Art + Auto/Moto Car Culture Apparel
Just past the Street Culture section of MAGIC’s South Hall, one moves into the Streetart scene with Label Networks’ vibrant Label Lab Exhibition and artists, Hit & Run silk-screens, and graffiti from the Boost Mobile booth (see story in Arts & Entertainment section) before moving into auto and motocross inspired brands including Travis Barker’s Famous Stars and Straps, Lucky 13, and Rock City. In an exclusive interview at the Label Lab, we talked to Fast Eddie from Fast Eddie’s Garage in Los Angeles regarding the inspiration around moto and auto-greaser inspired apparel culture. As we mentioned in our Presentations at the show, the growth of this segment continues to increase based on inspiration from motocross, BMX, Rally, Dub Culture, and the ricer Drifting scene. Mechanical and tech-based, the car culture scene is truly Americana, bringing gaps between Street Culture, backpacker hip-hop, skate, and grunge. It’s multi-cultural roots bring these types of brands an aesthetic that’s both SoCal but yet dark, that was spawned by a utilitarian auto mechanic workman’s style, more upscale, with specific accessories such as bandanas and unique caps and hairstyles. Its super skinny denim, Nike Dunks, bowler hats, and the auto jacket--part greaser, rock-a-billy, utilitarian, combined with attitude and style like Chester Bennington from Linkin Park.

Formerly Known as the Edge—Punk/Goth Street
The final portion of the South Hall takes you right into an area formerly known as The Edge, which you know you’re walking into yet another genre inspired by music--in this case punk and Goth. This section starts right up front with the models of Utilikilt brand and their fashionable, street, military, and utilitarian-inspired kilts which they aptly describe as “selling freedom” for men. The guys of Utilikilts sported their kilts proudly, paired with chain wallets, combat or grunge boots, sleeveless tanks, and heavy accessories. As Stephen explained, Utilikilts is all about creating streetwear kilts (not the staid wool kilts of Scottish lore). In a brief historical explanation, Stephen explained, kilts are known for their Scottish heritage, but it started from the Roman warriors, as well as Vikings. The Scottish were the ones that kept the kilts alive (not to mention that Roman warriors and Vikings mostly died). Designs as Stephen explained, is a backlash of “trouser tyranny” and made for utilitarian reasons with features including cargo pockets, belt loops, “modesty snaps” for a less loose fit, tool pockets, and various built-in metallic embellishments.

Just past the kilted guys was Tripp NYC. Known for their historical punk aesthetics and revolutionizing the retail scene in New York with their famous store in St. Mark’s Trash and Vaudeville, Ray and Daang sat down with Label Networks TV for an in-depth interview on the evolution of Sex Pistols inspired punk pants with metallic zippers  to wide punk pants, additional usage of zippers and suspenders, red and plaids in the color line-up, to what it is today, including less phat punk pants to a slimmer silhouette that is slightly more comfortable than the super tight punk pants of yesterday. Inspired from the backstreets of London, rock, punk, Goth, the brand’s been around since the early ‘80’s and reminds us all that punk rock remains the right-of-passage particularly among young people around the world.

Manic Panic, the originators of pink punk wigs, metallic nail polish, cosmetics, and accessories, can be safely named as the originators of the Urban Decay movement. Tish and Snooky started the brand 30 years ago inspired by the kind of music they liked and began with a small shop in New York and now have a shop in Venice Beach, CA. But while they’re known for alternative hair color and cosmetics, as Snooky explained, their expansion plans include a “Martha Stewart” line of punk housewares including sheets and pillows, cups and saucers, kitchen appliances, and furniture.

South Hall Sneaker Culture
One of the most interesting aspects of the South Hall is the sneaker culture action going on. Main trends and the most packed booths where the brands that are producing upscale sneakers that have moved the sneaker freaker culture to high-end and quality statement pieces. Like works of art, some of these brands are also taking inspiration from accessories, such as metallic jewelry and combining them with colorful patterns as seen on the new brand KashiKicks. Alan Kashi is known for his jewelry designs and took what he knew in the business and applied them to sneakers in the form of changeable watches in the side of the heel. As Jason Zaccone from Kashi pointed out, we think of jewelry as keepsake pieces—why not sneakers. Kashi Kicks are just that: wearable comfortable, completely stylin’ sneakers that are walking pieces of functional art. You can see the metallic movement, glitter, Swarovski crystals concept in sneaks infiltrating fashion in general as indicated by recent trends from the New York runways during Fashion Week last month as metallics were highlighted in textures and fabrics of high-end designer concepts. It often happens that many trends in fashion apparel start with the sparks of innovation in sneaker culture.

It can also be said that on this same tip, Fishscale sneakers are re-creating the concept of the sneaker with iridescent fishscale patterns on black sneakers that reflect like muted rainbows. Based out of Miami, the people behind Fishscale started with a tour from their original hometown of Boston, driving to Miami, selling their wares out of car trunks, and living a “baller” lifestyle based on what they believed in, according to Bryan and Kywon Edwards. A family business, Fishscale dares to break into sneaker culture with something completely original and extremely collectible—making last year’s cracked-textured Jordan’s and the croc sneak movement from Vans and others seem dated versions of upscale based on the new Fishscale comparisons.

In a final statement, some of the most inspiring stories of the South Hall come from the people themselves—including the new guys scouting the scene for the launch of their own collections, art shows, exhibitions, or collaboration retail concepts coming soon such as Soul of the People, Fast Eddie’s, Sole Junkie, The Line’s Toughest (TLT) Kicks, among others. It reminds us to keep our eyes open and think beyond borders. As we say at Label Networks, you can walk past a big idea if you have your culture blinders on. 

Stay tuned for more in-depth stories, images, and Label Networks TV interviews coming soon.