The origins: when fashion was the voice of the streets
Hip hop was born on the streets of the Bronx in the late 1970s, when DJs, dancers, and writers created a new culture of music, art, and identity.
In the 1980s, fashion began to reflect this revolution: Adidas tracksuits, white sneakers, Kangol caps, and gold necklaces became symbols of power and redemption.
It wasn't just about dressing up: it was about showing who you are, where you come from and what you stand for .
With the arrival of the '90s , hip hop style exploded. Street culture conquered TV, magazines, and radio. MTV played Tupac, Biggie, Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, and Dr. Dre in constant rotation—and with them, a new way of dressing .
The era of baggy jeans and XXL sweatshirts
In the 90s, the absolute symbol of hip hop fashion were baggy jeans .
Wide, heavy, often with showy embroidery or colored stitching , they become a style statement.
Brands like Karl Kani , FUBU , Ecko Unltd , Rocawear , Sean John and Southpole are redefining the idea of men's fashion.
No more elegant or slim lines, but enormous volumes, oversized logos and technical materials .
Hip hop sweatshirts were equally iconic: baggy hoods, bold slogans, graffiti-style prints, and crew or rapper symbols.
Those who wore them didn't follow fashion, they created it .
At the same time, workwear entered hip hop culture: Carhartt , Dickies and Ben Davis jackets, created for manual work, were adopted by rappers as a symbol of strength, hard work and authenticity .
They were real, indestructible clothes — just like their music.
The 2000s: The boom of urban luxury
By the 2000s, hip hop was no longer just music. It was business, it was power.
Artists begin to found their own brands, bringing urban culture into the world of luxury fashion.
This is how giants like Puff Daddy's Sean John , Jay-Z's Rocawear and Wu-Wear of the Wu-Tang Clan were born.
The garments become more refined: denim embroidered with gold threads, t-shirts with applied stones, leather, velvet or washed denim jackets , cargo trousers with metallic details.
It's the age of XXXL t-shirts , flat caps , grillz and heavy chains .
Each piece spoke of success, respect, and belonging.
Hip hop is now on the runways, in music videos and in stores in big cities.
The Age of Minimalism (and the Baggy Break)
Around 2010, the fashion world changed direction.
Minimalism takes over: slim trousers, neutral colours, clean lines.
Brands like H&M, Zara and Uniqlo are imposing a new, more sober and “mainstream” aesthetic.
Hip hop style seems to disappear for a moment, replaced by clean, technical streetwear from brands like Supreme, Palace, or Off-White.
But beneath the surface, old school never dies.
In neighborhoods, vintage shops, and private collections, baggy and oversized sweatshirts remain symbols of authenticity.
A legacy ready to return.
The Return: Y2K, Nostalgia, and New Street Culture
From 2020 onwards, the return of baggy and Y2K style is explosive.
The new generations—born after the golden years—are rediscovering the aesthetics of the 2000s through social media like TikTok, Instagram, and Depop.
Loose-fitting outfits, Carhartt jackets, and vintage T-shirts by Ecko, FUBU, Southpole, Raw Blue, Sanchez, Raider, Triiad, and Royal Wear are back in fashion.
But this time with a difference:
the look isn't just nostalgia, it's authenticity .
Those who choose a vintage garment today do so to tell a story, not to follow a trend.
True streetwear is lived-in, with faded embroidery, thick fabrics, original logos, and stitching that speaks of another era.
From the streets to the web: hip hop style today
Streetwear is everywhere today, but few brands manage to convey its original soul .
Leitalianmonke was born for this very reason: to rediscover and resell authentic pieces from the '90s and 2000s hip hop scene, bringing back to life the culture and aesthetic that built an entire movement.
On Leitalianmonke you can find baggy jeans with embroidery, oversized jorts, hip hop sweatshirts, workwear jackets and vintage pieces by brands that have made history – from Karl Kani to Ecko, from Rocawear to FUBU, from Carhartt to Dickies .
Because fashion changes, but culture never dies .
