10 of the Best Streetwear Brands for Women
Highsnobiety’s women-focused shopping content is put together by our team of in-the-know women curators and writers to bring you the very best in streetwear, fashion, and sneakers.
Let's face it, streetwear is a male-dominated field. A few brands insist on offering options for men only, while some of those that do include women's collections don't bring their dopest designs to the table. Whether online shopping or at physical stores, many of us women are often left lusting for men's offerings because, in all honesty, the menswear section always has the best stuff. But luckily, many of the streetwear brands we know and love have been catching up with the times and offering us clothing that we actually want to wear.
To help you shop with ease, we've put together our list of the 10 best streetwear brands for women. Check them out below.
Carhartt WIP
Founded in Detroit, Carhartt is one of the most recognizable workwear brands on Earth, creating high-quality and durable clothing for workers since 1889. Its now-established "Work in Progress" (WIP) project only came about in 1994 thanks to Edwin Faeh, taking Carhartt to a whole new level.
Still focused on everyday wear, Carhartt WIP fuses the brand's essence with skatewear and streetwear, using sleek designs and bold graphics on T-shirts, hoodies, and utility jackets, as well as Carhartt's signature overalls and workwear pieces. Even better, Carhartt WIP includes a womenswear collection that loses nothing when compared with the men's line.
Carhartt WIP's women's line includes everything from camo pieces, varsity jackets, and overalls to long-sleeves, work jeans, beanies, and more. If you're into the whole workwear vibe, Carhartt WIP has to be your go-to.
Stüssy
When it comes to streetwear, Stüssy needs no introduction. The brainchild of Shawn Stussy, a surfer who grew up in Southern California, Stüssy grew from a surfboard company to a full-fledged streetwear brand, thanks in part to the help of old surfer friend Frank Sinatra Jr.
Over the years, Stüssy became synonymous with free-spirited and laid-back yet dope clothing, something that can still be seen in its recent collections. The brand even has a Stüssy Tribe, a collective of like-minded creatives and in-the-know individuals with strong ties to the brand, including Mick Jones from punk legends The Clash.
Although its founder has now left, the brand is still going strong, with recent collaborations with the Bob Marley estate and a store opening in London. And while most, if not all, of the men's pieces are replicated in women's sizes, Stüssy has a whole Stüssy Women line dedicated to all our streetwear needs.
MISBHV
Coming all the way from Poland, MISBHV (pronounced "misbehave") is a streetwear brand that caters solely to women. Natalia Maczek, the woman behind MISBHV, was supposed to study fashion in London but wound up poring over law books in Warsaw.
Yet her love for fashion won out and pretty soon Maczek was adding DIY touches to T-shirts and sweaters at just 19 years old, picking up a loyal following in the local clubbing scene. It wasn't long until the designs started doing the rounds outside those circles, and MISBHV quickly garnered a fanbase not only in Poland but internationally as well.
MISBHV has now become a major player in the women's streetwear game, with major co-signs coming from the likes of Rihanna (the singer, not our Rhianna) and big retailers such as Farfetch, Antonioli, and more.
OFF-WHITE
Virgil Abloh is inarguably one of the best-known figures in streetwear thanks to his brand OFF-WHITE, and now luxury fashion as well, as head of menswear at Louis Vuitton. And it's easy to see why he got that gig.
OFF-WHITE has gained a loyal following, resonating with countless kids around the world, while its footwear collaborations with Nike and Converse sell out instantly. As far as apparel and accessories are concerned, Abloh has collaborated with brands such as Levi's Made & Crafted, Heron Preston, and RIMOWA, as well as iconic women's footwear brand Jimmy Choo.
OFF-WHITE's womenswear collections, meanwhile, are all about the details, with insane pieces ranging from Princess Diana-inspired suits and ’90s-style denim jeans to patent leather pants, cropped denim jackets, and boots. So while Abloh has climbed to the top of the game at Louis Vuitton, he's still around to keep us dripping in the best OFF-WHITE gear, too.
A-COLD-WALL*
Founded just three years ago, London-based A-COLD-WALL* is already an established brand in streetwear. Samuel Ross, the young designer behind the label, was actually Virgil Abloh's protege before going solo.
Ross initially pursued a career as a graphic designer, following his love for illustration and construction, but soon turned his attention to fashion. After helping out designer friend Andrew Harper on his label 2wnt4, Ross started working as an intern for Abloh, working his way up to the role of creative assistant at OFF-WHITE. After a couple of years with Abloh, Ross then decided to channel his talents and funds into his own project, A-COLD-WALL*.
