The 10 Best Brands of 2024, Ranked

10. Palace

Palace, an irreverent skate label born out of London’s Southbank Centre scene, has become perhaps the most influential British voice in the global streetwear arena. What makes it distinct is its eclecticism, kickflipping skate style out of its box and bringing it into the worlds of football, high fashion, and rave.

Just this year, co-founder Lev Tanju has spearheaded Palace link-ups with the likes of Vivienne Westwood, GAP, Needles, and even Brompton—purveyors of the folding commuter bikes beloved by London middle managers—adding these names to a roster that already includes Gucci, McDonald’s, and Harrods. In February, the brand also opened a new standalone storefront in Seoul, Palace’s second in Asia, responding to its global rise in demand and signalling an even brighter future ahead. –Mahoro Seward

9. Denim Tears

Denim Tears’ Cotton Wreath has gone triple platinum. People are wrapping their cars in it. AAU teams are getting their jerseys covered in it. The round white pattern is undoubtedly one of the defining motifs of 2020s streetwear.

This year, there were new Cotton Wreath drops in the form of puffer coats, rhinestone-embellished durags, camo sweatsuits modeled by Slawn and Clint419, and even a special-edition Marc Jacobs Tote Bag. Bstroy and Cactus Plant Flea Market also offered up their remixes through collaborations.

There were plenty of non-Cotton Wreath releases, too, that further solidified Emory as one of the best storytellers in the game. His “Kiss My Grits” and “The Great Black Jockeys” capsules continued to deliver poignant messages on the Black experience, through the lens of food and equestrian sports, respectively. Denim Tears’ “Systemic Racism Controls America” capsule featured the artwork of Arthur Jafa, which was a direct response to a canned collaboration that Emory had tried to make happen with Supreme when he was the streetwear label’s creative director.

And we can’t forget about the opening of the brand’s first flagship store in New York City, African Diaspora Goods, which doubles as a research library for anyone eager to learn more about Denim Tears’ vast reference points.

This all proves Emory’s capabilities to thoughtfully explore the African diaspora in new ways time and again. “The Most Dangerous Brand in the World” isn’t for everyone, but that isn’t Emory’s goal. Don’t expect Denim Tears to fade away any time soon. –Mike DeStefano

8. Willy Chavarria

Looking ahead to his brand’s 10-year anniversary next year, Willy Chavarria is charging forward in full force. Since leaving his post as Senior Vice President of menswear design at Calvin Klein in 2023, a role he filled for almost three years, Chavarria has focused solely on the growth of his eponymous label, which saw massive success in 2024.

The Mexican American designer’s championing of Black, Brown, queer, and immigrant communities has earned him the CFDA Award for Menswear Designer of the Year. It was his second consecutive crowning of the title, in which he beat out competition from the likes of Emily Bode, Todd Snyder, Mike Amiri, and Thom Browne.

Chavarria’s experience at Calvin Klein (and Ralph Lauren and Yeezy Gap before that) seems to have built him a more than strong foundation to operate his own business. Just this year, he expanded his product offering to include footwear by way of a collaboration with Allen Edmonds, a major sign of growth for an independent brand. His Spring/Summer 2025 September New York Fashion Week runway also unveiled a huge apparel and sneaker collaboration with Adidas, part of which were available online as “see now, buy now” straight off the runway. Key pieces sold out instantly.

In addition to his long-time supporter Kendrick Lamar, Doechii, J Balvin, Lewis Hamilton, and Charli XCX have recently been spotted in Willy Chavarria campaigns or custom gear. With a Paris Fashion Week Men’s debut slated for January 2025, Willy Chavarria is definitely close to his goal: “total global domination.” –YJ Lee

7. Joe Freshgoods

Joe Freshgoods’ sneaker collaborations—which often sell out within minutes—are the driving force behind much of his work. In 2024, that meant a reintroduction of the New Balance 1000 accompanied by a campaign celebrating Chicago’s juking parties of the 2000s, and monochromatic 990v6s with visuals that nodded to the importance of prom in Black culture. Joe always strives to tell authentic and meaningful narratives that speak to the Black experience. His stellar execution has cultivated a devoted following, and racked up brand award nominations in the process.

His apparel complements his footwear perfectly, and continues to get stronger with each passing collection. This year’s standout offering included T-shirts that call back to Spike Lee’s wardrobe in the ’90s and cozy fleece zip-ups in the vivid colors that have become Joe Freshgood’s signature. He also designed the official merch for his hometown music festival Lollapalooza to celebrate its 20th year. For his deal with Sprite in November, he redesigned the soda cans with his “Black Summer Camo” and created ads inspired by Sprite’s hip-hop-influenced commercials of the ’90s and 2000s.

