Hypebeast, in recent years, is used as a derogatory term to describe an individual who hoards or obsessively collects luxury apparel, shoes or accessories to elevate their social status. Is it okay for one to spend ridiculous amounts of money on useless things like a $30 brick, are people who identify with the hypebeast aesthetic, immature who strive on being superior to others by a simple brand name? Or does this phenomenon cause crippling mental health issues on people who can’t afford to throw away their money at trivial things?
Alternatively, hypebeast culture is known as a niche all about exclusivity. An individual or a group with almost cult-ish behaviour and in their devotion to their following, they seem no less than frat groups.
Hypebeast is a subculture of streetwear fashion, originating from Californian surf and skateboard fashion. The key features are the effortless combination of casual elements such as oversized hoodies, t-shirts, sweatpants and the high end elements such as expensive shoes, bags or other such accessories.
This phenomenon gained popularity in the 1990s when more and more luxury brands started taking off. It became worldwide when it reached Japan, china and became a pivotal point in streetwear fashion.
Hypebeast fashion varies from country to country, Japanese hypebeasts tend to focus on individuality while Chinese hypebeasts focus on the trendiest items, America has seen a rapid surge in sale of Jordans, Supremes and Off-White while Britishers have a higher sale of Yeezys and Palace.
These ardent individuals claim to be making investments for the long run as these products usually have a very high resale value, especially if they are limited editions (another marketing gimimick created by these companies to induce immediate reactions and to facilitate quick sales)
This culture creates a sense of inferiority and a lot of self esteem issues in younger audiences. Since these products come with a “status quo”, many people often go to ridiculous lengths to own these overhyped, overpriced products. Creating a sense of materialistic importance amidst impressionable audiences can cause a severe impact how they view themselves in the society.