Streetwear has been a defining part of city sports culture for over 40 years. Over the period, streetwear has evolved from a basic expression to high fashion. The designer Dapper Dan played a pivotal role in elevating streetwear to a luxury product in the 1980s in Harlem, N.Y., developing styles for hip-hop artists shunned by traditional high-end brands

The term streetwear was initially used to describe comfortable clothing predominately worn by those engaged in skateboarding and surf culture in Los Angeles. Surfboard manufacturer Stüssy began making t-shirts with its iconic logo. Streetwear soon evolved to refer to casual street fashion encompassing many styles, from hip-hop to punk rock and is often found in independent surf/skate shops and thrift stores or from internet-based start-ups

Today, streetwear is evident among individuals wearing tracksuit bottoms as they once wear jeans and celebrities seeking designer brands like Vetements and Off-White.