The Best Streetwear Collaborations of 2021

1. Yeezy x Gap

“Let’s go back, back to the Gap,” Kanye West rapped on 2003’s College Dropout-track “Spaceship.” Nearly 20 years later, West did exactly that, bringing his global influence back to the brand where it all started for him. Announced midyear, Yeezy x Gap aimed to do for apparel what Yeezy x adidas did for sneakers in 2015. And although only a handful of products have been released under the joint banner so far, including puffer jackets and hoodies, West’s “Yeezys for everyone” philosophy is as alive as ever, slowly rolling out to the masses through the infrastructure and production capabilities of an American style institution.

If the success of West’s adidas initiative is any indication, Yeezy x Gap will transform what is possible when two powerful entities come together, bringing Ye’s coveted design language to the masses through clothing while elevating Gap back to the cultural status it once held.

2. Kanye West x Demna Gvasalia

If Kanye West and Demna Gvasalia are two of the most influential creatives of their generation, then together they’re an unstoppable force. The two linked up as individuals (sans Yeezy and Balenciaga, respectively) in support of West’s Donda release, staging minimal set designs and live-streamed performance art pieces. The collective vision they shared with the world in late summer bordered on the apocalyptic—spike-covered jackets, bulletproof vests, leather combat boots, identity-obscuring face masks—manifested on a practical level through collaborative merchandise done in neutral tones with cryptic imagery. 

Months later, the internet is still trying to decipher their meaning. Judeo-Christian symbolism? Deep-state conspiracy? Masterclass in trolling? Regardless of intent, West and Gvasalia’s collaboration made its mark, exploring territory previously untapped by either camp.

3. Balenciaga x Fortnite

Disruption runs through Demna Gvasalia’s body of work. From DHL x Vetements to Balenciaga’s take on IKEA’s iconic blue shopping bag, there’s little Gvasalia hasn’t filtered through his kaleidoscopic worldview, blurring the lines between luxury, streetwear and cultural relevance in 2021. It’s what makes Balenciaga x Fortnite a particularly standout collaboration.

Beyond the physical and digital styles associated with the partnership, Balenciaga’s collaboration with Fortnite acknowledged the legitimacy of video games as cultural public square and signaled the arrival of a new kind of luxury consumer, one as likely to spend their days battling it out virtually as they are on Rodeo Drive.

4. The North Face x Gucci

Outerwear went through something of a renaissance in the last few years and at the forefront of this movement were the brands that started it all. Long held in high regard by outdoor enthusiasts, the rest of the world caught on as it embraced the straightforward utility and practical design of styles from The North Face, Patagonia and others.

The North Face x Gucci took this growing obsession to the next level, outfitting Dolomite-ready puffers, boots, beanies and backpacks in floral and abstract patterns dreamed up by Alessandro Michele and The North Face’s design team. Like Balenciaga x Fortnite, the Italian house’s co-sign of the American outdoor brand certified an entire lifestyle previously unacknowledged by legacy luxury brands.

5. Drake x Chrome Hearts

Mutual fans and friends for years, Drake and Chrome Hearts got together in an official capacity in the run up to Certified Lover Boy. While the crown jewel of the collaboration was undoubtedly the 1-of-1 Rolls Royce, a small collection of hoodies, jeans and accessories resulted in a capsule that flipped the merch formula on its head.

Instead of the mass availability and accessibility the apparel subgenre necessitates, Drake x Chrome Hearts was produced to the Los Angeles brand’s meticulous standards and priced accordingly. Hoodies were hand-dyed, ensuring no two were exactly the same, while jeans featured the same immaculate detailing as the kinds worn by Lil Uzi Vert, resulting in a collaboration that helped redefine music merch.

6. Louis Vuitton x NIGO

Virgil Abloh’s Louis Vuitton and Japanese designer NIGO reunited for the second time in 2021, improving upon a formula the two laid out a year prior. The French house’s luxurious craftsmanship was as present as ever across sneakers, apparel, accessories and outerwear, while NIGO’s cartoonish graphics helped transition the collaboration from runway spectacle to real-life wearable. What the duo’s second project did most significantly, however, was reaffirm the idea that streetwear isn’t about a dollar amount. Instead it’s about creativity and attitude, a concept both Abloh and NIGO have explored from various angles over the course of their careers.

7. Supreme x Missoni

Supreme is no stranger to collaboration having practically invented and then perfected the form as one of streetwear’s most iconic brands. With nearly 30 years of history, the New York mainstay manages to surprise with every season and FW21 proved no different. 

Teaming up with Italian label Missoni, the two unveiled an extensive knitwear collection that demonstrated the best of both worlds, executing apparel and accessories in a handful of colorful options. While some pieces made prominent use of Supreme and Missoni’s logos, others opted for a more subdued approach, including the collection’s highlight: a trio of sweaters featuring an abstract impression of the NYC skyline.

8. Stüssy x Our Legacy

Although located on opposite sides of the globe, California’s Stüssy and Sweden’s Our Legacy share an affinity for uncomplicated clothing elevated through subcultural references. Coming together for the second time, Stüssy x Our Legacy found their own middle ground, riffing on Harley Davidson’s logo for their own purposes and discovering a far subtler use for camouflage prints. Additional imagery included a combination crest, featuring Stüssy’s surfman illustration and Our Legacy’s yin-yang mark, and a skull graphic intertwined with flowers. Two collaborations in, it’s clear both brands are riding the same wave, one that will likely continue its break towards shore in 2022 and beyond.

9. Comme des Garçons SHIRT x KAWS

In 2014, KAWS and Comme des Garçons linked up with Pharrell Williams on GIRL, a fragrance as notable for its bottle design as its scent. Since then, the Brooklyn-based artist has continued to work with Rei Kawakubo’s global imprint on one-off projects, yet no collaboration has been as unapologetic in its execution as 2021’s Comme des Garçons SHIRT x KAWS capsule. 

Emboldened to leave nothing on the cutting-room floor, button-ups, T-shirts, hoodies and bags arrived loaded with KAWS’ familiar character-font hybrid. The collaboration dialed up the iconography first seen on KAWS’ OriginalFake line from the mid 2000s, heralding an unabashed return to form for the multimedia artist, expressed through the eyes of the equally experimental Comme des Garçons SHIRT.

10. Off-White x Kid Cudi

On April 10, 2021, Kid Cudi appeared on Saturday Night Live as the episode's musical guest. While fans were quick to celebrate Cudi’s performance of “Tequila Shots” and “Sad People,” the conversation soon turned to his floral dress. Cudi later revealed the piece was designed by close friend Virgil Abloh as a tribute to Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain and that a wider collaborative Off-White collection would be coming, dress included. 

Although the collection has yet to arrive, the story stood out as one of 2021’s most memorable moments. Among the most genre-bending creatives in their respective fields, the collaboration represents a melding of visionary minds, opening the door for others to pursue progressive concepts through clothing.