| Urban wear has now been with us for a number of | | | | an attempt to cash in while translating their image and |
| years. It is an outgrowth of the hip-hop culture, and by | | | | notoriety into their clothing designs. |
| extension, of the "extreme" sports universe. If you are | | | | Meanwhile newer companies such as Vokal have |
| a fan of hip-hop or are into extreme sports, then you | | | | expanded the urban clothing label to include high end |
| know exactly what is is meant by urban wear. | | | | velour, fleece loungewear, denim, and vividly colored |
| Urban wear is bold, fresh and expressive of the | | | | athletic jerseys. Another company, Baby Phat aims at |
| hunger and in-your-face fearlessness of the hip hop | | | | creating a blend of hip hop style with more |
| generation. Urban clothing is distinguished by trendy | | | | sophisticated metropolitan fashion to create a refined |
| looks, controversial designs and an up-to-the-minute | | | | urban look. |
| look. | | | | This is nothing new. Co-opting fringe trends is what the |
| Urban Wear Goes Designer | | | | fashion industry does best. It is simply trying to cash in |
| From the very beginning designers of urban wear | | | | on the way different groups of consumers follow |
| have been concerned with creating "designer" | | | | different trends. And it only makes sense to go after |
| fashions. Just looking "urban" is not enough. New | | | | people with the time and money to pay high prices to |
| designs must be aggressive, flamboyant and in your | | | | make a suitable impression. |
| face. Of course urban clothing must always look | | | | Wholesale Urban Clothing |
| youthful, but at the same time most urban clothing | | | | On the other hand, the fact that the urban clothing |
| designs have been serious in their own way and | | | | market is changing rapidly has resulted in the |
| always conscious of projecting an "I got my issues" | | | | development of a significant market for wholesale |
| image. | | | | urban clothing. Since urban wear designs turn over |
| More recent trends in urban clothing have been a bit | | | | quickly and manufacturers have to stay ahead of the |
| more lighthearted with an acknowledgment that it is all | | | | curve, they are quite prepared to move large volumes |
| a bit of a put on. As designs have migrated from the | | | | of last month's designs for cut rate prices. |
| rapper-inspired and often rapper-owned design shops | | | | As a result enterprising clothing merchants can buy up |
| to more mainstream labels this is an inevitable | | | | sizable lots of over stocked items and sell them in |
| transformation. It is difficult and disingenuous for | | | | large quantities - often on the internet. These items go |
| mainstream labels to make out as though they are | | | | for much lower prices than you can find in most retail |
| disadvantaged and unhappy with the status quo. They | | | | urban wear specialty stores. |
| are the status quo. | | | | For consumers interested in buying five or six items at |
| Brands such as Akademiks, Rocawear and Ecko are | | | | one time this is ideal. It makes it possible for someone |
| identified with the urban clothing trend and are known | | | | interested in changing fashion trends to replace their |
| for designs inspired by the street culture that gave rise | | | | entire wardrobe for much less than it might otherwise |
| to both rap and urban clothing designs. In fact many of | | | | cost. |
| these labels were founded by rappers themselves, in | | | | |