The level of authenticity that Joe Freshgoods brings to every project can’t be taught or fabricated. It’s how he has been able to go from Chicago to the world. –Mike DeStefano

6. Corteiz

Corteiz’s Clint419 has cemented his reputation as one of the most directional, influential figures in streetwear right now. Since the London-based label debuted in 2017, a key factor in how the brand has gamed its way to the top is its mastery of guerilla marketing. There are the random, one-off product drops and a password-protected site, with the brand’s legion of fans only tipped off via email or Clint’s Instagram Stories moments before the Alcatraz-logoed goods land—all of which are snapped up minutes later.

And then there are the brand’s physical activations. Location pins drop on launch day—often at off-the-beaten-track spots—and Corteiz still draws hordes of acolytes by the hundreds. Its “DA GREAT DENIM EXCHANGE” in Brooklyn this past May saw way more attendees turn up than the swappable 300 Corteiz pairs of jeans. On other occasions, the fan frenzy was so intense that police turned up to control the crowds. Most recently last week, Corteiz pulled the same guerilla drop for its Nike Air Trainer Huarache, which saw the same level of hype success.

While Clint is known to be press-averse, the opposite goes on social media, where he speaks directly to his hypnotized fanbase through candid tweets and the occasional reseller call-out post. These tactics aren’t for the sake of a quick buck; they attest to the most valuable asset that Clint has managed to cultivate: a vital sense of community.

It’s a quality that’s increasingly rare in a streetwear landscape marred by corporatization, but it’s exactly what’s made Corteiz irresistible to some of the scene’s leading brands, Nike and Supreme among them. They’re keenly aware of the pulling power it takes to get fans to a Greenpoint warehouse at a moment's notice, and, understandably, they’re eager to tap into that, too. –Mahoro Seward

5. Kith

Ronnie Fieg has built Kith into a global streetwear empire. There are now a staggering 19 retail locations operating around the world with the two most recent openings in Seoul and Malibu. And collaborations? Fieg is collecting them like Infinity Stones.

Kith is clearly seen as a valuable partner by heritage brands eager to attract new customers. Giorgio Armani’s first-ever apparel collaboration in the brand’s 49-year history was with Kith. When Swiss watchmaker Tag Heuer wanted to commemorate F1’s Miami Grand Prix in May, it joined forces with Kith to reimagine its Formula 1 timepiece from the ’80s in 10 new colorways. Speaking of Infinity Stones, Fieg even made his own Infinity Gauntlet to celebrate Marvel’s 85th anniversary, a larger project which also included villain-inspired versions of the Asics GT-2160, PSA-graded comic books, and a Modernica chair.

And we have to mention the campaigns. At this point, there are no limitations to the talent that Kith can get. Martin Scorsese appeared in the brand’s Armani campaign. For a collection celebrating the Summer Olympics, Kevin Durant made an appearance. Cam’ron fronted the Spring 2024 campaign, and K-pop sensation Lisa was the face of Kith Women’s summer collection. It’s a consistent level of A-list talent that no other streetwear brand even comes close to matching. The additional layer of surprise to see who will model Kith makes each drop more special.

Critics of the brand may feel that its IP-driven capsules are uninspired, or that they over-commercialize streetwear. Even still, those same projects have undoubtedly introduced more people to it, and that’s a win. –Mike DeStefano

4. Louis Vuitton

Under Pharrell Williams’ creative direction, Louis Vuitton has entered a transformative era. His appointment as the brand’s Men’s Creative Director began with high expectations, and we saw him exceed them with each collection in 2024. His designs resonate with both loyal Louis Vuitton customers and a younger fashion-forward crowd. Starting the year with his second LV runway, Pharrell reimagined American Western fashion: cowboy hats and boots, intricately embossed leather jackets, and Speedy bags adorned with silver and turquoise details. Incorporating Americana into an unapologetically French institution like Louis Vuitton was enough of a statement on its own.

Taking notes from his experience as a guest designer during Marc Jacobs’ tenure at LV, Pharrell invited Tyler, the Creator to design a capsule collection for Spring ’24. This collaboration celebrated Tyler’s ability to work across music, streetwear, and fashion, where he fused his decade-plus experience crafting his own brands and personal style with Louis Vuitton’s heritage—earning a spot on our favorite style moments of 2024.

Beyond the runway, LV also captured a number of cultural milestones, such as outfitting USC women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley during March Madness, and supporting the Paris Olympics by designing the historic medal tray. Most recently in November, LV launched its “Dog LVERS” collection, a luxury line of pet apparel and accessories designed by Pharrell himself.

Pharrell hasn’t simply followed in Virgil’s legacy, but has succeeded in bringing his own distinct vision and sensibility to the house. –Shinnie Park

3. Martine Rose

Whether it was her collaborations with Tommy Hilfiger and Supreme, or the bubbling rumors around her candidacy for the Louis Vuitton job that eventually went to Pharrell Williams, there have been plenty of reasons for Martine Rose’s name to be at the tip of everyone’s tongues in recent years. The greatest, though, is the work she puts out under her namesake label which continues to shift the course of contemporary menswear.

