sai's streetwear scene

Welcome to the Streetwear Scene! I'm Saima-- an artist and and PR student who is passionate about discovering new designers, trends, and books delving into the ever-evolving world of streetwear. Here you'll find my thoughts on the latest collections, streetwear's cultural impact, and the ways they inspire my creative process -all artwork created by me!

[saistreetwearscene]

About Me

image source ©2024, Saima Geneya

I'm Saima and I like clothes.

No but seriously, Hey!! I'm Saima, I'm a PR student at FIU and have loved streetwear since I discovered it during quarantine. I love art, fashion, music, and film. This is just a place where I write my thoughts on collections, music, and film that helped me during my journey through streetwear and as I make a career in Fashion PR and Marketing. I just hope to show that this for the kids who were like me, who didn't know where to begin in the fashion industry. I'll admit i still got a lot to learn but writing about it makes it more fun.

image source ©2024, Saima Geneya

[saistreetwearscene]

Women in Streetwear: a Much-Needed ComplexCon(versation) 🎤🚺👕

image from Youtube

Although streetwear is evolving to include more women, body types, ethnicities, and ideas; there is still more work to be done. The image above shows some of the most powerful and inspirational women in streetwear (from left to right): Karizza Sanchez, Miss Info, Teyana Taylor, Lanie Alabanza-Barcena, Beth Gibbs, Kristen Noel Crawley, and Melody Ehsani. This panel is a much needed conversation about women in streetwear and finally gives women in streetwear their much needed flowers.

In the panel, they talk about how women have to work ten times harder to get their foot through the door. Nevertheless, these women broke down the walls and barriers in streetwear and have showed how women are part of how streetwear is what it is today. They unapologetically showed why women deserve their flowers and aren't afraid to take them for their ideas and creative contributions.

This panel continues to inspire me because these of these women. Teyana Taylor is one of my biggest style influences because she doesn't care what other people have to say about her style and Beth Gibbs created a streetwear network and is the owner of one of the biggest streetwear platforms UNION. This talked showed me that no matter how male dominated a world may seem, it truly wouldn't be nothing without a women (or a girl).

Here the link to the panel: Women In Streetwear

[saistreetwearscene]

A Revolution for Black Fashion: Pharrell Williams Louis Vuitton 💐👕

image from Pinterest

After the passing of Virgil Abloh, the fast-paced world of fashion needed a new creative director for Louis Vuitton. Pharrell Williams stepped up to the plate and delivered. One the biggest aspects about his rise as Louis Vuitton's creative director, is that this has showed how black designers are finally getting their flowers.  

Growing up, there weren't many black designers and models in mainstream fashion. Streetwear became the first place I saw both black designers and models being appreciated and loved. But I still questioned why weren't they a part of other fashion brands like Prada, Chanel, or Gucci?  

When I saw Virgil as the first black creative director, it was elated. So you can only imagine how sad I was when I heard of his passing. But hearing that Pharrell Williams was going to be the next creative director, it restored the hope I had when Virgil stepped onto the scene.  

In my eyes, his first collection for Louis Vuitton was an immediate success. But I appreciated how he used black models and appreciated the world of streetwear combined with high end fashion houses like Louis Vuitton. He represents that black models and designers are here to stay.

image source: https://pin.it/2KZdxsJ4C

Here's the full fashion show: Men's Spring Summer 2024

[saistreetwearscene]

Something's Off: A Book Virgil Abloh Created for His 17-Year-Old Self👕👟

image source ©2024, Saima Geneya

Virgil Abloh was one of the biggest inspirations in streetwear history. He was the first black creative director for Louis Vuitton which led to his own streetwear brand OFF-WHITE. He left a legacy that paved the way for other black designers to show how streetwear is luxury and can change the fashion world. Something's Off is a book that perfectly displays his mind and his design process. He details his shoe designs from his collaborations with Nike, Jordan, and Converse.  

Virgil is still one of my biggest inspirations in the world of streetwear. He sadly passed away in 2021 but his legacy lives on through his designs, collaborations, and the young designers he mentored and inspired. He said in this book that he made it for the 17-year-old version of himself. Funny enough, my friend gifted me this book for my 17th birthday, and I could not thank them enough. This book showed me that your creativity has to live in any way possible. Because as we grow up, we have fewer chances to fully express that side of ourselves. Streetwear is just one way that I choose to express my creative side. 

image source ©2024, Saima Geneya

[saistreetwearscene]

Patchwork Perfection: Designer Nigel Xavier 👕‼️

image from Pinterest

When I was watching Netflix's Next In Fashion Season 2, I was impressed by the new emerging designers that stepped onto the show. One of the designers stood out the most to me. His name was Nigel Xavier, a Savannah College of Art & Design graduate. Throughout the competition, he showed a new style of streetwear that combined detailed textile patchwork and classic streetwear silhouettes. With his designs, he won the second season of the show.

His designs reminded me of the perfect balance between old 70's hippie outfits mixed with 90's rapper outfits. One of the biggest aspects about his clothes is that they he used basic and thrifted jeans, blankets, and shirts. Which reminds me of what streetwear is all about. It isn't about whether your wearing the most expensive outfit or have the most logos on your shirt. It's about how you can use old clothes to make something new. Not to mention, it's about how you express your style and culture through these clothes.

image source: https://pin.it/3MYMyoOgO

[saistreetwearscene]

Not just a T-Shirt, Not just a Brand: Lessons from Bobby Hundreds on Streetwear and Culture👕📚

image source ©2024, Saima Geneya

One of the first interviews I watched that introduced me to streetwear was with Bobby Kim aka Bobby Hundreds— the cofounder of the streetwear brand The Hundreds. So when I was walking around Barnes and Nobles and saw his book I immediately picked it up. In his books he delves into how streetwear is not without culture and community. In fact, the two vital forces are what drive streetwear. Not only does Bobby offer his funny, authentic, and insightful journey from being an artistic kid with immigrant parents growing up in California. He also shows how his journey is meant to inspire a community that looks after one another.

One of the biggest lessons I took, that has changed my creative process since, is that you have to take your history, memories, and community wherever you go. From the little moments you have during childhood to the trials and tribulations we go through as young adults. It is what makes streetwear a cultural mixing pot expressed through clothes and art. I also have immigrant parents who supported my artistic endeavors. Which makes me work even harder for a career in Art and Fashion PR. So thank you Bobby Hundreds for this book and let’s see how my creativity evolves with it. 🪐🌺

image source ©2024, Saima Geneya