Streetwear is more than fashion, it’s a lifestyle. The comfort and confidence we feel when wearing baggy fits speak more to the soul than anything else. In recent years, we’ve seen a new appreciation for streetwear that transcends into all walks of life.
Whether it’s that favorite oversized hoodie or those fresh pairs of 1’s, streetwear honors and reimagines vintage staples and welcomes new designers from all ends of the globe. Take Kuwaiti-native turned New Yorker and Claudette the Brand founder Layan Al-Dabbous for 100.
The Parsons graduate is using her experiences with mental health and gender dynamics to spread awareness and oh ya know, keep the looking world fly.
Al-Dabbous grew up between Kuwait and London and marks Virgil Abloh’s Pyrex Vision designs as her early inspirations to make her line. Starting in high school, anxiety and other common mental health pains became a struggle and later inspired Al-Dabbous to be a part of the conversation.
Taking a bet on herself, the designer moved to New York where she attended Parsons and doodled Claudette, the face of all things positive and honest.
“I created her to create a platform where I can have a voice. I want to show kids back home it’s not a scary thing. If you want to say you went through anxiety or it’s not, it’s nothing embarrassing, you shouldn’t be ashamed of it. It is what it is. We’re all human. So let’s talk about it.”
Oh, we talking about it. Peep our exclusive sit down with the Hypebeast Therapist herself below and keep an eye out for new gear here.