Notes

Clothing is more than just fabric to keep warm with, more than just an aesthetic to please the eye. Clothing is representative of culture, and indicative of status. When comparing the brands Obey and Supreme, it’s clear which is the more popular choice among streetwear lovers and casual buyers alike, and to no surprise. To understand both brands, it is important to first understand their grassroots meanings.

OBEY Propaganda, the slogan of Obey, is counterintuitive to its apparent meaning. The true meaning of OBEY Propaganda is just the opposite-- the founder of Obey, Shepard Fairey, wanted to convey a 1984-esque feeling to his clothing, modeling key recurring clothing icons off of Big Brother. Despite this, his meaning was overwhelmed by the army of fuckboys who misunderstood his satire of the Obey the Status Quo lifestyle, and eventually became just that-- Obey. The brand has become its own antithesis.

Supreme on the other hand, has a complex and rich history behind its conception. It was started in NYC by a group of 40 skaters in 1994, making clothes for themselves and their contemporary homies. Contrary to its humble beginnings, the brand has evolved from the likes of Stussy and other skater brands to something greater and far more expansive: a status symbol. Avid fans and resellers alike line up for days before a drop to buy the hottest clothing; the resellers can often land a 1200% price resale, relative to the official sale price. Clothing items have since the beginning been kept in low stock. Restocks are uncommon, and each piece of clothing is rare, unique, and thus desired. The simplicity of the brand, unlike Obey, is able to match a variety of different outfits due to the many converging themes that Supreme implements in its clothing, from many different time periods. People find their childhood and their culture, as well as the lifestyles of others, in Supreme clothing.