The evolution of hip-hop’s impact on fashion has undoubtedly been one of the most curious changes that the fashion industry and pop culture has ever encountered: from facing outright exclusion by high fashion to the genre’s nuances holding dominance. Rooted at the heart of hip hop style, “Athleisure” has been one of the biggest street-wear trends to make rounds on the ramp season after season.
With origins traceable back to the 80’s, the trend was first derived from athletic and leisurewear, gained momentum in hip-hop spaces among b-boys and soon became synonymous with hip-hop as sneaker culture took over the scene. It’s progression from a niche street trend to a runway mainstay evidences the adaptive nature of fashion.
An old school act that can be credited with influencing fashion’s attitude shift towards hip-hop are Run DMC, who were the first rappers to score a clothing endorsement deal with Adidas , cut to the 2000s where Russel and Kimora-Lee Simmon’s Baby Phat and Phat Farm ruled the street-wear scene and later global catwalks gradually followed suit. To now, where the tables are completely turned and brands without a co-sign from hip-hop lack relevance.
With fashion being cyclical, athleisure is an instance where comfort meets versatility and fashion creators are now able modify style according what is prevalent in popular culture, drawing inspiration from a decades old trend that has seen many iterations.
Essentially, we’ve reached a point where most of the trends we are familiar with are classics – there is a high chance that what you have already worn may make a comeback soon in an edition that fits the time.
Shirt: Zara
Trackpants: Taobao
Sneakers: Adidax x Stan Smith
Images by Shannon Murphy @ LightTheArtPhotography
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