Why Streetwear is at the Forefront of Innovation in Hardware

From custom buckles to luxury zippers, streetwear is focusing on the details. HYPEBEAST Features - Go in-depth and learn more about the culture. [HYPEBEAST]( [Features]( May 10, 2019 [Why Streetwear is at the Forefront of Innovation in Hardware]( From custom buckles to luxury zippers, streetwear is focusing on the details. EDDIE LEE / HYPEBEAST The right zipper or button isn’t the sort of detail you’d notice on a runway or in a street style snap; it is immediately obvious, however, when you touch and feel — and actually wear — a garment. Though not necessarily perceptible at first glance, the combination of engineering and artistry that goes into creating a single zipper can make the high prices of designer clothing far more understandable. And, in recent years, those small details and closures are also a place for menswear brands to create innovative styles unique to their labels and to display their logos; in essence, hardware is crucial for these designers to establish their brands. They force us to think, to be better, to do something new, something different. EDDIE LEE / HYPEBEAST That ranges from flashy pieces such as Louis Vuitton’s pin closures and chainlinks and 1017 ALYX 9SM’s signature buckle, to the small, nearly imperceptible branding details; take a close look at the cordends on an Off-White™ hoodie and you’ll see they read “METAL TIP” in tiny lettering on the bottom. “With menswear, they experiment more. This is where the streetwear contamination is coming aboard,” says Nantas Montonati, Group Sales & Marketing Director for Swiss manufacturer Riri, which creates everything from zippers and snap buttons to cordstoppers and eyelets at its production sites in Italy and Switzerland. Some of the company’s signature creations include the universal zipper slider and the zero snap button. “What we try to do with our zippers and our snaps, and everything is to have it look beautiful and be, really, a design element, as part of it rather than just a functioning piece,” says Ben Howell, CEO of Riri USA Inc. “Riri is the brand for the brands,” as Montonati puts it. [READ FULL ARTICLE ON HYPEBEAST →](   [More HYPEBEAST Features]( [[FASHION]( [8 Drops You Don't Want to Miss This Week]( [[MUSIC]( [The Newest UK Music Acts to Keep an Eye out For]( [Get The App Free on iOS and Android]( Follow --------------------------------------------------------------- 2019 HYPEBEAST Limited. All Rights Reserved [Manage Subscriptions]( You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to HYPEBEAST's marketing emails. You can unsubscribe from us any time by clicking [here](3D--615aa14d53ae6dd59421c2e77267f54a9d3c19d8ec8d971749f607ecc0234f04?utm_source=hbfeatures&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=may10_19). It may take 48 hours to complete the unsubscribe process. Contact subscription@hypebeast.com for assistance on any enquiries. Our Mailing Address: HYPEBEAST, 10F, KC 100, 100 Kwai Cheong Road, Kwai Chung, Hong Kong