Once again it’s time to make some sense of the many diffusion brands in streetwear – and on today’s list we’re cracking down on Rick Owen’s mainline brand, vs his umbrella line: DRKSHDW.
To get the ball rolling, here’s a little background on the man himself.
Rick Owens – also known as ‘The Lord of Darkness’ – began building his fashion empire in the early 1990s, focusing around bold, gothic designs that use a LOT of black.
His mainline brand’s use of high-end materials, severe tailoring and experimental design makes Rick Owens standout against the rest, yet somehow remaining elusive and elite in the world of fashion.
But in 2005, DRKSHDW (pronounced ‘Dark Shadow’) entered the scene – mainline Rick Owen’s slightly grungier, slightly less up-market relative.
DRKSHDW is essentially a subtler approach to the original, offering a (slightly) cheaper alternative to Rick Owen designs, making them more suitable for everyday fits and streetwear.
DRKSHDW also tends to utilise more common materials like nylon, denim and canvas, allowing for designs that still capture the brand’s original vision without costing an arm and a leg. Ok well maybe an arm.
Although you’ll still see the super-long tees, dropped crotch trousers and iconic Ramone boots – staple Rick Owens pieces, DRKSHDW products tend to have a more laid-back, unstudied finish, making them the perfect entry point to the brand as a whole.
Following the general rule of thumb for many of the brands in this WTF IS THE DIFFERENCE? series, the mainline versions often cater to a high-end clientele of fashion collectors, whereas diffusion brands such as DRKSHDW offer a way for people to enjoy the essence of the brand without completely emptying their wallets.
DRKSHDW balances luxury and practical fashion perfectly, allowing those who have an appreciation for his original styles to get involved on a slightly lower budget.
So if you’re in the market, but completely stuck between the two, keep your fashion goals in mind: if you’re going for bold statement pieces and have a little extra to spend, going Mainline is the obvious choice. But if you’re looking for more relaxed, street-ready pieces that maintain the gothic essence of the original Rick Owens designs, then DRKSHDW offers exactly that.
