Five Brands That Celebrate New York City’s Culture
We all know New York City as the fashion capital of the world as it is the birthplace and home of several global fashion brands. However, many of these brands lack a personal tether to the concrete jungle, making them seem almost one dimensional in their approach to the city and its affairs. As a New York City-based publication, we want to highlight brands that balance commerce and community. Here's our list of five brands that keep their home close to their heart.
Image Credit: @Greyareanysee
Founded by Max Ragusa in 2019, GreyAreaNYSee is a Flatbush-born brand that stays true to its slogan, ‘Community is Currency,’ as it challenges its consumers to look at fashion through a perspective of purpose and social reform. With his passion for community curation and fashion, Ragusa captures the essence of collectivity beautifully through his brand.
GreyAreaNYSee’s designs are mainly inspired by other local clothing brands, channeling a fusion of functionality and streetwear. Ragusa also pulls great inspiration from designers like Pharrell Williams and his brand Billionaire Boys Club due to its expression of authenticity and multidimensionality. Along with other creatives, the community and youth contribute to his motivation as his brand continues to establish itself as a pillar for the people. It also runs in the family! Ragusa’s grandmother was known to design and customize her own pieces as she attended the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Image Credit: @Ronanonfilm
GreyAreaNYSee is known to bring a multitude of crowds together to celebrate one another, with events such as their annual Dreamers and Doers Basketball tournaments, their collaborative fashion shows and art exhibitions. The brand’s ultimate goal is to use their platform as a vessel for individuality and social progress, and with their continued support and passion for inclusivity, it’s no doubt they’ll continue to thrive.
2. Hero To All
Image Credit: Herotoall
Kesly Young started his brand in 2019, originally wanting to find a birthday outfit and ended up creating his own. Canarsie born, Young’s brand has developed into creating pieces with the means of spreading positivity and comfortability.
Young’s main inspirations are the simplicity and complexity of life, drawing from overlooked details like neighborhood sounds during seasonal changes or daily commutes. These observations shape his designs while keeping him grounded in the present. HTA’s core values revolve around creating your own identity, while being fly. Incorporating deep thought into each piece of clothing and content, ensuring every consumer is guaranteed a positive experience, It’s no doubt that HTA will continue to evolve.
Image Credit: ByTiannaOsbourne
A Bronx-born brand that combines the eclectic style of New York City with the nostalgic and classic style of Jamaica, ByTiannaOsbourne has caught our eye not because of her beautiful designs but also the intentionality behind them. Started in 2020, Tianna Osbourne’s clothing brand started from the idea of repurposing old denim from her previous job, Old Navy, to create her own pieces. With the overwhelm of support and requests from peers, Osbourne decided to dig a little deeper into the fashion and design scene.
Image Credit: ByTiannaOsbourne
One thing about ByTiannaOsbourne is its emphasis on individuality. Originality stands as one of Osbourne’s core values for her brand, and she truly does not shy away from it through the entire process. Living in New York City, Osbourne gets a lot of her inspiration from fashion-forward people and events, as well as well-known designers such as Mowalola and Lois Saunders. But nothing can top the creative insight gained from visiting her home country, Jamaica. From the materials to the colors, Jamaica is a huge contributor to Osbourne’s thought process for her pieces, including The Postage Bento Bag. Along with the one of one designs, 95% of the fabrics used are sustainable & naturally sourced. Where else are you going to get a crop top that says “Benz Punanni” on it AND is also derived from natural materials?
4. Midao
Image Credit: Midao
Born from the mind of Aman Douglas, MIDAO serves as a living decision to turn eventual dreams into present moments. Founded in 2018, the brand has amassed recognition and love from fans for its unique designs and experimental pieces. It is also known for its creative and unconventional promotion strategies, with each advertisement displaying a story of a new item in easter egg form. Douglas finds his biggest inspiration to be the streets of New York City, describing it as his “school.”
Image Credit: Midao
The brand is one of his vehicles for what he calls a designer's duty to document and “dramatize.” However, this documentation has a bigger mission, one to tell the story of the world through a filter, his being of the MIDAO variety. As the brand has continued to grow and change, Douglas wants his audience to know one thing that will always be true; community is at the center of it all.
5. Art Gallery
Image credit: Pookie Films
Started in Canarsie in 2020, Art Gallery has become a staple in many of the city’s trendsetters and comfort connoisseurs. Inspired by an old colleague with a successful clothing brand of their own, Phillippe Mirville created his brand with the goal of being both New York City fly and comfortable.
Art Gallery’s distinctive style hits very close to home; channeling both East and West coasts fashion trends from the early to mid 2000’s. The style also pulls inspiration from the swag of some of Mirville’s favorite artists such as A$AP Rocky, Pharell Williams and Max B, while adding the brand’s own fun twist. Mirville hasn’t shied away from collaborative events embracing other creatives, with their summer pop-up shops, runway shows and art exhibitions, including an upcoming Black History Month gallery!
Image Credit: Art Gallery
Like many other entrepreneurs, the journey is not as simple as it may look on the internet. Philippe embraces the challenge with a passion for the arts, the motivation to see his designs styled, and the support of his community. He takes things day by day as he’s “going wherever God takes him and his business.”