Although some big fast fashion and streetwear brands have been quiet in the discussion of improving the environment, there are quite big changes emerging throughout the industry. In order to reduce the industry’s environmental damage, many streetwear brands are starting to change how they manufacture clothes, and vintage style is becoming increasingly implemented into the world of streetwear.
Recently, popular clothes and designs of the 1990s and early 2000s have made their comeback in modern fashion, which is evidence that fashion is ultimately cyclic. Today, many young kids and adults are wearing straight cut Levi’s, crop tops, tiny sunglasses, and distressed Nirvana T-shirts. See for yourself by going outside and taking note of how many clothing items are being worn today that remind you of the 90s. Not only does buying second-hand clothes make one’s wardrobe unique and stylish, but it also reduces one’s carbon footprint. It allows for clothing items to be reused and repurposed instead of thrown into the landfill or become incinerated. In an interview last year with Dazed magazine, Virgil Abloh, a streetwear giant and creative director of Louis Vuitton, said, “I would definitely say [streetwear]’s gonna die . . . I think that like we’re gonna hit this like, really awesome state of expressing your knowledge and personal style with vintage.” Even though I agree that people are starting to expand their personal style with vintage clothes, I do not believe that streetwear is going to die. Perhaps, some streetwear brands may die out due to competition with the vintage market, but I view vintage as a branch or extension of streetwear. Streetwear is essentially casual clothing based on hip-hop, skate, or surf culture, and many of the popular vintage items nowadays fit that description. The only difference is that these items have been around for at least a decade or two.
Now, let’s say that you want to buy new clothes in an environmentally friendly way, but the thought of wearing someone else’s clothes from decades ago turns you off from shopping second-hand. Fortunately, currently popular streetwear brands are attempting to manufacture new clothes in a more sustainable and environmentally conscious way than before. Heron Preston, a widely-recognized brand known for infusing together streetwear and workwear, has started to work with other garment businesses to help minimize fashion waste. As cited in Glossy, Preston writes, “When you think of sustainability in this particular paradigm, it’s not always about being environmentally friendly; it’s [often] about quality control and sustainability in business practices. The sustainability conversation is about this idea of keeping things small and independent, and manageable.” I have never thought of sustainability under a light outside of its environmental influence, but I fully agree with Preston’s statement. Often, fast fashion stores release hundreds of new pieces with new designs for low prices, which comes with an environmental cost with the increase of waste and harmful dyes. These fast fashion items are also made out of cheap, low quality materials. When streetwear brands start to prioritize sustainability, I feel like it becomes easier to maintain or improve the quality of their pieces. Consequently, sustainability gives designers more autonomy over their market.
Sam Redondo 
Trendy items might not become classic, but the classic items will always trendy. I think that’s why you said the fashion is cyclic. Before our era, people might be pay little attention to reusable material since people didn’t realized that they were scarce in resources. In their generations, clothing design enlightened by cowboys, labor workers and so on. Nowadays, I think the new trend is sustainability and reusability, it’s not only a concern but a fashion just like cowboys before. Using less material to present luxury, classic and fashionable is a new challenge for designers.
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Really interesting topic here! I agree with your statement “I agree that people are starting to expand their personal style with vintage clothes.” I have noticed this a lot being here in Davis. I see a lot of people walking around wearing clothes that fit your description of “straight cut Levi’s, crop tops, tiny sunglasses, and distressed Nirvana T-shirts.” I believe that some type of vintage clothing will always be popular in streetwear. I think that vintage clothing is a karge part of streetwear, not a competitor. The biggest example that I can think of is retro Air Jordans. These shoes came out multiple decades ago but still sell out today in modern times. I am not sure about the sustainability of them but I think that they can apply with the whole vintage part. I have a friend that is always keeping an eye out for vintage clothing. He finds some very interesting things.
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I agree that fashion has a kind of cyclic behavior in society. I used to love playing dress up in my mom’s old 80’s dresses and would wear them to school every chance I could. I think that a lot of recycling clothes and vintage pieces are worn again due to a sentimental aspect. Teens of the 1990s and early 2000s are fully adults now, but they might yearn to go back to a simpler time in their lives. Reminiscing in the past with the help of a pair of boyfriend jeans might give people a sense of purpose. I think it must be a psychological thing that we reuse old fashion trends. It pulls on peoples heartstrings a bit, and increases a profit when fashion reuses more classic styles. I for one don’t want to go back to what I wore in high school, but maybe in a few years when they bring back trends I might change my mind.
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I definitely agree that vintage wear has essentially made its way under the streetwear category. Most streetwear enthusiasts who collect high brand streetwear center resort to thrifting in finding hidden gems when regular streetwear brands get too expensive. Some brands include a vintage Tommy Hilfiger or Levi’s clothing item or even vintage Nike shoes. In some cases, just a regular pair of thrifted sweats can be incorporated into a streetwear themed outfit. On Instagram, as I follow the hashtag, #smartstreetwear, I observe a trend of more neutral colored, minimal, yet cohesive looks in a chunky, layered fashion with chained accents. This can easily be replicated with finding baggy vintage clothing at second-hand stores. Not only is it a cheaper option but is also an eco-friendlier option as you have mentioned in your post.
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