Benny Gold
Benny Gold is a local independent streetwear brand, producing cutting-edge style inspired by San Francisco and youth culture. The brand is stocked in stores around the world, but its flagship boutique is located right here in the Mission district of San Francisco. The brand has grown over the past decade to become one of the most popular streetwear labels around, proudly emphasizing ‘the importance of staying true to your passions, growing up without growing old, and a DIY work ethic.’ The Benny Gold collection features shirts, bottoms, outerwear, hats, bags, socks, and accessories. Come explore the shop, and perhaps walk away with some free stickers even if you don’t end up purchasing anything.
Benny Gold, 3169 16th St, San Francisco, CA, USA, +1 415 814 3940
Black Scale
Black Scale is an edgy menswear brand with an emphasis on concepts like religion, government, and death. The company proudly ‘challenges the consumer to question the ideals of everyday society and to decipher the world objectively, disregarding the view of the status quo.’ Black Scale has brick-and-mortar stores in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Shanghai. The company is also known for collaborating with a variety of popular brands, including Diamond Supply Co., Android Homme, Hall of Fame, Frank151, DTA, High Point, Hall of Fame, and G-Shock. Come out to the Haight district location to browse through the selection.
Black Scale, 1409 Haight St, San Francisco, CS, USA, +1 415 355 9152
Upper Playground
Founded by Matt Revelli in 1998, Upper Playground is an independent lifestyle brand promoting progressive, creative lifestyles. Over time it has expanded to open locations in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley, plus Berkeley and Portland, selling a collection of men’s apparel including t-shirts, hoodies, outerwear, hats, and accessories. The store also sells sells books, DVDs, artwork, and housewares, collaborating with artists and illustrators from around the world to create its products. The company has also established partner art galleries, such as the Fifty24SF Gallery.
Upper Playground, 220 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA, USA, +1 415 861 1960
Handsome Oxford
Handsome Oxford is a small second-hand store selling exclusively American-made vintage clothing and accessories in the Tenderloin neighborhood. The New York Times describes the experience of shopping at Handsome Oxford best, explaining: ‘Stepping into Handsome Oxford is like entering a closet-size time machine packed with gently used, mostly pre-1970s American-made men’s work wear and casual clothing. You’ll find wool Pendletons, college sweatshirts, a Levi’s western shirt with pearlescent snap buttons and more, all of it amid décor that runs to old bottles of false teeth adhesive, galvanized metal milk cans, and a hodgepodge of other junk shop finds.’ The shop also has a partnering burger joint in Japan.
Handsome Oxford, 646 Hyde St, San Francisco, CA, USA, +1 510 673 0776
FAZE Apparel
FAZE Apparel, which stands for Fearless And Zealous Everyday, is a brand geared toward ‘people that are willing to define their own path and pursue their passions.’ Located in the Mission district, you can find a wide range of apparel here including button-ups, t-shirts, hats, beanies, outerwear, accessories, phone cases, and mugs. Visitors rave about the excellent customer service, with a staff that will go out of its way to help you out whether you have an issue with a return or you need advice on which piece to purchase.
FAZE Apparel, 3236 21st St, San Francisco, CA, USA, +1 415 695 2915
FAZE Apparel, which stands for Fearless And Zealous Everyday, is a brand geared toward ‘people that are willing to define their own path and pursue their passions © Courtesy of FAZE Apparel