Summer’s here and we’re in need of a wardrobe to fit. Here are all of the hottest collabs and trends to kit yourself out in the sunshine – from heavy duty boots to inspirational T-shirts…
Yes! I’m back once again with the best alternative fashion tips and news for you this month.
If you don’t know me, I’m Kitty, and I'm a lifelong nu-metal, emo and hardcore fan, and I style music videos and photoshoots for a bunch of your favourite artists – you might've even seen my work on the cover of Kerrang! with acts like Enter Shikari, NOAHFINNCE and Scene Queen.
This month I went to 2000trees to ask you guys – and the bands performing – what your favourite brands are right now! There were a lot of opinions, from high street stores to niche little brands, so I’ve mixed these picks in with some exciting new releases to bring you an epic mix of alt. inspo. I know this summer isn’t really summering, so hopefully a little retail therapy will lift your spirits!
Come find me online and tell me if you buy anything because of this column. And don’t forget to check out the awesome K! apparel store, too!
Are piercings and jewellery not cutting it for you anymore? Well, maybe you need a permanent welded necklace. Because if having a matching necklace with your bestie stuck to you for life doesn’t scream emo, then I don’t know what does!
Simply put, Metal Morphosis are one of the coolest piercing companies in the UK. Gone are the days of having to get pierced with some boring, ugly piece of jewellery because they offer a huge range of awesome styles, materials and designs. I had my ears pierced with a dagger and a snake!
They’ve opened a new flagship boutique in London’s Covent Garden and are now adding flash tattoos and permanent jewellery to their offering – so all your impulsive thoughts can get the better of you under one roof! Tattoo therapy, piercing therapy and now welded jewellery? Let’s be spontaneous and get it all (and make a TikTok about it obvs).
Exclusive to the new store, Metal Morphosis are working towards the largest selection of piercing jewellery in the south of the UK, and the new permanent jewellery collection includes welded bracelets, rings and necklaces in a mix of solid gold and silver. Now that's metal.
As suggested by Jessie Powell from Dream State, Heads Above The Waves should definitely be on your radar. You might have seen her rocking their designs on tour recently.
HATW make punk rock inspired designs with an important message behind them: mental health matters. With T-shirts adorned with phrases like, ‘Punk Rock Is Self Love’ and, ‘I’m Glad You Exist’ the Cardiff-based company are defining themselves as a positive fashion brand in alt. culture.
But they do more than just make clothes. As a non-profit organisation, they are raising awareness of depression and self-harm in young people through their merch and by delivering in-person workshops in schools. They also offer digital workshops to share creative ways to overcome self-harm.
I spoke to founder Si Martin, who also drums in the band Junior, who said, “I started the brand 11 years ago, and back then drums were my way of coping with mental health. I had struggled with self-harm as a teenager and used drums as an escape. My plan then was to teach everyone drums to help them escape their mental health issues, but I realised that wasn’t enough. And that’s how the idea of Heads Above The Waves started.”
Talking about their super-popular Self Love design he also said, “Punk rock is a place for expression and freedom to be who you want to be, and a place to let go of all the things swirling around your head. And that’s basically the same as self-love – so punk rock is self love!”
While talking to Ben Mainwaring from The Nightmares, he mentioned that Dixxon should be on everyone’s radar as your go-to flannel brand. The Arizona-based company deal exclusively in incredibly well-made flannel shirts – a staple in all alt. wardrobes. And they also collaborate with your favourite artists on limited-edition collections, which sell out super-fast. From Misfits to Slipknot to Hatebreed, they've probably worked with one of your favourite bands already.
In 2013, Danny Dreyer founded Dixxon with $180 and a lot of passion. With a history in motorcycle culture, having previously worked for Harley Davidson and in custom motorcycle design, he embraced the counterculture he grew up in – bikes, skateboards, tattoos and hardcore punk. And this can be clearly seen through the collabs and designs they create today. So, if those inspirations sound like a bit of you then Dixxon is worth checking out.
Two legends in alt. fashion have joined forces, fusing heavy metal jewellery with the number-one punk boot to create a little collection that I'm drooling over!
Consisting of three silhouettes including the 1460 boot, Ramsey creeper, and even a bag in the form of a 7” satchel, this collection has something for any punk kid. Plus they're all adorned with hand-carved buckles by Great Frog creative director Reino Lehtonen-Riley.
The 1460 TGF boot features black smooth leather detailed with debossed chain artwork (very goth), and an engraved border on the vintage-inspired silver buckle on the heel. I know, the details scream Goth Vampire Who Rides A Harley And Wears 10 Rings And Two Chains And Will Definitely Break Your Heart.
The boots also feature TGF-branded eyelets with Dr. Martens' signature yellow stitching to create the classic alt. look. If you're someone who lusts after TGF rings and necklaces, you're gonna want that same attention to detail, and those little details really make all the difference.
The creepers feature similar detailing too, and the reworked mini crossbody satchel bag is made from black smooth leather with a debossed chain border, two silver buckles, and tiny skull rivets on both side panels. I am here for all of it.
Metal For Good make death metal-inspired T-shirt designs for a good cause, using the money made to provide grants for community groups and organisations who use music to change lives. They work with musicians, industry partners, promoters, and individuals to raise funds to support community projects and innovative ideas. So, if you like dark metal-style designs and want to buy something to fit your aesthetic – but also put your money to positive use – Metal For Good designs are a great place to start.
They've collaborated with artists like ASYLUMseventy7 and companies such as Death Sentence UK to create death metal logos and intricate broken halo skull designs, alongside half-woman/half-skeleton figures and classic bold Metal For Good logo tees.
There's also a Metal Merch Day on October 18, where you can wear any metal merch to raise awareness and money for their cause. Head to their website to find download a fundraising guide and find out more.
And, of course, how would we forget Kerrang!'s own apparel! We've just launched a new shoe collab with George Cox, and have loads more tees, caps, jackets, hoodies and longsleeves!
