Twenty years after Trapstar first emerged from the streets of London, the brand returned home to celebrate the people, art and music that helped turn it into a global streetwear name.
Taking over Saatchi Yates during London Fashion Week on September 19, Trapstar marked its 20th anniversary with “The Culture,” a one-night-only exhibition looking back at the label’s journey from an underground London operation to one of British streetwear’s most recognisable exports.
The exhibition opened up the Trapstar archive, bringing together pieces from across its two-decade history alongside campaign imagery, personal photography, previously unseen material and moments that have helped shape the brand. Its forthcoming 20th anniversary collection was also previewed ahead of its official release.
Founders Mikey, Lee and Will were placed at the centre of the story, with personal imagery documenting their own evolution alongside the label they started in 2006. Friends and family who supported and wore Trapstar during its earliest days appeared alongside the musicians and cultural figures who later helped carry the brand far beyond London.
Central Cee was among those in attendance, bringing things neatly back to Trapstar's relationship with British music. The rapper has worn the label since his earliest music videos, with both artist and brand emerging from overlapping corners of London's street and music culture. Lancey Foux and K-Trap were also among the guests, while Skyla Tylaa handled music for the evening.
Slawn, 10 Foot, Chito and SYMBLE each created or curated work for the anniversary, bringing four different interpretations of contemporary street culture into the gallery. Slawn, Chito and SYMBLE also attended the exhibition.
Slawn brought his irreverent, graffiti-influenced approach, while anonymous London writer 10 Foot represented the city in perhaps its rawest form. Seattle-born Chito's meeting point between graffiti, art and fashion sat naturally alongside South London artist SYMBLE's playful neo-expressionist work.
10 Foot took things one step further by creating a limited run of handmade, individually numbered Trapstar T-shirts for the anniversary, translating his recognisable visual language onto something considerably more wearable.
“The Culture” was about documenting the ecosystem of Trapstar, from the friends who backed it, the artists who backed it, the musicians who wore it and the city that gave it a home.
