Hypebeast 2008 Year End Review | Hypebeast

Fashion

Kevin Ma’s take on fashion for 2008
While 2008 was more of a rebuilding year for sneakers and footwear in general, fashion on the other hand offered a great deal of excitement as smaller and previously unknown labels would make a strong case amongst the bigger dogs and move to the forefront. Despite having less familiarity with the high-fashion world, a lot of great brands entered my radar. And while the price points are really out of the league of many, myself included, just as high-fashion borrows from the streets there are some definite cues that could be taken in terms of styling and presentation. 10.Deep brought the heat this year with a solid collection each season and great presentation. The exuberance of Cassette Playa was something I developed a genuine appreciation for while my other favorites for 2008 included Deluxe, Head Porter Plus and Band of Outsiders. With the worst seemingly ahead of us, the days of slapping clip art onto t-shirts which we bought into in the past are long gone and hopefully through these difficult times, some great new designs can rise up.

Eugene Kan’s take on fashion for 2008
For me, the attention turned to contemporary American menswear coupled with various workwear/outdoor inspired looks as the highlight movement of the past year. Numerous brands which ironically were founded in the US saw their Japanese licenses flourish under these conditions. I feel that this particular trend towards these looks was a sentiment echoed by many experts and peers. Unlike all-over print hoodies, loud bold graphics, I don’t think many will look back with embarrassment in regards to the new developments in 2008. However, it all makes you wonder how long this will be sustained before we see a new push towards more colorful and less conservative designs. It has been argued that recessions or downturns in the economy suppress avant-garde and more liberal fashion in general, but coupling the current wave of conservative stylings with the undeniable hyper-acceleration the Internet provides, the forthcoming is a bit fuzzy. This year really piqued my interest in terms of technical outerwear as I always look to see what new developments are being initiated by companies such as Gore-Tex and Schoeller among others in terms of providing the ultimate in performance materials. Intelligent fabrics from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ Diaplex seen on the Futura Laboratories x Descente collaboration allowed us to become familiar with materials that can change its breathability based on ambient body temperature, effectively creating something that is both fascinating and inspiring all at once.

In terms of individual stand out brands, Hue and his brand Deluxe was among the most consistent performers. Despite a subdued aesthetic, his ability to incorporate a wealth of details in his pieces was anything but contrived and a true genuine effort. And while Bape for many years now has succumbed to an unfortunate brand image thanks to the proliferation of fake merchandise and its popularity in some circles, nevertheless the brand’s diversity presents itself as a great strength. It’s true that on the level of visibility, Bape will forever be synonymous for loud graphics and mulit-colored camos, yet a look deeper provides a further range of products which in its often subdued and un-branded state could definitely sneak itself into many wardrobes. All in all as we move forward, I feel that the future will focus on the keyword of diversity. There will be no pigeon-holing of styles and in turn there won’t be any problems wearing Nikes or adidas’ one day with your quintessential 501-esque cut denim and your favorite streetwear brand tee only to turn things completely upside down the next day with a much more fitted pair of chinos, Red Wings 875s and a cableknit sweater.

Luis Ruano’s take on fashion on 2008
As a majority of the old school crowd grows a year older, our tastes in fashion naturally progress. This past year was definitely a step into another realm of the streetwear culture. Some of our favorite brand’s began expanding their arsenal further into more complex aesthetics. Muted color tones became crowd pleasers and a newfound appreciation for cut-and-sew garments was at a pinnacle. The fusion between streetwear and hi-end fashion was a re-occurring theme amongst a pleasant amount of Americana-influenced Japanese labels. In return these labels gave the American culture a newfound appreciation for international trends and attention to detail. Unmatched in their approach towards fashion this year, I gave my nod to the adidas Originals camp as my favorite fashion brand of 2008. Collaborations alongside Kazuki Kuraishi, Jeremy Scott and Alyasha Moore elevated their status in the sportswear genre and fused each designers perspective into an articulate brand of premium product. Having already seen a preview of their 2009 range of goods, this year looks like another interesting one for the three striped brand.