Hip Hop Fashion History

Hip-hop fashion is a style that originated from African-American, Latino, and Caribbean-American youth who were based in The 5 Boroughs, a city in New York. However, hip-hop was later influenced by numerous other places, which contributed to what we know of hip-hop fashion today. Naturally, hip-hop fashion is a reflection of its culture. Since the 1980s, different brands have taken on the hip-hop scene, including sports super brands, Adidas and Nike, Inc, which added to their popularity. Clothing items such as leather bomber jackets, Dr. Martens boots, and sneakers were worn, becoming their 'uniform'.

However, hip-hop fashion does not stop at clothing alone; it is enhanced by different kinds of accessories such as large eyeglasses, oversized name tags made of gold hanging from chains, and multiple rings; with heavy jewelry suggesting wealth and prestige. During the end of the 80s decade, hip-hop fashion, jewelry, and hairstyle reflected traditional African culture. African chains, blousy pants, red, black, and green clothing, and dreadlocks were donned by rappers such as MC Hammer. When the 90s rolled in, baseball caps, neon clothing and even wearing clothes backward became the new trend.

Men wore blousy pants or baggy jeans, sunglasses, and heavy work boots, while women wore tighter jeans. Women adapted the men's style by wearing them and adding feminine touches like lip gloss and make-up. Dickies, Chuck Taylors, and Raiders all contributed to the popularity of pants, sneakers, and baseball caps. Chanel got in on the action with models wearing black leather jackets and gold chains, or black dresses with silver chains.

In the 90s, hip-hop celebrated the fashion styles of street thugs and gangsters, including prisoners. Oversized was still everyone's style, whether it was denim or cargo pants. Even today, wearing pants so low or "sagging" them without belts is still common. Apparently, this practice comes from prisons, where belts aren't allowed because they could be lethal (as reported by CNN), and poor urban communities that couldn't afford new clothes, so they handed them down to younger, smaller people. Hand signs and territorial mentality go along with this, which were first adopted by African-American youth in Los Angeles.

Designers like Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, DKNY created sportswear that showed this style and glorified urban streetwear. As a result of FUBU, hip-hop fashion became mainstream. Further, traditional African-American hairstyles like Afros and cornrows resurged, the latter created by wearing a Du-rag over the head all the time. Eventually, durags became hip-hop fashion accessories. In the mid-to-late 90s, platinum replaced gold for hip-hop jewelry, which was often studded with diamonds.