Streetwear for a Purpose

STOP!!!!!! 

Before you think about clicking the “Pay Now” button on Supreme’s website, take a step back and ask yourself, “Am I really getting the most bang for my buck?” Sure, you might have been eye-ing that Box Logo you failed to cop at the last drop for the longest time or dreaming about the upcoming Supreme x Oreo collab, but what else are you getting from that purchase other than an absurd shipping fee? I mean, let’s be honest; no one wants to look like they get all their fashion advice from the eyesore we all know and love as the hypebeast starter pack. Why not invest your scarce “broke college student” funds into brands that do more than just fuel the perpetual cycle of unrestrained consumerism and over-inflated resale prices? You’ve heard of all the hypebeast buzzwords--Stone Island, Off-White, Moncler, Yeezy, yada, yada, yada-- and can probably admit to succumbing to some of them as well. But fear not! Your wardrobe hasn’t lost all hope, unless they contain Balenciaga Triple S sneakers; in which case you should just proceed to burn the whole closet at that point (just kidding!). If you’re looking to place your wallet in causes that matter while still looking like a fresh hypebeast, you’ve come to the right place. Here are a couple of brands that go above the status quo and look stylish while doing so.

Noah NYC

With roots in Long Island, Noah (no, not your lab partner from Chem 1A) is a men’s clothing brand founded by the former creative director of Supreme, Brendon Babenzien. Environmentally conscious from the start, their pirate-like spirit aims to challenge the unsustainable practices of the fashion industry. In 2019, Noah partnered with 1% for the Planet, which set into motion a pledge that Noah would donate 1% of their annual sales to environmental nonprofits around the world. Whether it be their annual holiday coat drive, or educating its followers on prevalent issues on their Instagram page, Noah is at the forefront of the intersection between fashion and ethical consumerism.

Madhappy. 

Are you mad? Happy? Don’t know? That’s okay, and Madhappy thinks so too. At Madhappy, they focus on creating products that normalize and spark conversations on mental health. Self-titled “local optimists,” the creatives at Madhappy provide a wide base of platforms to discuss mental health, from URL-to-IRL, like their aesthetic online publication, The Local Optimist. They even have a team of mental health professionals dedicated to making sure that the content they produce is reputable and up-to-date. Who knows, maybe the Tang Center could learn a thing or two from them. Madhappy believes that “working on your mental wellness is cool”--and they’re right. 110% of the way.

Advisory Board Crystals (Abc.)

Do you know your Abc’s? Advisory Board Crystals, or more succinctly referred to as Abc., is a modern-day crystal shop that also produces one-of-a-kind pieces by tie-dying their garments with crystal-infused dyes. But these crystals aren’t the same crystals you saw as a child in hippie-owned crystal shops. Advisory Board Crystals releases their stones in seasonal collections based on numerology, astrology, and moon phases, all with the goal of promoting wellness and self-care. Despite their eccentric website (you need a password to access it) and unique designs, Abc. has collaborated with top streetwear and designer brands. Last fall, they released a collection of hoodies in collaboration with GUESS Jeans U.S.A. to bring awareness to the growing environmental campaign, and donated a portion of their sales to the Environmental Media Association (EMA) and the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability (UCLA iOES). In a generation where high fashion is constantly evolving, Abc. has shown that anything can rise to the top of the fashion industry. Even those chunky Balenciaga Triple S sneakers.

Especially during the bulk of midterm season, but honestly any time during the semester, you can style these cozy streetwear fits with your exclusive SS20 bed head™  that render your GSIs and classmates unable to discern whether you woke up ten minutes before discussion (Berkeley time, of course) or actually had enough time to throw on such a fresh fit. They also make for great conversation starters; I mean, anyone, even the girl you met at Sugma Alpha Mu, would find your environmentally conscious outfit intriguing.

Words by Jonah Noh

Designs by Ulyses Mendoza