SoHo

SoHo (South of Houston Street) in Manhattan became New York's streetwear ground zero, particularly the blocks around Lafayette Street where Supreme opened its flagship in 1994. The neighborhood's history as an artists' district—cheap lofts, gallery culture, downtown creative energy—made it natural territory for streetwear's emergence. Union NYC operated on Spring Street; James Veloria and other boutiques served the scene. The Supreme store on Lafayette Street became the physical embodiment of New York streetwear: skaters gathered outside, Thursday drops drew lines around the block, and proximity to the store conferred credibility. SoHo's evolution mirrors streetwear's mainstream journey—once gritty and affordable, now dominated by luxury retail, though Supreme remains. The neighborhood exemplifies streetwear's urban DNA: stores as community spaces, sidewalks as runways, and the city itself as inspiration. For international visitors, SoHo represents essential pilgrimage—you haven't fully experienced streetwear culture without walking Lafayette Street.