The Ultimate History of Streetwear: From Underground to Canada’s Best at Gallery Streetwear

Gallery Streetwear IN Kelowna BC Canada


Streetwear has evolved from an underground movement into a global cultural force, blending skateboarding, hip-hop, punk, and high fashion. It’s a lifestyle, a statement, and a community-driven movement that thrives on exclusivity, self-expression, and limited releases. At Gallery Streetwear in Kelowna, BC, we bring the best of this culture to Canada, offering elite sneaker selections and top-tier streetwear brands.

This blog dives into the history of streetwear, the most influential brands, and the best sneakers in Canada—available exclusively at Gallery Streetwear.

The Roots of Streetwear: A Fusion of Skate, Surf, and Hip-Hop

Streetwear started in the 1980s and early 1990s, combining elements from different subcultures:

  • Surf and Skate (California, 1980s) – Brands like Stüssy started printing graphics on T-shirts for surfers, leading to the first limited streetwear drops.

  • Hip-Hop Influence (New York, 1990s) – Oversized fits, sneakers, and bold branding became essential, with brands like FUBU and Evisu defining urban fashion.

  • Japanese Innovation (1990s-2000s) – Labels like BAPE (A Bathing Ape) introduced high-quality streetwear with bold camo prints and collaborations with hip-hop legends.

  • Skate and Punk Culture (2000s-Present) – Brands like Supreme, Palace, and Babylon LA kept the rebellious DIY energy alive in streetwear.

The Pioneers: Brands That Shaped Streetwear

The Originals: Where It All Began

  • Stüssy (1980, California) – One of the first to mix surf, skate, and hip-hop, pioneering the concept of limited-edition drops.

  • FUBU (1992, New York) – A staple in 90s hip-hop, standing for "For Us, By Us", designed for and by the culture.

  • Evisu (1991, Japan) – Premium hand-painted denim, popularized by hip-hop artists like Jay-Z and Lil Wayne.

  • A Bathing Ape (BAPE) (1993, Japan) – Known for its shark hoodies, camo prints, and high-end sneaker collabs, influencing artists like Pharrell and Kanye West.

The Skateboarding Influence

  • Supreme (1994, New York) – Started as a skate shop, now a global powerhouse known for hyped collaborations with Nike, The North Face, and Louis Vuitton.

  • Palace (2009, London) – UK-based skatewear that fuses bold graphics, humor, and British underground culture.

  • Dime MTL (2005, Montreal) – A Canadian skateboarding brand with a minimal aesthetic and technical skate apparel. Dime is the most popular Canadian Streetwear brand at Gallery and we are proud of it.

  • Butter Goods (2008, Australia) – ‘90s-inspired skate fashion with bold graphics and high-quality fabrics.

  • Babylon LA (2015, Los Angeles) – Founded by Trash Talk, blending punk, skate, and music culture into streetwear.

Streetwear Meets High Fashion & Modern Culture

  • Noah (2015, New York) – Founded by Supreme’s former creative director, mixing street style with high-end tailoring.

  • Market (Formerly Chinatown Market, 2016, USA) – Playful graphics, pop culture bootlegs, and DIY-inspired streetwear.

  • b.Eautiful (2019, USA/Japan) – A blend of Japanese and American aesthetics, known for its minimalist designs and cultural references.

  • Gramicci (1982, USA, now Japan-based) – Started as a climbing brand, now a favorite for outdoor-meets-streetwear fits.

DIY & Underground Brands Keeping Streetwear Authentic

  • Carpet Company (2015, Maryland) – Hand-made screen-printed graphics, limited-run drops, and raw skateboarding energy.

  • Pleasures (2015, Los Angeles) – Inspired by grunge, punk, and 90s alternative music, known for controversial graphics.

The Sneaker Game: Essential Footwear in Streetwear

Sneakers are the foundation of streetwear, blending comfort, performance, and culture. At Gallery Streetwear, we carry the best sneakers in Canada:

  • New Balance – Mixing heritage runners with modern street style, NB is a favorite for both sneakerheads and casual wearers.

  • Saucony – Known for retro-inspired sneakers, perfect for a vintage aesthetic.

  • Reebok – Timeless classics like the Club C, Classic Leather, and Pump Fury dominate both fashion and sneaker culture.

  • Clarks Originals – The Wallabee and Desert Boot are iconic in hip-hop history, worn by Wu-Tang Clan and other legends.

  • ON Shoes – Sleek, tech-driven sneakers that combine performance with street-ready style.

Why Gallery Streetwear is Canada’s Best Streetwear & Sneaker Store

At Gallery Streetwear in Kelowna, BC, we curate only the best in sneakers and streetwear. Why are we Canada’s top destination?

✔ Exclusive Brands – We bring in limited-edition drops from the biggest names in streetwear.
✔ Authentic Culture – Owned by lifelong skateboarders, snowboarders, and streetwear lovers.
✔ Unmatched Sneaker Selection – The best sneaker lineup in Canada, featuring New Balance, Saucony, Reebok, Clarks Originals, and ON Shoes.
✔ Big City Vibes in a Small City – Bringing the energy of New York, Tokyo, and LA to Kelowna.

Streetwear is more than just clothing—it’s about self-expression, community, and staying ahead of the curve. If you want the best in Canada, you want Gallery Streetwear.

🔥 Shop the latest drops now at 👉 Gallery Streetwear

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