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The relevance between YSL, Chanel, and streetwear

26 July 2009 7,188 views 108 Comments Print this Post Print This Post Print this Post Email This Post

blvck008-whtzoom21When Yves Saint-Laurent passed away last year, the fashion world knew that an icon was lost. Revolutionizing the second half of 20th century fashion, Yves Saint-Laurent’s mark in the industry would certainly be remembered and embraced, having his influences continue to be carried out after his death. Who would have known though that his influences would stretch out beyond the mass luxury and world of couture and into the realms of the streetwear industry? Yves Saint-Laurent had the ability to transform any inspiration into the most beautiful and artistic, yet fitting and lavishly standards of couture. As Yves Saint-Laurent took inspiration from the streets, it cannot be too far fetch to believe that the cycle from streets to high fashion mirrored into high fashion to streetwear in the past recent years.

Hellz Bellz
Hellz Bellz influenced by the YSL logo

His greatest influence of the moment for the streetwear industry takes roots back to his first collection shown under the House of Saint Laurent in January 1962. The collection included tunics and sportswear translating into couture, that also showcased his ability to deconstruct, mingle with colors, as well as first presenting the YSL logo. Cassandre designed the infamous YSL logo, whose influential art in graphic design and typeface successfully made the initial nickname for the brand and helped built it as a recognizable and classic logo in fashion.

One of the most popular trends in streetwear design today is inspired by the YSL logo. The growing trend may exist to pay respects and express the legacy that Yves Saint-Laurent has planted onto the fashion industry. It may also be because Yves Saint-Laurent wasn’t disconnected from street fashion, as his inspiration was usually fueled from the streets; and knowingly or unknowingly, streetwear brands may relate to his designs better. It may also be part of a present movement for streetwear, as they continue to grow to include their version of a ready-to-wear collection, the cut-and-sew line. The YSL logo has taken streetwear by a storm, with what seems like as if each major streetwear brand has harvested their brand’s version of the YSL logo. It has almost become a signature design that a brand has chosen to continue under their wings.

Crooks and Castles
Crooks and Castles influenced by the Chanel logo

The YSL brand logo isn’t the only one that’s been influenced into streetwear designs. Chanel, the Parisian fashion house, has also heavily impacted streetwear brands to implement their infamous Chanel logo or the Chanel No. 5 graphic design onto shirts as well. The continuous design, production, and growing popularity of these type of designs make you question whether streetwear is really trying to push itself onto the next level in fashion or if the consumers who buy these shirts are stating a message of their own. Are the buyers translating that the specific streetwear associated with the altered high-fashion logo design is their equivalence to that high fashion house? Are they stating that streetwear shouldn’t be looked down upon from the rest of the fashion industry? Or is it simply viewed as a mock-up, having these designs as the closest branding to these fashion houses of which people can afford without being scorned for buying a knock-off?

Streetwear brands such as Black Scale, Hellz Bellz, Married to the Mob, Crooks & Castles, Two in the Shirt, and Joyrich are only some of brands that have been influenced by these fashion house logos.

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