New York City promises a melting pot of culture, art and fashion from every corner of the world. But even here, it’s not uncommon for big clothing brands to push out smaller ones. Today, you’ll find large Nike, Abercrombie & Fitch and Zara stores next to niche designer shops, even in fashion-forward neighborhoods like SoHo. It’s easy to forget that many brands, even in the designer realm, are pushing the boundaries of traditional New York City fashion —  especially in the world of streetwear, where cultural influences and experimentation shine. These five New York-based streetwear brands seek to combat this change by bringing together different aspects of city culture and history.

Eckhaus Latta

75 E Broadway #206

A sculpture student named Mike Eckhaus and a textiles student named Zoe Latta walk into the Rhode Island School of Design: The result is Eckhaus Latta, a gender-fluid, high-end fashion brand, pushing the accepted boundaries of art. Most notably, in one of their first collection campaigns, the pair featured models having sex, half-dressed in their clothes, of course. In their latest spring 2025 line, they put a twist on the traditional runway show, opting instead for an intimate dinner gathering where attendees were dressed in the latest pieces. Looking around, guests were surrounded by the new collection as they ate and conversed. 

Eckhaus Latta infuses simplistic clothing with an artistic edge, from asymmetrical tank tops, or the “Flip Top” to color-blocked jeans. With an emphasis on inclusivity, the brand tries to diversify its models for each runway — not only in gender and body type but also in their occupations, ranging from chefs to musicians like Dev Hynes, also known as Blood Orange.

Aimé Leon Dore

224 Mulberry St.

If you’ve frequented Mulberry Street, you might have noticed that a particular store with recognizable dark green window awnings and lush wooden paneling has an ever-present line that stretches down the block. Customers usually have to wait at least one or two hours before being let into the store — all to catch a glimpse inside one of New York’s most renowned streetwear brands: Aimé Leon Dore.

Founded in 2014 by Queens native Teddy Santis, menswear brand ALD takes a modern, hip-hop sneaker culture spin to Ralph Lauren-esque minimalist, sleek lines. It has been a major contributor to the rise of preppy streetwear in the 2020s, offering a wide range of clothing from Team Leon Performance Jerseys and Denim Trucker Jackets to classic Core Chino Shorts and Tropical Wool Suit Trousers. The fact that both LeBron James and Bill Clinton have worn ALD speaks to the brand’s versatility.

Anna Sui

484 Broome St.

Perhaps the most colorful and innovative on this list is Anna Sui, a brand that truly personifies its namesake designer. A second-generation Chinese American, Sui attended The New School’s Parsons School of Design and worked for a sportswear company before being fired for having her individual designs featured in The New York Times, which has now written about her regularly for the last several years. Sui then started her own label in her apartment in 1981, which quickly shot to fame over the next decade, earning her the title “Top Five Fashion Icons of the Decade” alongside Yves Saint Laurent and Ralph Lauren. 

Sui’s designs are wild, often referencing vintage cuts and patterns, such as the Cornflower Tweed Cape, Gingham Skirt and Quilted Daisies Jacket. Drawing inspiration from a variety of cultures, including Japanese and Chinese, she represents the essence of New York’s diversity and vivacity. 

Noah 

195 Mulberry St.

Another frontrunner of the preppy streetwear, or “post-streetwear,” trend is Noah, a SoHo-based menswear brand founded by Brendon Babenzien and Estelle Bailey-Babenzien in 2015. What makes Noah different from brands like ALD is how it gives back to its surrounding community. Babenzien draws inspiration for many of his designs from the eight years he spent working at a surf shop on Long Island, as well as his love for skating and music. In other words, he brings beachy vibes to the streets of New York. 

Noah also tries to focus on sustainability. The quality and source of Babenzien’s pieces are undisputed, even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, when industry sales and profits took a major hit. The brand also gives a percentage of its revenue to nonprofits — for instance, one percent of its annual sales goes to environmental groups. 

Awake NY

62 Orchard St.

Awake NY represents an older part of New York City that millennials remember all too well. The ’90s saw a jarring mix of subcultures on the verge of learning how to fit together, with creatives in underground rap, skateboarding and hip hop each finding a unique place in street culture from the Bronx to Coney Island. Awake NY represents chaos with its color palette and patterns fluctuating from soft pastels to bright florals to grounded plaids. With an equally colorful store in Chinatown, Awake NY offers an escapist gateway back to the ’90s that kindles a sense of nostalgia and individuality yet classic timelessness. 

Contact Ivanka Sun at [email protected].