What does streetwear mean?
Streetwear is a term for casual clothing and accessories associated with street culture, especially the urban fashion movements connected with hip-hop, skateboarding, and related youth communities. Typical garments include graphic T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, sneakers, caps, and loose or relaxed clothing, though the style varies widely among designers and wearers. The word can describe individual pieces of clothing, a personal style, or the broader cultural and fashion movement from which the clothing comes. Streetwear often carries associations with individuality, youth identity, music, skating, and urban life, but it is not limited to any single group or activity. In contemporary usage, the term is especially common in retail, fashion journalism, and discussions of brands, designers, and celebrity style.
nounA style of casual clothing associated with street culture, especially urban fashion influenced by hip-hop, skateboarding, and youth subcultures. It typically includes items such as hoodies, T-shirts, sneakers, caps, and loose-fitting trousers.
- Clothing in a casual style associated with street culture and urban fashion.
- A broader fashion movement involving clothing, footwear, and accessories influenced by skateboarding, hip-hop, and other street-based subcultures.
"She combined streetwear with a tailored coat for a fashion-forward look."
"The shop specializes in streetwear and independent clothing labels."
"His interest in streetwear began when he started skateboarding as a teenager."
The plural is uncommon in ordinary usage; plural examples are usually written with “pieces of streetwear” or “streetwear items.”
"The collection features several streetwears designed for everyday wear."
Streetwear grew out of urban and youth cultures, turning everyday clothing into a form of cultural identity and self-expression.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does streetwear come from?
“Streetwear” is a compound formed within English from “street,” meaning a public road or an urban environment, and “wear,” referring to clothing or the act of wearing it. The compound emerged in the late 20th century as fashion associated with street culture became more widely recognized. Its development was closely connected with hip-hop, skateboarding, graffiti, and other urban and youth subcultures.
How streetwear is actually used
The term is usually used for fashion styles associated with contemporary urban culture. It can refer either to the clothing itself or, more broadly, to the culture and fashion movement surrounding it.