Throughout the years, black culture has started many fashion and beauty trends that are still prevalent today. Highlighting how much black culture has contributed to nearly every fashion trend is important to discuss. There is no doubt that contributions from black Hip Hop culture and popular culture have made the fashion world notably renowned. Here are five fashion trends that the black culture has popularized throughout the years.
- HOOP EARRINGS
A fashion essential for nearly everybody in the world, hoop earrings can be attributed to the black community. Hoop Earrings date back to the first civilization and the Bronze age. As Hip Hop and Rap culture started flourishing in the 1990s Hoops became more prevalent in the African American community. Artists such as Lil Kim, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Missy Elliot, and many more heavily influenced the trend of Hoop Earrings during the 90’s and early 2000’s era. Today Hoop Earrings are seen as a significant part of black culture as it is deeply rooted in African American history.
- BUCKET HATS
In the 1900s, Bucket Hats were originally designed for farmers and fishermen. The Bucket Hat was merely used as a functioning asset to help protect from rain. In the 1960s, Bucket Hats began transitioning from utilitarian to fashionable, as women started wearing them as an accessory. Bucket Hats were later deemed iconic in the 1980s when black artist LL Cool J popularized Kangol Bucket Hats. Although Bucket Hats faded after the 80s, members of Run DMC and Jay-Z continuously kept the trend alive. Today Bucket Hats are a key wardrobe essential that can take your outfit to the next fashionable level.
- SNEAKERS
Although it is known that Sneakers have been around for quite some time, the contribution that black culture has made to Sneaker culture is very prevalent. What was previously seen as sportswear, Sneaker culture started becoming a cultural expression in the 1980s due to the influence of Hip Hop. Michael Jordan’s first shoe line, ‘Air Jordan’, was heavily consumed by the black culture. Today, Sneaker culture is profoundly used in the streetwear fashion aesthetic, which was greatly influenced by black culture.
- Y2K AESTHETIC
Fashion Trends tend to cycle themselves nearly every 10 to 20 years. One thing that is more popularized now than ever before is the Y2K Aesthetic. The Y2K (the year 2000) was an aesthetic that was prevalent from roughly 1995 to 2004, and it explores the previous fashion from millennials as technology started to grow. Y2K is characterized by items such as designer logo prints, accessories, low-rise jeans, etc. Y2K was popularized by black artists such as Missy Elliott, Destiny’s Child, Aaliyah, Blaque, and many more. Today people from all over the world tend to imitate and wear the Y2K Aesthetic.
- LOGOMANIA
One of the founding fathers of streetwear, Dapper Dan, popularized Logomania in the black community. Although Logomania can date back to the 1990s with Louis Vuitton, Harlem-based fashion designer, Dapper Dan, made Logomania popular. Dapper Dan would create knockoff designer logos for the style of various popular black Hip Hop artists. Today Logomania is a trend widely recognized on the high fashion runways and from celebrities such as Rihanna, Billie Ellish, etc.
Although only five fashion trends were listed, the list of what the black community has contributed to the fashion world is endless. The historical and cultural impact that the black community has had on many standardized trends shows the creativity and profound influence of black culture.