Focusing on technical and experimental garments, A-COLD-WALL*'s collections originally included only menswear, with occasional capsules catering to women. Not anymore. After much anticipation, A-COLD-WALL* finally launched its FW18 womenswear collection, packed with edgy and androgynous garments such as hoods, tactical vests, pants, and more — perfect for those ladies who prefer a harder look.
Prix Workshop
Although Prix Workshop debuted its first collection this year, the small brand already has more than 60,000 followers on Instagram and co-signs from many of those who know what's cool.
Prix Workshop is a streetwear brand founded by Esther Ng, a young designer based in New Zealand. While Prix Workshop is based Down Under, 90 percent of the brand's customers are based outside of the country, according to Ng's interview with New Zealand magazine Viva.
With its debut FW18 collection, Prix Workshop included some of the biggest womenswear trends of the year, such as frozen yellow biker shorts and bikini tops, as well as many unisex pieces including cargo pants and tactical vests. And if you care about the Kardashian-Jenner family's stamp of approval, Prix Workshop's pieces have been worn by Kylie, Khloe, and Kendall.
KITH
Founded in New York by Ronnie Fieg in 2011, KITH operates both as a retail store with locations in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles, and as a clothing brand that caters to both women and men.
For the uninitiated, Fieg is a major figure in the sneaker industry, with more than 20 years of experience in the game. Born and raised in Queens, Fieg first got into the sneaker world when he started working as a stock boy at a New York sneaker shop at the tender age of 12. With time, he worked his way up the ladder and eventually became the store's head buyer before venturing out on his own to open KITH.
At KITH, not only will you find some of the best offerings in fashion, but its in-house apparel line is pretty sweet, too. In fact, KITH Women recently partnered with MISBHV on a 17-piece co-branded FW18 collection that ranged from athleisure pieces and sweatsuits to leather jackets and pants.
1017 ALYX 9SM
Once known as just ALYX, 1017 ALYX 9SM creates subversive fashion using high-quality materials. Based in New York City, 1017 ALYX 9SM is actually produced in Ferrara, Italy, where founder Matthew Williams currently resides.
Born in Chicago, Williams was raised in California and founded his brand in 2015. The luxury brand quickly picked up a following among consumers and fashion insiders alike thanks to its fashion-forward designs. Take the ALYX chest rig, for example. The unisex accessory was one of the hottest trends of the year and kickstarted a look that doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon.
After some extensive research, Williams finally debuted the brand's first womenswear collection, which included ready-to-wear accessories and harnesses inspired by the designer's Californian roots and love for urban subcultures, as well as his years-long experience in the fashion industry.
Heron Preston
Like A-COLD-WALL*'s Samuel Ross, Heron Preston is an associate of Virgil Abloh. And just like Abloh, Preston is a jack of all trades, being not only a fashion designer but also an artist and creative director, having helped Kanye West as a creative consultant on his YEEZY label and The Life of Pablo album.
Born and raised in San Francisco, Preston pursued his education in New York City, earning a degree from the Parsons School of Design in Manhattan. He debuted his eponymous line at Paris Fashion Week Men's in 2017, making waves with his "UNIFORM" line, a collaboration with the NYC Department of Sanitation that included a series of zero waste-themed clothing and accessories.
Thankfully, Preston hasn't left the ladies out. The designer launched a 50-piece womenswear collection for FW18, bringing a more "feminine" vibe with crop tops and transparencies, as well as handbags in collaboration with old pal Abloh and his brand OFF-WHITE.
I.AM.GIA
In a world of weak Instagram brands, I.AM.GIA is an Instagram-born brand that does things right. Founded just last year, I.AM.GIA is the brainchild of Alana Pallister, who also co-founded Australian retailer Tiger Mist with her sister Stevie. Via Instagram, I.AM.GIA quickly gathered a loyal following of influencers and celebrities.
And it's easy to see why. With statement designs ranging from snakeskin boots and corsets to cargo pants and plaid sets, the brand brings the kind of uber-confident designs that are prime Insta-flex material. You don't need to be an Instagram baddie to rock the designs, either, as all of I.AM.GIA's pieces retail for no more than $200.
If you're looking for neck-breaking pieces to flex on the ’gram, I.AM.GIA has everything you need. What's more, the brand is now crossing over to big retailers such as Urban Outfitters, making it even more accessible.
Check out how sneaker brands are catering to women's tastes by watching the video below.
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