If everything happening in the world today has you feeling a little nostalgic for the 90s and early 2000s, you’re not alone. But while Blockbuster video stores and dial-up internet will probably never make a comeback, luckily some of our favorite fashions never really went away.
You may have put away your Coogi sweaters and your boots with the fur, but some of the iconic brands associated with hip-hop and street style from that golden era are still making great clothes, while others are setting themselves up for a reboot. Earlier this month, rapper Nelly recently announced he’s bringing back his Apple Bottom brand of jeans in November 2024.
In honor of Nelly’s launch, we’re looking at some of the brands who’ve managed to keep us looking great since the 1990s.
In 2002, Nelly launched Apple Bottom, his brand of size-inclusive clothing that were made to accommodate women of all shapes and sizes. The jeans, which were meant to be sexy and comfortable, even made it on to Oprah’s Favorite Things list in 2004.
Nelly recently announced a reboot of his iconic brand.
“Don’t call it a comeback!!!! Wanna see what I’ve been up to… Make sure you sign up for behind the scenes access and our First Big Kick Off!!!! 💪🏽💪🏽 ..” he captioned an October 10 Instagram post.
The “Country Grammar” rapper told TMZ that while Apple Bottom will release fresh new styles, the brand will remain true to its original commitment to being a size inclusive option for women.
“Our goal as a brand remains the same: celebrating ALL women, all shapes and sizes. We have amazing new styles and are ready to shake the fashion world again … we’re back!!!” he said.
Designers Carl Jones and TJ Walker founded Cross Colours in 1989 as a denim line made for and by people of color. The pair said their original designs were inspired by young people they saw wearing baggy belted jeans on the subway in New York City.
“There was no African American in the apparel industry making denim, and I felt that denim was a very viable vehicle to start with because everybody wears denim,” Jones said.
Walker added that the pair chose to make clothing in bright colors so they would stand out among their competitors on store shelves. And it worked. The brand soon caught the eye of practically everyone from TLC to the Fresh Prince.
These days, the brand has evolved, but still remains true to its original street style. Fans of Cross Colours can shop some of the OG-inspired style along with a few new looks on their website.
Pelle Pelle was founded in 1978 when Detroit native Marc Buchanan started making leather jackets in the basement of his home. His goal was to create high-quality goods with designs inspired by the streets, and Buchanan, made it his mission to source only the best pelle, which means “leather” in Italian.
“Never substandard stuff. All of the stuff is top of the line, very good quality leather goods,” said the brand’s sales and marketing director John Green. “You can have these jackets for 20 years and they’re like collector’s items.
In 1999, Kimora Lee Simmons put her stamp on women’s streetwear with her brand Baby Phat. The clothes, which included denim and athletic wear, were meant to flatter every figure and the marketing included models of various sizes and hues, something almost unheard of in the fashion industry at the time.
Here, Alicia Keys is seen wearing the brand out and about in New York City in 2003.
If you don’t have your velour tracksuit, don’t worry. Baby Phat is still making jeans and colorful sweats today.
Known for its colorful patterned sweaters, Australian knitwear brand Coogi had fans from Notorious B.I.G. to Bill Cosby in the 1990s.
As the 90s came to a close, styles changed and Coogi sweaters lost its appeal. The original Australian owners sold the brand to American investors in 2002. Although we don’t see rappers rocking the colorful sweaters anymore, the brand made a comeback with a runway show during Atlanta Fashion Week in October 2024.
Another one of Biggie’s favorite brands was Timberland, and he was rarely seen without a pair of six-inch work boots on his feet. The brand, originally designed in the 1970s for workers who dealt with the harsh elements that came along with New England winters, became a fan favorite of rappers in the 1990s.
In September 2024, Timberland launched a special boot in honor of the 30th anniversary of Biggie’s classic “Ready to Die” album.
The Christopher Wallace Collection features a special version of Timberland’s classic six-inch boot reimagined with an image of a baby on the tongue – a nod to the album’s iconic cover art – and a gold-toned tag with a crown design. Biggie’s name is also etched into the heel of the sole.
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