The Rise of Streetwear

In the past decade, streetwear has gained significant cultural and financial momentum. However, its roots can be traced back to the late 1970s and early 1980s. Over time, this style has been embraced by major fashion houses like Dior and Balenciaga. It has even extended into the art world, thanks to collaborations with influential artists such as KAWS and Takashi Murakami. As a result, some of the most casual looks seen at Fashion Week or on the streets of New York and London now feature highly sought-after and expensive designer pieces.

One notable example of this shift is the collaboration between Burberry and Supreme for their sold-out Spring/Summer 2022 collection, which successfully blended high fashion with elevated streetwear. Specifically, each brand brought something unique to the table: Burberry showcased its Icon stripe on silk pyjamas and incorporated its heritage Equestrian Knight design into leather tracksuits, while Supreme introduced statement outerwear, co-ords, and skateboards featuring Burberry’s iconic House Check. Notably, some of these exclusive items will be featured in our upcoming October auction.

Furthermore, Burberry and Supreme are just two names on a growing list of luxury-streetwear collaborations. For instance, recent partnerships like Balenciaga x Adidas, Palace x Gucci, and Louis Vuitton x Nike have further cemented the fusion of luxury and streetwear. In particular, the Louis Vuitton x Nike project, conceived by Virgil Abloh before his passing, reimagined the classic Air Force 1 as a luxury staple in the sneaker world. Thus, this fusion of high-end fashion with street culture continues to gain traction, blending tradition with the youth-driven energy of contemporary style.