Supreme!
8 years ago by
Erik Melvin
I’ve always been fascinated by Supreme, as a brand… That I don’t really understand. And I love what I can’t really understand. It means it’s different, and that it challenges my point of view. There is the logo, bold and immediately recognizable. There are the products, mostly streetwear, which I’ve always loved. And then the stores, super simple, the irresistible charm of which is hard to understand for an outsider.
But then there is the line outside the store. Every Thursday when the brand drops their new products.
Everyone who walks by the store on Lafayette is like, what happening in there?
Well, what’s happening is the cult of Supreme. The skater mystic. The limited editions. The crazy collaborations (Richard Prince, Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst to name a few). A brand that’s a case study in itself.
But what I love the most about the brands is the fans. I actually do walk by the store every Thursday, as it’s on my way to the studio, and I am always super charmed by the kids waiting in line with such anticipation. I also love their style. It’s exactly how I wanted to dress up when I was a teenager!!!
So the team and I thought it would be cool to go and bring you back a few of our favorites today, and to share with you a culture that’s another part of fashion, and that we love!
Name, Age, Instagram
My name is Brittany, I’m 21 years old, and my Instagram is @brincess.
Longest you’ve ever waited in line for Supreme?
I’ve actually stayed overnight before, so probably a full 18 hours.
First piece of Supreme you ever bought?
I first bought a flannel hat, the rest is history.
How long have you been wearing Supreme?
I bought that first flannel hat 4 years ago, so since then.
What is it about the brand that you like so much?
It’s exclusive and very hard to get. I won’t see the average girl walking down the block wearing it.
What did you buy today?
The headband, a camo thermal, and a thermal hoodie.
What is the longest you’d be willing to wait for a drop?
Now that I’m always coming here, I don’t wait more than an hour.
What’s the most you’d be willing to spend on a drop?
$600.
How much did you spend today?
$240.
What would you be doing today if you weren’t here?
I’d probably be at work, but I skipped work today to be at Supreme.
Name, Age, Instagram
My name is Samuel Michael Silverman, I’m 19 years old, my Instagram is @samsil.
Longest you’ve ever waited in line for Supreme?
This is actually the first time I’ve ever waited in line.
First piece of Supreme you ever bought?
My first piece must have been this pink jacket. Everyone said it was whack, but I wore it for the first time the other night and got so many compliments.
How long have you been wearing Supreme?
I just started wearing it when I bought that jacket in August!
What is it about the brand that you like so much?
I just love how limited edition it is. I don’t like wearing the same thing as other people. When I walk down the street, no one else has the same thing as me.
Same logo though!
Same logo – I don’t care about that though, it’s a cool logo.
What did you buy today?
Today I bought a Supreme sweatshirt, it’s also white and pink and I bought a black varsity jacket.
What is the longest you’d be willing to wait for a drop?
Honestly, I’m not that type of guy to wait around for two and a half hours.
What’s the most you’d be willing to spend on a drop?
Today I spent $500, that was a little whack. I waited though, might as well capitalize!
What would you be doing today if you weren’t here?
I probably would have walked around SoHo, looking for patches for my jacket.
Johnny, I’m 19, and I don’t have Instagram.
Longest you’ve ever waited in line for Supreme?
About 8 hours.
First piece of Supreme you ever bought?
The CNN [Capone n Noreaga] tee from this season.
How long have you been wearing Supreme?
I just started wearing it this season.
What is it about the brand that you like so much?
I don’t know – I used to skateboard and it’s a skate brand.
What did you buy today?
I got a headband and a hooded thermal.
What is the longest you’d be willing to wait for a drop?
It depends on the drop!
What’s the most you’d be willing to spend on a drop?
$1200.
How much did you spend today?
$200.
What would you be doing today if you weren’t here?
Sleeping.
Name, Age, Instagram
My name is Kyle, I’m 22, and my Instagram is @milo_makaveli.
Longest you’ve ever waited in line for Supreme?
Probably an overnight camp. And I didn’t even get the item, which is crazy. It was the Supreme x Nike Foam collaboration. That was probably the craziest release ever. The block was covered with kids.
First piece of Supreme you ever bought?
Oh man…I wish I could remember.
How long have you been wearing Supreme?
A long time. I mean, I’ve always acknowledged the brand, but I got into it in 10th grade, around 2009 or 2010.
What is it about the brand that you like so much?
The collaborations they do and their accessories. They’re very unique to who they are because they’re edgy. Especially who they collaborate with – I appreciate that. They do funky prints, out of the norm stuff, and their t-shirts are very edgy. They bring edge to collaborations, that’s what I like. And the out of the norm styles you wouldn’t appreciate until you see them.
What did you buy today?
I just got the headband. It has a 3M knit, so it’s something cool to wear.
What is the longest you’d be willing to wait for a drop?
