Hip-hop clothing and urban clothing got their start following the streetwear revolution on the West Coast.  The beginnings were modest.  A few punk music performers started putting their mark on T-shirts and selling them to their fans.  Their fans just happened to be mostly surfers and skaters who made the branding idea their own.

The skaters and surfers started their own T-shirt and board-branding trend and, before long, a new fashion movement was born.  Streetwear absorbed its surroundings.  It brought the street into itself and became a reflection of its surroundings.  So, everywhere the trend took hold, it had a different style.  That’s how it became part of the hip-hop culture.  It became a symbolic reflection of the streets of New York, Chicago and every other urban center where hip-hop got a foothold.  Pretty soon, it had taken over the world.

Nowadays, we think of tof hoodies, urban jeans, sneakers and T-shirts as mainstays of fashion in the hip-hop culture.  And they are pretty reliable.  They aren’t going away as hip-hop clothing and urban clothing evolve, but they are changing.  And that’s a good thing.  The culture is all about freedom of choice, and that’s what we’re getting — more choices and more freedom.

Take urban jeans, for example.  Used to be they had to be baggy and cut just below the knees.  Well, no more.  Now they can be short or long, baggy or snug.  And the decoration is getting crazier (in a good way).  You have leather accents, lots of metal studs, embroidery and much more.  So take another look at those Coogi jeans, for example, and see what’s new.

Hoodies have diversified, too.  The styles are almost too numerous to count.  They’ve even gone juvenile.  Hoodies for kids are take-offs on superheroes and cartoon characters, adding a little fun and whimsy to a style that has had a gangster rep for a long time.

Color has taken over the sneaker world.  Footwear now complements the outfit.  Sneakers are more a part of the look than ever before.  So many companies are carrying hip-hop sneaker lines that the choices are practically endless.  No one store is going to have everything you might like.  So shop around.

Even by hip-hop clothing and urban clothing standards, T-shirts have come a long way.  New ways to decorate abound, so graphics and other treatments have gotten more diverse and creative.  The price range is huge, so you’re sure to find something that fits your budget without giving up anything in style.