There's nothing wrong with buying "cheap" streetwear

Somewhere along the line, people got tricked into believing that if you aren't dropping half your rent on a hoodie, you aren't actually participating in streetwear culture. That’s complete nonsense pushed by luxury conglomerates trying to sell you status.

Let's not sugarcoat it with words like "accessible." Let’s use the real word: cheap. The foundations of streetwear: skate culture, punk, early hip-hop, etc were built on cheap gear.

It was DIY because it had to be. It's the entire point, really. The value wasn't in the price tag; it was in the graphic, the message, and the community wearing it.

If you find a brand that is authentic, looks good, and costs $20, buy it. Don't let hypebeasts gatekeep your taste based on how much you spent.

"Cheap" doesn't mean bad. Sometimes, it just means you found something real before the hype tax got added.