I can tell you now I’ve waited a week – not like I’m sitting outside, but it was for the Yeezy’s. They would do a roll call, so you show up at a certain time, and go back and forth. I did that for a week.
What’s the most you’d be willing to spend on a drop?
I’ve spent up to $900 before, but if it were a big release, the most I would do would be $1500.
How much did you spend today?
I just got the headband so not much.
What would you be doing today if you weren’t here?
It’s cold, I’m off work, I’d be home watching Black Mirror on Netflix.
My name is Nicole, I’m 15, and @nicolehamill.
Longest you’ve ever waited in line for Supreme?
An hour or an hour and a half.
How long have you been wearing Supreme?
A year or two.
Where are you from?
Scotland. I usually shop online or go to the Supreme shop in London
What is it about the brand that you like so much?
It’s different, I can’t really explain it.
What did you buy today?
Two jumpers.
What is the longest you’d be willing to wait for a drop?
As long as it takes, I don’t mind waiting.
What’s the most you’d be willing to spend on a drop?
Well I spent about $300 today so likely around there.
What would you be doing today if you weren’t here?
Probably shopping, just elsewhere.
Name, Age, Instagram
I’m 20 years old, my name is Miclyd Ferrao, and my Instagram is just @Miclyd_.
Longest you’ve ever waited in line for Supreme?
I don’t actually wait that long, you kind of have to just know about it to be honest. If you know how to get on line you can get anything you want.
First piece of Supreme you ever bought?
A Burberry box logo t-shirt, and I got it for a steal.
How long have you been wearing Supreme?
I don’t know, just the last couple years. But I have a lot of pieces from high school that I just have, that I’ve never really worn.
What is it about the brand that you like so much?
It’s New York City relevant and I grew up here.
What did you buy today?
I got the headband and a woodland camo t-shirt. To be honest, the headband is nice but I wanted the black one. I like the 3M on it too.
What is the longest you’d be willing to wait for a drop?
It depends on the day, today I didn’t wait that long.
What’s the most you’d be willing to spend on a drop?
Depends what it is. To be honest you can buy a lot of this stuff and resell and make more money, you aren’t just spending money on it, it’s like an investment.
How much did you spend today?
$120.
What would you be doing today if you weren’t here?
I don’t have class today which is why I come on Thursdays.
Name, Age, Instagram
Victor Cruz, I’m 23, and my Instagram is @supremekicks93.
Longest you’ve ever waited in line for Supreme?
Before they started doing this [line system], like 2 or 3 seasons ago we lined up on Monday [for the Thursday release]. I’d be here during the day and at night everyone would agree to go home and come back the next day in the same order. Now it’s completely different.
How long have you been wearing Supreme?
I first bought it in 2007.
What is it about the brand that you like so much?
Before it was very unique, not a lot of people wore it. I used to wear a lot of Nike SB, which is a skate brand, and I just like Supreme’s clothes as well.
What did you buy today?
I got a headband, I wanted an astronaut jacket but since they are doing this random listing, I was #160 on the list.
What is the longest you’d be willing to wait for a drop?
If it was first come first serve, for a good drop I’d wait 2 or 3 days.
What’s the most you’d be willing to spend on a drop?
Most I’ve ever spent was $2,000.
How much did you spend today?
I just got the headband. If I would have gotten the jacket I would have spent probably $500.
What would you be doing today if you weren’t here?
I’d probably be at home sleeping.
Kyuhwan Kim, @sexyvintage.
First piece of Supreme you ever bought?
This Nike jacket I’m wearing, probably close to 2 years ago.
How long have you been wearing Supreme?
2 years.
What is it about the brand that you like so much?
Their collaborations are the best. Supreme and Nike or Comme des Garcons.
What did you buy today?
A puffer coat, a corduroy hat, a polo, and sneakers. I’m selling some of it.
What is the longest you’d be willing to wait for a drop?
1 week.
What’s the most you’d be willing to spend on a drop?
Over a thousand.
How much did you spend today?
$1,018.
What would you be doing today if you weren’t here?
I would be trying to buy online.
Name, Age, Instagram
My name is Justin Perez, I’m 17, and my Instagram is @j.soles.perez.
Longest you’ve ever waited in line for Supreme?
Maybe an hour and a half.
First piece of Supreme you ever bought?
It was a t-shirt! A kids t-shirt.
How long have you been wearing Supreme?
About two years. I’ve been following them for about 4 years, but I first bought it 2 years ago.
What is it about the brand that you like so much?
I like the designs they have on the shirts and hoodies.
What did you buy today?
I got the beanie that dropped today, and the joint man t-shirt.
What is the longest you’d be willing to wait for a drop?
It depends, probably about 3 hours.
What’s the most you’d be willing to spend on a drop?
$400-$500.
