Streetwear has its own vocabulary. This streetwear glossary covers the terms you will see most, in plain English, so product pages and group chats make sense.
Common streetwear terms
- Drop: a limited release of products at a set time.
- Fit: a complete outfit, as in "nice fit".
- Grail: a piece someone has wanted for a long time.
- Deadstock: unworn, original items, often old.
- Colourway: a specific colour combination of a design.
- GSM: grams per square metre, a measure of fabric weight.
- Heavyweight: thicker, denser fabric.
- Oversized: cut larger than usual on purpose.
- Boxy: square, wide cut with a shorter length.
- Puff print: a raised graphic that gives texture.
- Capsule: a small, focused collection of pieces.
- Collab: a collaboration between brands or artists.
- Resale: selling an item on after buying it.
- Hype: excitement around a product or drop.
- Essentials: simple pieces you wear all the time.
Terms people mix up
A few words sound similar but mean different things. Oversized means a size up on purpose, with a looser body and often dropped shoulders. Boxy is about the shape: wide and square, often cropped. A hoodie can be one, the other, or both.
Heavyweight and GSM go together. A higher GSM generally means thicker fabric, but it is only a guide. Weave, finish and construction all change how a piece feels and wears. If you want more on fit, read oversized vs regular fit.
Why a streetwear glossary helps
Knowing the words makes it easier to read product descriptions and compare brands. If one hoodie says heavyweight and another says nothing, you know what to ask. If a listing says deadstock, you know the item is old and unworn, which can affect the price and the condition.
How to use these words
You do not need to drop slang into every sentence. Use the terms that help you shop. "Drop" tells you something is limited. "Colourway" tells you which shade you are buying. "Capsule" tells you the pieces are meant to work together.
Ask anyway
If you do not know a word, ask. Streetwear is for everyone. Nobody was born knowing what a grail is, and the best people in any scene are the ones happy to explain.
What is the difference between streetwear and elevated streetwear?
Streetwear comes from skate, hip hop and club culture. Elevated streetwear keeps that spirit but focuses on fit, fabric and finish, so the pieces work in more places. Our guide to what is elevated streetwear goes deeper.
New to it all? Start with What Is Streetwear?
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