While we’ve already talked about some of the most memorable ‘90s fashion trends, what would those trends be without the clothing brands that helped make them? That’s right, today it’s all about those ’90s clothing brands that were super hip. If you rocked these brands, then you were definitely trying to stay on trend and be in the cool crowd. How many of these brands did you buy in the ‘90s?
Bum Equipment
If baggy sweatshirts were your style, then Bum Equipment was right up your alley. Boys and girls alike enjoyed these tees and shorts, and if you want to re-live the glory days of the ‘90s but don’t have any of your vintage shirts lying around somewhere, you’re in luck – they’re back in business, baby.
Limited Too
If your mom shopped at The Limited, then she probably took you straight to Limited Too once it opened in the ‘90s. Limited Too was all about that pre-teen style, from those baby tees to skorts and everything in between.
Gap
Gap has been around for awhile, but the ‘90s saw a particular surge in popularity thanks to their many commercials featuring people dancing to the new-age swing music that had such a moment in the ‘90s. Baggy khaki pants plus some Dream scents made you a true Gap worshiper.
Hot Topic
For the alternatively-minded, there was Hot Topic. If you were of the goth persuasion, then no doubt Hot Topic was your go-to shopping destination in the mall. If you were of the preppy persuasion, it probably scared you and you never set foot inside.
Delia's
Every girl seemed to receive the Delia’s mail-order catalog in the mail in the ‘90s. Did you ever actually order anything from it? It was full of the latest fashion trends, from overalls to florals to baby doll dresses. If you wanted to see what was up and coming, then Delia’s was the place to look.
Tommy Hilfiger
The red, white, and blue Tommy Hilfiger of the ‘90s was huge among celebrities, from Snoop Dogg and Aaliyah to Gwen Stefani and Britney Spears, all the celebs were getting in on that Tommy action. Were the clothes actually flattering? Heck no, but it didn’t matter.
Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein in the ‘90s was interesting, because while the ads were definitely catering to an older, sexier demographic (see above), the younger kids were still very into the sweatshirts with the large CK logo. They also had their signature fragrance CK One rise to popularity in the ‘90s as well, so Calvin Klein was really inescapable.
Dr. Martens
Not everyone owned a pair of Doc Marten’s in the ‘90s, but most people sure wished they did. From boots to Mary Jane’s to sandals, the chunky comfy shoes were especially popular with those into the grunge look.
Guess
Similar to Calvin Klein, Guess’s ads in the ‘90s were all about the black and white sexy feels. Whether the ads were the reason or not, Guess Jeans were definitely popular in the ‘90s.
JNCO
Speaking of popular, JNCO jeans were also high up there. Super baggy and, let’s face it, straight up ridiculous, these jeans were huge with guys in the ‘90s. Let’s just hope these never make a comeback.
Keds
An enduring classic, Keds embraced the colorfulness of the ‘90s by showing off their tennis shoes in all varieties of colorful options. Of course, white was still classic, but no matter the color, you probably had at least one pair of Keds in your closet in the ‘90s, and there was sure nothing wrong with that.
Roxy
For those surfer-types who probably also owned some Vans, Roxy (then known as Roxy Quiksilver) was just getting going in the ‘90s, but it quickly made a splash for all girls looking for something to wear to the pool or the beach.
What were your favorite clothing brands in the ‘90s? Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments!
- Quiksilver launched Roxy in 1990 to target the women’s market of surf-inspired apparel. Since its inception, Roxy has grown to be the largest action sport fashion apparel company for young women.
- Though JNCO was created in 1985, it wasn’t until the super wide-legged jeans became popular among teenage boys that it started to gain momentum. The name stands for Judge None Choose One.
- Hot Topic first opened in 1989 in Montclair, California – Orv Madden was the founder, who used to be an executive at The Children’s Place. Quite the change in direction!
- Delia’s launched in 1993 and is the only brand on this list that didn’t have a retail store presence in the ‘90s, but rather went the direct-to-consumer route with mail-order catalogs.
- The Limited spun off Limited Too to target the younger market in 1987, but didn’t really start to gain popularity until 1996 when the focus was placed squarely on the pre-teen market. At its peak, Limited Too had over 600 retail stores.
- Quiksilver launched Roxy in 1990 to target the women’s market of surf-inspired apparel. Since its inception, Roxy has grown to be the largest action sport fashion apparel company for young women.
- Though JNCO was created in 1985, it wasn’t until the super wide-legged jeans became popular among teenage boys that it started to gain momentum. The name stands for Judge None Choose One.
- Hot Topic first opened in 1989 in Montclair, California – Orv Madden was the founder, who used to be an executive at The Children’s Place. Quite the change in direction!
- Delia’s launched in 1993 and is the only brand on this list that didn’t have a retail store presence in the ‘90s, but rather went the direct-to-consumer route with mail-order catalogs.
- The Limited spun off Limited Too to target the younger market in 1987, but didn’t really start to gain popularity until 1996 when the focus was placed squarely on the pre-teen market. At its peak, Limited Too had over 600 retail stores.
1 thought on “12 Essential ‘90s Clothing Brands”
Wow! That was a fun walk down memory lane!