A growing trend seen in the fashion industry has been the progression of streetwear into high fashion brands. According to Jessica Sulima, author of How Streetwear Is Influencing a New Era of Luxury Fashion, “As high fashion houses tap more and more into this growing social media trend, streetwear is occupying a larger space within the upper echelons of style.” Apps such as Instagram and Twitter are influencing fashion trends, and to a larger extent, the fashion industry itself. Each brand’s customer base controls what type of collections each brand produces every season.

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“As high fashion houses tap more and more into this growing social media trend, streetwear is occupying a larger space within the upper echelons of style.”

— Jessica Sulima

High fashion brands use social media to see what trends their customers are following, and social media is filled with various streetwear brands and trends. Brands such as Supreme have even collaborated with high fashion brands like Louis Vuitton. Graphic tees, distressed jeans, fanny packs, and sneakers – all staples of streetwear – are showing up more and more in luxury fashion. The fashion industry is changing for better or worse, depending on whom you are asking. Whether good or bad, change allows creative directors to evolve.

Some brands like Off-White are considered high fashion but makes streetwear clothing predominantly. Others, namely Gucci and Balenciaga, have harmoniously blended the two worlds of clothing. They are producing new and fresh collections that appeal to the younger generations while still being high enough quality to be considered high fashion. In essence, streetwear could be seen as a reaction to and an evolution of the grandeur of luxury fashion.