OBEY

Sticker madness

In 1989 Shepard Fairey, created the ‘André the Giant has a Posse’ sticker. A sticker that would rapidly lead to the birth of OBEY Clothing. But before that was possible Andre the Giant became a worldwide street art campaign that represented the DIY counterculture of that period. With this sticker Fairey wanted to stimulate the curiosity of its viewers, allowing them to question their relationship with their surroundings because the sticker itself had no meaning. The name OBEY was chosen to criticize propaganda that is used to brainwash people. In 2001 OBEY clothing line became an extension of Fairey’s work. The silhouettes are inspired by classic military design, work wear basics, and cultural movements.

Crocodile

The medium is the message

After the launch, OBEY clothing instantly became a hit among the skate and streetwear community. This was due to the usage of elements of cultural movements such as the reworked images of iconic figures. Throughout the years the brand managed to collaborate with Pepsi, HUF, Misfits, and Dickies. Nevertheless, the main goal of the brand does not disappear. Fairey wants to use his clothing as another medium to spread a message. An example is their 2020 ‘defend black lives’ shirt which was released to raise money to fight against racial injustice. This is a clear example of a streetstyle item that can also be used by the wearer as a medium which eventually leads to the spread of a message.

Crocodile

OBEY x Baskèts

You cannot only wear clothing, but you can also use it to spread a message, and OBEY is the right brand to facilitate this. Having a contribution to society is always important and having a medium is just as important. If we can provide you with a T-shirt to do so, we’ll proudly do. But it is also important to remember that OBEY represents the classic street style fits that we grew up with. Therefore, making it a brand that makes us reminisce and recreate.

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