So I get this email from a friend who will remain nameless which two links to follow...one link went to the rogue status blog which had a posting saying " Fuck The Hundreds...they killed stretwear"..and some other tidbits...the other was a link to The Hundreds blog which stated that they had been graciously invited to speak at UCLA about how they started the brand from scratch and so on.......let me get to the point on a few things. First..what did "they" do to their buds rogue status ? I mean they had a collab and were cool...so what happened ?? It was put out there in a big way....Is rogue trying to get street cred by laying it on the line by saying that ?? I was shocked to say the least. Whatever the case.. I don't think The Hundreds killed streetwear.....its a cycle of life..law of physics...what goes must come down..and go back up again when the time is right. Its like saying that Nirvana killed Heavy Metal...when the fact is Metal music at the time was oversaturated with 3rd and 4th generation knockoffs that maybe had a hit or just looked the part and was thrown i n the mix..then all the fans/kids that helped get the first and second generation bands to the level of sucess that opened doors for the imitators saw their identity being taken by every Tom Dick and Hank...they went and found Nirvana and other bands of the grunge genre and abandoned the bands they loved for some new and fresh shit that still had bits and pieces of what they onced liked ..only packaged with a new look. The same applies to "streetwear". What is "streetwear" ?? Back in the day...streetwear was from the STREET. The artists that created it and the stores that sold it weren't mainstream. Its funny to me how so many people claim"street" that own companies but have no idea of what street is.What is killing streetwear is a bunch of things...mainly over saturation.....you see it every tradeshow...another company pops up and tries to rehash something another company has done the season before and so on....also the fact that every company is out for the cream and sells out to anyone with the biggest checkbooks.....which it turn makes it more available to people who aren't a part of the culture for the long haul...they just jump on because its cool now then when its starting to get real played because of them they jumpoff...case in point...so many heads jumped ship on Nike for Vans because some blog says so...then whan too many cornballs start to follow..they jump back. I see everyday at the shop...dudes who would swear up and down how Nke was the shit......later on to Nike is WACK...its all about Vans....Now they're back to Nike...understand everyone has a choice but when you shit on something you onced loved only to go back...well that doesn't make for a good look nor does it support a scene or culture....it makes alot of you SHEEP. Say what you want about me and my shops  on how I hate and shit but alot of you feel like Im saying the truth or I am talking about you or your friends. Another reason that streetwear IS dying is the way alot of your favorite companies have become complacent....flipping the same designs over and over and not stepping up with something new and fresh..next level. I can't tell you how many brands have fell short this season with designs....but as always ..all good things come to an end...but it still doesn't make sense why Rogue thinks the Hundreds killed streetwer..unless they're saying it as they killed it meaning they did an amazing job but I don't think that was the meaning. Whatever the case...the Hundreds didn't kill strretwear alone....that had PLENTY of help in my opinoin. The other thing that was sent to me was a link to the hundreds blog on how they're speaking at UCLA...Kudos to them...thats pretty big and it should be dealt with in a professional manner which I know it will being as that Bobby and Ben were lawschool students at one point before trhey were The Hundreds. During that time they were a three piece ( they had another partner) and they were friends ( still are to some point) and customers of my shop. The one thing that I hope they say at their speech at UCLA ( which I will be attending with some others in the indusrty) is how hard it is to do what they did. Some things they said in tha quick post was false....and I feel it necesssary to correct it and not have kids chase a dream that might not come true...I'm all about chasing your dreams...I've done it and still do it everyday to get to where I am and to set me up to where Im going but the ride is one of the hardest I've ever been through. The facts are...no matter how much money or talent...its comes down to WHO you know not so WHAT you know....The Hundreds made a name for themselves by associating themseleves with the right stores and the right people which in turn connected them with indusrty clout....yeah they had some good designs but as I remember...they couldn't get in to any shops in the beginning...it was me that called in favors to get them carried in some high profile shops which in turn led other high profile shops to take notice and get on them....then it was a slow chain reaction...not even slow...steady.....but to put it out there like if you have determination and great ideas then you can make it....well its a crock of shit...I see kids all day long with their lines come into my store...some are good some are bad...the few good ones I will try and a consignment basis...and a few ( who will remain nameless) have been picked up at other shops that didn't want to touch them at first but since I gave them a shot.it helped them get into other top teir shops...sad but true this is how the streetwear market is...you're going into a store thats 1000 sq.ft. average...that has 10-15 strong solid brands....all the shelf space is taken up and you want them to make room to carry your unproven line ?? Its a hard...very HARD decision to make for a store owner...but there are a few out there like myself who will give you a shot but I think...no I hope Bobby and Co. make it REAL clear to all the hard working and starving artists that its not such a cakewalk and it has ALOT to do with WHO you know.I can say that if it wasn't who I knew...dudes like Stash  Erik Brunetti Haze Dante Ross Futura Bleu (RIP)  Rick Klotz Scott Ian...even Adam from SlamX Hype..I wouldn't be in the same place I am today without some sort of "push" or "ok" from them...but I can admit it and am not embarassed about it. I just want people to know how it really is beacuse if someone told me what I know today...maybe it would've been a little easier.So with all that...continue chasing your dreams but also build your contacts and your relations becasue in the end...you may have the dopest designs ever but noone to look at it and give you a chance. I want everyone to understand that I am NOT bashing...Im just shedding some light in a grey area. Cheers for now.

Dom