What would you be doing today if you weren’t here?
I’d probably be working right now.
Ce n’est pas du tout mon style mais j’aime bien!
Je ne connaissais pas du tout cette marque.
Le teddy tartan pour homme est super joli! <3
Xxx
Julie, Petite and So What?
J’adore ce sujet. La “folie” de ces gens capables de faire la queue pendant des heures pour une marque, je suis fan. ça parait complètement dément mais c’est attendrissant, les extrêmes de la mode c’est un sujet inépuisable. Et puis ces jeunes sont tellement stylés, ils ont tout compris, ils portent les vêtements comme un gant, j’aimerais être aussi cool qu’eux habillée en Suprême mais je crois que je n’ai pas assez le SWAG^^ En tout cas vous avez toujours le chic pour trouver de sujets originaux . Je ne me lasse pas de vous lire.
It’s crazy how when a product availability becomes limited, the demand goes to the roof!
Tellement cool, le sujet, les photos, c’est juste coolissime !
Une marque que je ne connais pas encore très bien, à part pour l’avoir vu dans les magazines et sur Rihanna. Habitant l’Europe je savais absolument pas que c’était une marque aussi culte.
J’aime,la forme et le contenu de ce post… c’est une super idée.
xx
Good feature–really enjoyed this…Not something I’d usually know much about, so it was interesting to learn!
Incroyable cet engouement, on ne connait pas ça en France (enfin je ne crois pas !)
Honestly, they look like ordinary young people in these pictures. I’m pretty sure you can dress just as cool with half of this budget. Either vintage or you customize, sew, paint items yourself.
I love this story! Well done for going outside the format.
Honestly I do not understand how this strategy of limited editions still work : the brand creates the scarcity just to sell things faster and expensively. How cans these kids spend so much money on terribly ordinary designs, except for the logo.
Because, honestly they look like any common brand sportswear. And sorry you look exactly like your neighbor, you wear exactly the same hoodie, except for the big red logo. And they are so expensive.
These kids spend a lot of money on clothes!
Je n’avais absolument pas le meme budget fringues a leur âge, c’est dingue!
Hmm, a bit of an unusual story for the blog but I like it! I’ve always wondered why people line up to buy Supreme…
Peut-être que c’est parce que je suis française (et donc moins addict à l’emprise des marques qu’aux USA), mais je trouve à la fois ce post intéressant et aussi alarmant. Je m’explique : je trouve ça intéressant, car ça montre parfaitement le formatage de ces jeunes – acheter, dépenser, attendre des heures pour une fringue – ils ont parfaitement intégré et sont parfaitement intégrés au système ultra capitaliste, au marketing… Mais c’est aussi extrêmement alarmant, car ces jeunes semblent incapables de remettre en cause ce système, et la société de consommation. Ils ne cherchent pas la petite bête : ces vêtements, où sont-ils fabriqués ? Par qui et dans quelles conditions ? Quand on est capable d’attendre des heures et de jours devant un magasin pour acheter des vêtements, est-on vraiment libre ? Ils ne réfléchissent même pas au marketing de la marque : celle-ci a parfaitement compris que les jeunes aujourd’hui veulent se différencier, ne pas paraître uniformisés et donc recherchent des vêtements uniques qui les définissent. Mais en fait, derrière cet argument marketing, c’est exactement le même système de consommation que l’on encourage. Peut-être ces jeunes devraient-ils plutôt se rendre à des cours de philosophie (c’est très français d’ailleurs) pour travailleur leur esprit critique (ce qui fait de nous des êtres libres) et se défaire du monde des étiquettes.
T’inquiète pas coco ils ne sont pas tous comme ça.
Comme mon fils a fait du skate longtemps, je lui ai demandé s’il connaissait Supreme, il m’a dit “évidemment maman, ça fait un moment que c’est à la mode ! Mais c’est trop cher.” (dit celui qui était capable de claquer tout son argent de poche dans des roulements high tech…)
Et JAMAIS il ne ferait la queue des heures pour en acheter, même s’il en avait les moyens, ou plus exactement, même si sa mère en avait les moyens !
(quant aux cours de philo de terminale, le programme est trop dense, la plupart du temps, ils n’ont même pas le temps de se poser pour discuter).
For sure one or two of these kids are resellers. Like this guy: https://www.instagram.com/sexyvintage/
Très bon article , j’aime bien ces vêtements et les couleurs !
Très intéressant ce post. Je ne connais pas Suprême mais je suis française et trop âgée. C me parait dingue d’avoir de tels budgets à cet âge et surtout de faire la queue pour des fringues ! En même les capsules H&m, c’est pareil (sauf la dernière colab’ avec Kenzo, il en restait plein hier au H&m Rivoli ;tellement horrible…
J’ai bien aimé les couleurs,merci pour cet article