Her enduring sources of inspiration are the motley crew of London characters she knows well, having spent her life immersed in the city’s myriad subcultures. Drawing on illegal raves, skate parks, football terraces, market stalls, commuter trains, and more, Rose’s work is streetwear in its most literal sense. From the outset, she’s designed with an unparalleled sense of both humanity and subversive cheekiness, using fashion as a means to celebrate the offbeat characteristics that define the city she calls home.

Nike has cottoned on to her ingenuity, remaining among the most ardent champions of Rose. The success of their collaborative Shox MR4, the deliciously weird sneaker-mule-wedge that’s had street-style heads in a chokehold since 2022, has fed into an ongoing partnership to this day.

Kendrick Lamar is also among Rose’s greatest supporters. The Pulitzer Prize-winning rap maverick sported a wardrobe’s worth of her threads—including a khaki field jacket and a cheeky ‘How’s it Hanging?’ tee—in the era-defining video for “Not Like Us.”

Martine Rose’s September collaboration with Supreme—another label she’s rumored to be a long-standing consultant for—has no doubt kicked up a similar storm, with highlights including a three-way collaboration with Clarks, for whom Rose currently serves as guest creative director. And with the recent decision to take her shows beyond London to Paris and Milan, it looks like Rose’s trajectory to world domination is well on its course. –Mahoro Seward

2. Bottega Veneta

Depending on who you ask, Bottega Veneta could be No. 1 on this list, an argument further validated by Chanel’s recent poaching of Matthieu Blazy. Blazy’s three-year tenure at Bottega is something to be remembered. While the run of his predecessor, Daniel Lee, was marked by young and fresh designs like the Pouch bag and the viral “Bottega green,” Blazy took a quieter, more refined “if you know, you know” approach, focusing on intricate details, artisanal techniques, and timeless silhouettes.

Blazy’s expertise in leatherwork was a defining feature of his time at Bottega Veneta. One of his most talked-about pieces was the trompe-l’oeil leather “jeans” from the Fall/Winter 2024 collection, crafted entirely out of leather hand-painted to mimic denim, quite literally “fooling the eyes.” Then, Blazy introduced the Andiamo bag, which was spotted on the likes of ASAP Rocky, Jacob Elordi, and Kylie Jenner. It quickly became a recognizable industry-favorite it-bag for its structured Intrecciato weave and understated gold buckle.

Another standout moment from Bottega this year was inviting the “very demure, very mindful” Jools Lebron to its Spring/Summer 2025 show during Milan Fashion Week in September. Although the brand does not operate any social media accounts itself, this was Bottega's way of tapping into Gen Z internet culture, and it worked.

Blazy’s departure may signal the end of a triumphant chapter for Bottega Veneta, but it also marks a validation of his contributions, proving the brand’s merits on this ranking. His move to Chanel doesn’t overshadow what he has achieved at Bottega, but rather amplifies the house’s relevance and success under his leadership. –Shinnie Park

1. Supreme

Writing off Supreme as yesterday’s news has become a narrative many people subscribe to these days. Sure, the brand’s Thursday drops aren’t selling out as much as they used to, and VF Corp took a $600 million loss to get the brand off its books earlier this year. But if your brand is still worth a billion dollars, you’re doing something right.

Supreme’s output is consistent, and 2024 was one of its best years in quite some time. Its capsules with MM6 Maison Margiela and Martine Rose are two of the best fashion collaborations we’ve seen in not just the past 12 months, but from Supreme to date. There were also beautiful grail-level pieces like an embroidered jacket featuring the artwork of AOI, and a hand-painted Snow White x Schott leather jacket by Nicholas Gamarello.

When Nike needed to put more eyes on its new Air Max Dn in March, the sportswear giant collaborated with Supreme for a limited release, proving that the streetwear brand’s stamp of approval still holds weight. Nike also continues to let Supreme play around in the weird corners of its archive, releasing projects focused on obscure silhouettes like the Clogposite and Darwin Low throughout the past year.

The streetwear behemoth doesn't have a flawless track record. There are unanswered questions about Supreme’s workplace culture following Tremaine Emory’s resignation last year. EssilorLuxottica may want to put Supreme eyewear in Sunglass Huts, which could sour some longtime supporters. And while we loved the 2024 Tyler, the Creator photo tee, it may be a sign that the brand is feeling the pressure to recapture the attention of core fans. Despite these blemishes, Supreme is still the blueprint of what a modern-day streetwear brand should be. As long as it can keep proving that season after season, it will be hard to knock it off the pedestal. –Mike DeStefano