Two popular streetwear brands from Rotterdam come together. Clan De Banlieue and Woei created a capsule collection. It will be available November 22nd instore and online at Clan De Banlieue at Zaagmolendrift and Woei at Hoogstraat.
Clan de Banlieue started as a school assignment in 2016 as. It has since grown into a full-fledged streetwear brand. Co-founder Richard Lopes Mendes had to set up his own business during his exam year and started designing T-shirts. Soon Richard noticed that there was a demand for his T-shirts after he sold them on the social media platform Instagram. After the success on Instagram, Richard was ready for the next step and his two friends, Levie Merckens and Sinan Karaca, joined the brand.
Banlieue is the French name for the suburbs, like those in Paris, but also in New York or – closer to home – Rotterdam. Richard chose this name specifically because he disagrees with the negative connotation that suburbs have. He believes that the different ‘Banlieues’ are a beautiful representation of a multicultural society and despite their financial situations, are one with each other. Richard strives, through this streetwear label, to be able to help others and connect people.
Collabs with Champion, Sparta Rotterdam, Cruyff and Robey
Five years later, Banlieue’s unisex collections include tracksuits, T-shirts, trousers and matching hoodies in a variety of colours and prints. The collections of Clan de Banlieue are sold by retailers such as Footlocker and de Bijenkorf. The past few years, they launched several collabs with brands such as Champion, Sparta Rotterdam, Cruyff and Robey.
The newest cooperation is with Woei. Famous for the exclusive sneaker store at Hoogstraat. The collection offers a varsity jacket, hoodies, T-shirts, socks, pants and a bag. The capsule collection is presented across a recognizable palette of forest green, black, and white. This color combination is also found in the flag of Rotterdam.
For the campaign, they selected Rotterdammers who left a great mark on the identity of the city. They are Aruna Vermeulen (Founcer of HipHopHuis), Emerson Akachar (member of rapgroup Broederliefde), Eveline Schram (graphic designer), Iwan Smit (artist), Lutsharel Geertruida (defender Feyenoord Rotterdam), Mark Bolk (photographer) and Melissa Lopes (singer). Willem de Kan took their shots in their natural habitat and defining their moment of greatness.
