The Man Behind Men’s Fashion in Los Angeles and Beyond
Beginning in 2007, rap group Odd Future became widely known across the United States by young adults for their vulgar language, fast beats, and their iconic group looks. Members include Tyler, the Creator, Travis Bennett (Taco), Lionel Boyce (L-Boy), Sydney Bennet (Syd-da-Kyd), Frank Ocean, Jasper Dolphin, Earl Sweatshirt, and Hodgy Beats. When Odd Future wasn’t skating around Los Angeles county, they could be seen working on their iconic donut-shaped “OF” merchandise. This group, along with the creative vision for their merchandise, was headed by none other than Tyler, the Creator.
Flash forward to 2015, Odd Future severs ties with one another, and Tyler goes solo. He started his solo streetwear brand, GolfWang, which is the reverse of WolfGang–another name that Odd Future used to refer to themselves. Tyler introduced GolfWang with simple t-shirts, flat-brimmed hats, and low-top sneakers at it’s first fashion show in 2016. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, prior to the show, Tyler said, “Mostly everyone kind of hates my clothes, but it’s cool. My clothes are for someone going to Taco Bell or making an illegal deal that they should not be doing. Those are the people buying it. I fucking love that”.
His iconic print of a cobalt blue and flames took Los Angeles by storm. As a fellow Angeleno, this print is what the “cool boys” in high school wore. To this day, I still consider those boys to be some of the most stylish individuals I know; they follow what Tyler wears and produces, and recreate it.
GolfWang was an instant hit. For those who grew up with WolfGang, and buying Odd Future shirts from Zumiez, GolfWang was a way for them to hold on to their youth, while still revolutionizing their style. As Tyler continued to make music, his sound and style evolved.
His hit album Flower Boy is known for its iconic sunset cover, where Tyler is seen surrounded by warm colors and sunflowers. In 2016, he began to introduce knit pieces, hoodies, socks, and shoes into his line at GolfWang. Men were seen wearing his iconic knit pieces, pastel colors, and slim-cut pants. In 2021, his album Call Me if You Get Lost was released. Tyler focused GolfWang on fur hats, loafers, and straight-line pants.
As a self proclaimed Tyler-obsessed woman (with a tattoo dedicated to him to prove it), I can pick out a man on the street and tell if they follow Tyler for fashion inspiration. Tyler is able to take something seen as “old-fashioned” and make it cool. His style reflects the album he is producing at the time, while evolving with his music. Tyler continues to take men’s fashion by storm. GolfWang is stronger than ever, along with his wide-age range fan base.