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From streetwear to netwear
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Photo credit: SXC
One of the reasons why streetwear became unique and flourished was not only for its styles and trends but also because of the chase for its products. The lack of its availability in an average sports, shoe, or clothing store was what made streetwear products valuable. However, with the power of online resources and its lack of limitations or barriers, many brands have entered or expanded their storefronts online. As advertised special edition or exclusive items are still being released, the hunt for these products is nothing but a bittersweet memory. The thirst and work to find limited edition sneakers or clothing is nothing but a mouse-click and broadband connection away. Gone is the anticipation of seeking information, waiting in line, or the urgency to take a trip to a specified streetwear boutique.
Certainly, online retailing has created a convenient experience in which one can shop quickly and comfortably at home without leaving to take a trip. It's made a mile, state borders, and even big bodies of water a figment of imagination. Furthermore, it has made searching and sifting for a particular product only a keyword search or page turn away, rather than taking the sometimes couple of hours to cover every inch of a store.
Though there are many perks for online shoppers, stores and boutiques offer a vibe that can never be seen or felt through any computer screen. (Moreover, there’s no added shipping costs to your total.) The priceless experience of personally seeing, feeling, and trying the product before you actually make a purchase creates a shopping experience that the cyber world cannot imitate. The music, decor, people, and the products create a space that cannot be duplicated in any streetwear boutique. Each boutique is exclusive and a special edition itself, adding onto the overall in-store experience.
In online forums, a popular question within threads and discussions is, “Where can I find this online?” opposed to “What store can I find this at?” The convenience of having and being able to shop online has taken the shopping experience onto another level and has certainly taken streetwear along with it. Nowadays, the “limited” label doesn’t automatically equate to being exclusive. The constant releases for products and its wide availability online has taken away the credibility in the element of streetwear’s exclusiveness. Streetwear is virtually transforming into 'netwear' because of online storefronts and rapid web communication. With the growing rate of online storefronts, is the physical presence of streetwear boutiques even needed anymore as hundreds of brands open their doors online?
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