourne’s creative scene.
The “Loot The Museum” Knit catches your attention immediately. It’s a collaboration piece, whose prime fixation is on the man in the middle of the knit. With black and white horizontal striping, the knit is a standout piece for sure. It’s especially conventional in today’s climate and is a sick take on the graphic sweater and knit trend. Pangaea’s “Mr Burns” Tee is a light and fun play on reality and fiction, and is another inconceivable addition to the graphic tee game.
With no explanation of process revealed to its customers, Pangaea’s subtle and ambiguous intention behind their garments makes the brand that much more intriguing. You can check out more threads here or visit the spot at 370 Brunswick St in Melbourne.
Umi Nori’s triumphant emergence onto the design + creative scene in 2019 has been nothing short of impactful. A collaborative label manned by Zi Nori and Roman Jody, the brand has been able to bridge together the grittiness of streetwear culture and contemporary luxury fashion without a need to hold their breath. Their speciality lies in carefully tailored suits and garments that aim to battle mass production and consumption. With sustainable fashion at the forefront of their work, their suits are made-to-measure, accompanied also by sustainably produced accessories. They offer a singular, niche and unique experience, through an appointment only service at the Umi Nori Atelier in Sydney’s CBD. The duo have proven to be unstoppable, rendering cosigns from some of Australia’s most prominent rappers and musicians today, through the likes of Senator Briggs, Kobie Dee, Triple One, ONEFOUR, and Nooky, the face of their Autumn/Winter ‘22 Campaign.
Zi Nori’s design process is enchanted by the careful detailing that goes into each and every suit. From the materials, to the trimming, his work is a deep reflection of years he’s spent honing in on his craft. Paired alongside Roman Jody’s own knack for design and creative control, Umi Nori has been able to successfully transcend the suit and tailoring industry in Sydney. The Autumn/Winter ‘22 collection shows Nooky in three different suits, using materials of Australian Merino wool and cotton seersucker fabric. All suits challenge the traditional silhouettes of tailored suits, with no one suit being the same as the previous. Wide peak lapels, single button fastening and bordering between minimalism and luxe are a Umi Nori staple. The delicacy of each suit is something Umi Nori pride themselves on, and rightfully so. The structure of each piece is enveloped in pride and resilience, having taken on a star-studded list of clients who are making similar waves in the creative scene in Australia.
The current collection is available at the Umi Nori Atelier located at 350 George St in Sydney’s CBD. You can also peer through their other works here and view their website here.
Over in Auckland sits pretty ‘Fade Clothing’, a streetwear brand that first appeared on the scene in 2019. Owners, Jarrod Gribble and Pookky Promtrai wanted to transport Fade Clothing far ahead of its streetwear counterparts in Auckland City, calling on the classics and nostalgia to branch out and communicate a new and reformed feel of streetwear culture than the one already visible in Auckland’s fashion scene.
Their recent collection ‘A Class Act’ is an authentic reimagination of high school nostalgia, tapping into classic silhouettes of vintage crewneck sweatshirts, with matching tracksuit shorts and pants. Block lettering reminiscent of vintage Russell Athletic, paired with classic colourways of grey, navy and forest green, the ‘A Class Act’ collection brandishes the imagery and infiltration of high school gym wear into New Zealand’s streetwear culture.
The couple value the presence of friends and family around their creative process, and demonstrate this in their ‘Friends & Family’ hoodie. The back embellishment of baseball varsity-styled writing reads ‘Fade, Friends & Family’, an intimate spotlight on the pair’s main motivators. We enjoy the balance of simplicity and tradition when it comes to make, matched with the refreshing look of forest green, and white lettering. Swapping out backpacks for a tote, the “Classic Tote bag”, as part of Fade’s ‘Reimagined Classics’ ethos, is a contemporary alternative to the expected pairing of a backpack to go with the schoolwear aesthetic.
As such, Fade Clothings branding is timeless, and we’re excited to see what shall unfold for the brand in the future.
You can shop Fade Clothing here and follow them here.