10 Best Streetwear Collaborations of 2013
2013 is coming to an end. We've seen some of the best artist/rapper/musician/brand collaborations in the past year, 10 of which blew us away completely.
The thing we love most about collaborations is that all of these collections are born out of green rooms, after parties, penthouses, stop lights, skate parks and hotel rooms, places you and I frequent on the day to day. The idea that some of our favorite standalone brands have joined forces with other great individuals, groups, etc. is something we wait all year for.
From a poolside barbecue lookbook to an A$AP Mob directed black and white video, we count down the best collabs of 2013. With fashion moving almost as fast as the sun rises and sets, it's hard to keep track of all the greatness that's put out, let us give you a reminder.
The Hundreds x CLOT
The Hundreds represent Los Angeles harder than most and when paired with CLOT, a brand that represents Eastern culture just as hard, the end product is outstanding. Mixing classic silhouettes with symbols of American and Chinese national pride, basic tees and headwear are transformed into a beautifully creative collection of separate pieces that were so clearly the meeting of two like-minded design houses coming together as one.
Jadakiss x ALIFE by Jason Nocito T-Shirt
It's as simple as it gets, ain't it? After a short hiatus, ALIFE is back and has collaborated with Jadakiss and photographer Jason Nocito. Jadakiss released his fourth solo album, Top 5, Dead or Alive, earlier in 2013 and this tee was the perfect way to gain excitement that was already surrounding the record. The iconic pose with two firearms, shot by Nocito, is as hard-hitting as some of Jada's bars and if you slept on this piece you're most likely still upset about it. Paying homage to both his home state of New York and the ALIFE brand itself by donning their bubble tee and wearing a fitted Yankees cap.
Flatbush Zombies x Stussy
Flatbush Zombies nearly took the hip-hop world by storm in 2012, rising from the streets of Brooklyn to gaining attention outside of the independent hip-hop movement. The trio are now working with streetwear staple Stussy. The colorful collection designed by Madbury Club's Phil Annand included tie-dye t-shirts emblazoned with the Zombies own typeface as well as bucket hats, ashtrays and pins.
Billionaire Boys Club x A Bathing Ape 2013 Summer Capsule Collection
These two streetwear household names came together and created something out of almost nothing, a couple of plain t-shirts; blank canvasses. The logos that adorn the front of these tees are eye-catching and obscure, all the while paying homage to both brands' creative vision that hasn't changed over time, it's only gotten more well-rounded and cohesive.
Theophilus London x Surface to Air
Brooklynite Theophilus London joined forces with Parisian design collective Surface to Air to created this NASA-inspired bomber jacket earlier this year. S2A have always stayed true to their minimalist ideals and clear vision towards fashion, the same way London has when it comes to his music. Naturally the pairing has given us one of the best collaborative efforts we've seen. The traditional bomber silhouette has been updated with modern, yet subtle additions including multiple zippers and a 3M reflective inner-lining that gives it a glow-in-the-dark effect.
10 Deep x Underachievers
AK and Issa Gold, the two members of The Underachievers and Flatbush Ave. natives teamed up with 10.Deep, one of the most consistently dope streetwear brands of 2013 to produce their tour merchandise. After the first two colorways, black and white, sold out in three minutes, 10. Deep offered up two more special, limited edition colors, heather gray and light blue. The t-shirt collaboration is something that could seem as if it's been done over and over by brands with musicians to death, but this is just one of those that couldn't be left out.
Stussy x Bape Ill Collaboration
Stussy and Bape are reigning champs in the hip-hop/streetwear world. They've collaborated with smaller, lesser-known brands over the years to elevate both of their status', a modern day give-and-take that is sometimes lost on bigger, conglomerate design houses. This lookbook is one that draws you in and holds you down. The two brands also debuted this with a video featuring creative direction by A$AP Bari and the backing track off of A$AP Ferg's 2013 smash album Trap Lord. Our favorite piece from this collection has to be that varsity jacket, we are 100% sure it's the reason we fall in love with streetwear day after day, year after year.
Mark McNairy x Adidas Originals by 84-Lab
There's a reason that the #menswear crew came up with the saying, "In McNasty we trust." It's because Mark McNairy has the think-outside-of-the-box attitude and aesthetic towards design that has been missing for a long time. Teaming up with Adidas to create a range of athletic gear breathed new life into us, like we were coming up for air after drowning in a pool of velour tracksuits and knock off shell-toes. These aren't your father's tracksuits, they've been updated in new color-ways and McNairy's always entertaining humor, putting "McNasty" on just about any surface of the garment.
Supreme x Jean-Michel Basquiat
It's almost as if the hip-hop and menswear world has realized once again just how tremendous Jean-Michel Basquiat's vision was and continues to be. Art that transcends time seems to come in waves, as soon as their name is spoken in a bar spoken from your favorite rapper, or a piece can be seen hanging in the background of a lookbook, the love for this individual takes off with ferocity. Supreme uses professional skateboarder Lucien Clarke to don the collaborative garments, and gives them life in a way we've never seem before. There's something about his facial expressions that remind us of a young Basquiat, full of life and passion for his art. The collection ranges from button-ups to basic tees, everything you need to pay homage to one of the best in the art world.
Street Etiquette x Ebbets Field Flannels x The Brooklyn Circus
Street Etiquette, The Brooklyn Circus and Ebbets Field Flannels all have one major component in common, passion and a never-ending love for all things American. American in the sense of nostalgia surrounding our favorite past-times, Baseball being a large one. The three teams worked together to debut the perfect ball cap right as the baseball season was heading to an end in October during the post-season. Very limited edition and featuring the Etiquette Clothiers logo on the front with an adjustable leather strap around back. Play ball!