SOMEWEARELSE | WHERE COLORS ARE VOICES

The origin of colors and their perception is dated back millions of years. It´s only through sunlight that they appear. These colors are the most important element – part and parcel – of streetwear. It´s through colors that collections define themselves, corporate identities of brands are symbolized and and seasons are reflected, are mirrored. Going to the beach one would rather not wear black, as Ninja one would tend to choose black and as guerilla fighter one adjusts to the surrounding conditions in terms of color. Colors also mold target groups. Headbangers are predominantly dressed in black, while red-white adorns shirts and patches on their frocks. Likewise among punks, whereas they again like to ply with checkered clothes. Punk will never be dead, but that is reckoned ever since it developed.

New combinations of colors reflect cosmopolitanism as well as aesthetics. As it is for example the case with the Dunk´s colorways, that were originally assigned to college teams by Nike, and are nowadays chosen by cooperating brands and artists.

Color arrangements in sports represent unmistakeably a country, city or a certain team, and symbolizes the togetherness among proud fans.

Iriedaily is all about natural colors combined with red, yellow and green. Whereas green, yellow and red are the colors of the Ethiopian flag, where Haile Selassie, also known as Jah Rastafarie or Lion of Judea, was emperor. Symbols that stand for a relaxed way of life. Which are loud in a certain way, without neglecting to listen.

We chose the subtitle of Iriedaily to be the heading of this issue, as colors, styles and attitude are the most important elements of streetwear. The everlasting impulse to stand out from the crowd, to get involved with all kinds of influences in an unconventional way, to bear in mind function & wearability, to introduce combinations in color and symbols with a background and mixing styles from music and youth culture; all of these are current themes of many collections. Being open, straightforward, authentic and above all innovative is of course also subject-matter when it comes to bringing in street art. To impart this identity to a brand, that can be red, white, black, yellow or a mix of all this, at the same time being culturally open, accessible, sensorially expanding, meditative or blatant, flexible yet still straight – however all in all postive, in order to present oneself effectually. To wear something else somewhere else – or somewear else – where colors are voices and bring about a meaning, where the accurate mix is decisive, that´s where streetwearand everything interrelated – starts to get exiting and thrilling. Enjoy yourself.

Martin Magielka for streetwear today team