Year founded: 2002
Founder(s): Dennis Calvero and Robert Panlilio
No matter how you want to slice it, the majority of the streetwear pie is made of bold, logo-centric graphic T-shirts. It’s the easiest way to communicate who the brand is and what the brand represents. You could be a contrarian, anti-everything, or you could just be happy and ready to party. But when it comes to true streetwear, could it represent opulence? Crooks & Castles founders, Dennis Calvero and Robert Panlilio, seemed to think so. They used their brand to try and showcase the luxurious side of hustling. It started in 2002, much like many streetwear brands in that era, by producing T-shirts and hats that symbolized authenticity and love for hip-hop and street culture. Promoting Cocaine & Caviar and adorning its Medusa logo in Gucci-inspired bandanas, they wanted to glorify the not-so-pretty side of street life. And so did folks like Wiz Khalifa, Jay-Z, Ye, and even the Jenners, who saw the allure in this new era of luxe streetwear.
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