Juzd Urban Wear

Urban wear is slowly taking on a shade of green. Just like many other industries are waking up to the fact that we all have a role to play in preserving the environment, the garment industry is making small changes too. For instance, some brands endorse graphics drawn with water or natural dye ink as opposed to chemical based inks. Juzd is an urban wear brand with a difference. The label is a spin off from the word ‘ Juiced’, and means ‘to be unstoppable or undefeatable’ . It was one of the first streetwear brands to venture into the untapped market of organic clothing and actually make it hip to be worn. This one year old brand, with its base in Canada, uses bamboo in its garments and projects itself as the world’s first bamboo designer clothing.

The idea behind starting such a brand itself was to develop a label that respected nature and human beings too. But why bamboo you may ask? The manufacturers claim that bamboo has many natural qualities such as being anti bacterial in nature. It also absorbs sweat, has insulating properties, is hypoallergenic and is very comfortable to wear. Their shirts are made from custom designed and milled bamboo fabric, and garments designed for females also have 5% spandex for a better fit. Loud graphics, painting like artwork, and other prints are a common feature found in their collections. Juzd designers claim that they get easily inspired by anything and the focus is to create innovative designs that stand out. The brand also makes a maximum of only 35 prints per design, which means that they are exclusive and yet sell out.

Juzd Streetwear however takes a slightly different approach when it comes to publicity and brand awareness. They were invited to show their edgy designs at a fashion show in March held at the Miami Beach in Florida. The fashion show itself was a part of the birthday bash that was held for Fergie, a singer from the popular band The Black eyed Peas. The innovative eco friendly designs, which featured their Spring/Summer collection as well as a peek into their upcoming Fall/Winter collection, were a big hit. The Toronto Fashion week, held in Canada, during the month of October, is a world class event that brings together Canadian designers and labels. The show itself is held to showcase the best in Canadian fashion and to promote local talent. A fashion show usually brings to mind haute couture and other designer collections, but the Juzd streetwear collection was also invited to be part of this important event. So not only was the brand able to showcase the best of its designs, but also had the opportunity to educate the audience about organic clothing itself.

Brands like Juzd Streetwear, Roots and Affliction which are all into manufacturing organic clothing, help pave the way for a better tomorrow. Fashion with a conscience seems to be the new streetwear mantra.

Create the Fashion Future

Nothing can be more difficult than predicting the future- that’s why the unwritten law of fashion remains to ‘create the future’ as opposed to waiting for trends to happen. In order to create a trend that is talked about, worn and appreciated, it is important for retailers to understand what Generation Next really wants. Not surprising then that major clothing brands spend huge amounts to conduct surveys and research, in an attempt to comprehend what style and fashion really mean to youngsters. Where is Urban Wear, which is the rage among youngsters, headed to and what could be the new trends that we can expect to see? To answer that we need to look back in time.

Urban Wear had a birth like probably no other clothing style. It was initially created in the early eighties, with the intention of dressing people differently. Hip hop artists, rap artists, surfers and skateboarders stepped in to add their individual signatures to streetwear, thus indirectly making it a huge hit with youngsters. Urban wear was initially meant to be worn by youngsters who were rebellious by nature or just did not fit in with society in general. With time, Urban Wear slowly became the ‘must have’ and ‘must be seen in’ fashion statement. As the flavors of urban wear spread worldwide, dozens of commercial retailers stepped in to bring streetwear closer to the masses. The earliest urban wear clothing was simple yet distinct from the other fashion styles of that time. Over sized t-shirts, baggy jeans, jazzy sneakers and flat billed hats soon became the hallmarks of streetwear fashion. Over the years however, streetwear has moved away from the original movement and has inducted more styles, cuts, designs and patterns into its clothing. Its definition changed to ‘hip clothing with a distinctive touch of style’.

Since Urban Wear slowly moved up form the alleys of America to posh neighborhoods- one can predict that its popularity will only increase. Streetwear collections are likely to expand their clothing options for children and may even develop styles specifically for the untapped adult segment. Designs and styles may become more flamboyant with more emphasis placed on original artworks, sketches and drawings. T shirts and tops with such designs may even be released in limited editions, to make the garment truly one of a kind. More experimentation with colors, designs and styles can be expected. With the support shown towards green clothing which has been manufactured keeping the environment in mind, it is possible that Urban Wear may soon wear a touch of green too. Streetwear that has been manufactured using organic alternatives and with designs made from water or soy based ink may trigger a new trend and make us more environmentally conscious in the coming years. More Urban Wear labels with collections designed by upcoming music artists are also likely to color the fashion scene.

Ardent streetwear fans actually have a lot to look forward to. Simply because the world of fashion has yet to explore the full potential of Urban Wear.