Last Friday, during the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic games at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has shown the world that we know how to make a great party, full of stunning images filled with powerful meaning. But our country isn’t made just through party, carnival and football. There is much more over here to be discovered by the rest of the world, like streetwear fashion.
Despite the political and economic crisis, our market is more active than ever. New brands are emerging all the time, along with a unique era in the local sneaker culture scenery; the scene steadies itself, establishing a voice of its own, with Brazilian references, but still very much aligned with global tendencies. It is precisely in crisis that creativity reveals itself. In the hardest moments, innovative and creative solutions are the only way to survival. So, we make the most that the eyes of the world are turned at us, be it for sports events or political news, to show 10 Brazilian streetwear brands – either brand new or well-established – that much of the world probably didn’t know existed, but very much deserve everyone’s attention.
Storvo
Almost 10 years in the market give Storvo a seasoned look, but with a spirit that just got into high school. Its collections are always thematic, distinguished by an impeccable graphical project and themes that try to “disturb” the established order – like its slogan “Keep Disturbing” says. Their themes go from Japanese porn to the unconventional uses of icons of the city of São Paulo, and even the Olympic games show up at the current collection in a very unusual way.
Piet
Pedro Andrade, Piet’s creator, uses his own references to create fashion that values the shaping and fabric, always presented with an aesthetic rigor rarely seen in the Brazilian market. His mix between high-end and streetwear has proven to be spot on, and his pattern and weaving experimentations are two main qualities of the creations at Piet which, from the fabric they use to the tailoring, tries at every moment to free itself from the standards imposed by the fashion industry.
CEMFREIO
A genderless fashion brand, with flowing forms that addresses racial issues, is what CEMFREIO brings to the table; all comes from Apolinário, a model and creator in several areas. In its first collection, the brand drew attention of the local fashion media by its contemporary ideal and up to date aesthetic, made 100% with cotton.
Cotton Project
Urban beach, motorcycling and a pinch of hipster rebel attitude, mark the creations of Cotton Project. The connection of urban subcultures like skate, music, and photography is real and are projected in a simple fashion, almost idealizing a group of friends that likes to dress alike. While still walking through this “alternative” path, Cotton Project had its debut at the São Paulo Fashion Week this year.
Pyramid
The patterns are the strong point of Pyramid, a brand from Rio de Janeiro that brings together psychedelic and tropical influences. The short-sleeved shirt with patterns is the flagship of the brand, which brings a new way of looking at Rio de Janeiro’s beach culture as it adds to it a good helping of occultism, weirdness and rock ‘n’ roll.
Trendt
Technology and a deep search for innovative fabrics are the trademarks of Renan Serrano, the creator at Trendt. The brand also focuses in genderless fashion and a futuristic aesthetic, characterized by wide, timeless shapes and transparencies that play an interesting graphical game.
High Company
An urban lifestyle, which includes a lot of skateboarding, is the starting point of High Company. Their most recent collection is minimalist, and focuses on classical shapes with a pastel toned palette.
Astro Runners
Created in 2010, Astro Runners started being a collective platform for creative process and content. The brand started as a digital entity that, anonymously, released GIFs, illustrations and mixtapes. Just now they released their first clothing line, called “Lunar Mansion.”
Osklen
For many, Osklen is not exactly a “streetwear” brand. Well known in the Brazilian fashion market and by the mainstream public, the brand has a real connection to the beach, which does not prevent it from making well-constructed urban fashion – marketed under the “Collection” label. Skate, snowboard and surf are always main inspiration sources, but issues related to climate, tropical jungles and urban mobility are among the themes approached by Osklen – that is also responsible for a very successful sneakers line.
ÖUS
ÖUS is not just a clothing brand, but also a full skateboarding brand that takes pride in creating and producing all of its products in Brazil. There is a rich storytelling behind every item, and their team of creators has among them designers, visual artists, rappers… all of them somehow linked to skateboarding. Their collections already had international partnerships, like the one signed by the rapper DEL The Funky Homosapien, and oddity/originality is always their goal.
League Goods
Everybody needs basic fashion items, and here they are presented in the best way possible by League Goods. Plain T-shirts, sweat shorts and caps with little graphical intervention if at all. For those days that everything you need is a plain white amazing T-shirt.
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