A short history of fashion in breaking

“The first b-boys were dressed like young people from working-class neighborhoods, they didn’t really stand out. But from the 1970s, we saw a real evolution and they began to develop their own style,” he explains.

The boom of Pro-Keds

“And we see this evolution first in sneakers. For a long time, the Pro-Keds brand, which comes from basketball, was a reference in the neighborhoods and the B-Boys appropriated it quite quickly. Since they come from basketball, they are super comfortable shoes and therefore very practical for dancing.”

… and Puma Clydes

From 1977 and the riots due to the New York blackout (the city was plunged into darkness for two days following a general power cut), many young people went to loot clothes stores and rush to sneaker brands they couldn’t afford: Puma and Adidas. At Puma, lookers targeted the Suede and the Clyde as they were the two emblematic models of this period. The Clyde, which also comes from basketball since it was born from a collaboration between Puma and basketball player Walt Frazier.

Never without Lee jeans

Kangol bell and baseball cap on the head

There are three styles of hats that will be worn by members of the hip-hop and breaking community. The most representative is probably the “Bell”, from the Kangol brand, a headgear that has the shape of a bell, therefore.

Nylon and K-Way tracksuits for sliding

In the early years of this decade, we see the appearance of Adidas nylon tracksuits. They are super comfortable and they allow you to slide more easily, especially on cardboard or pieces of linoleum. During this same period, many breakers adopted the K-Way for these same practical reasons. Members of the same crew then start wearing the same K-Way or the same tracksuits to be recognizable and identifiable as a group. It’s something that comes directly from the culture of the gang.

Flocked T-shirts and customized belts

Something that comes from that culture as well and that you see a lot in the 1980s are the t-shirts on which they flock the name of their crews. In this same desire for identity, we find the “name belt plate”, which was a belt that we could customize so that your name appeared on the buckle.

Close-fitting jumpsuits

Some will also try to differentiate themselves. I’m thinking of the New York City Breakers who are going to wear full suits reminiscent of gymnasts’ outfits. If these outfits are worn exclusively by the group, they are still emblematic because they have a history.

In 1984, when the film “Beat Street” was released in cinemas, the dress style was popularized and everyone who was interested in this culture would adopt it. It’s not just for B-Boys anymore.

Still in the mid-1980s, the Run DMC group contributed to the development of tracksuits, since it signed a partnership with the Adidas brand. They democratize the three-stripe tracksuit and the Superstar.

Troop at the feet

At the end of the 1980s, a brand appeared and was a hit in the B-Boy milieu. Its owner had a shop in the Bronx where he sold unsold pairs. Many young people came to his house because it was cheap and he sold on credit. One day, he picked up a pair of white Pumas that he had graffiti artists design before reselling them. From there, he will create his own brand, Troops, which will take off thanks to the hip-hop community, and in particular L.L Cool J, who loves this brand and who wears it during his appearances. For a time, Troops would even overshadow brands like Nike and Adidas.

In the 1990s, clothing inspired by the world of construction sites appeared in hip-hop and B-boying culture. I think of the Timberland shoes that we see everywhere, of Carhartt for the pants. It was during this decade that brands that became cults were created: Fubu, Cross Colors, Karl Kani and Lugz.

… and the baggy as best friend

Since the 2000s, hip-hop and B-Boy culture has become more democratic. It is no longer a counter-culture and we cannot really speak of cult pieces, specific to hip-hop fashion.