It was a big deal when Travis Barker traded his band tees for designer brand tees, so why wasn't the relaunch of Famous Stars and Straps a bigger splash? The Blink-182 drummer's nearly 25-year-old clothing brand quietly started back up in late October 2023 with hardly any fanfare... why?
Famous Stars and Straps, once ubiquitous in suburban America, has been on a hiatus for a while, presumably while Barker and his team repositioned the label.
Though an enigmatic Instagram post uploaded on January 1, 2022 promised that the brand would relaunch within the year, Famous Stars and Straps remained dormant until the evening of October 27 the following year, when sudden posts to the company's Instagram page heralded the first new Famous Stars and Straps collection in years.
Modeled by City Morgue rapper Zillakami, Famous Stars and Straps' Fall 2023 drop encompassed just over a dozen items that ranged from hoodies and Realtree caps to padlock jewelry and even an air freshener.
The designs are only a shade more advanced than the Famous Stars stuff of yore, which means it'll be familiar enough to fans (I assume there still are Famous Stars fans) to scratch the itch tamed by its original run.
Founded in 1999 by Travis Barker, Famous Stars and Straps swiftly became a mallcore staple by the aughts, neatly coexisting with DGK, Vans, and Hot Topic band merch.
It never had the streetwear clout of a Stüssy or Supreme but it also never aimed for the same market. Famous Stars was the approachable, affordable clothing line for kids who chugged Monster Energy drinks and recreated Jackass stunts, the same kids who listened to Blink-182.
Hard to say if the same nostalgia currently fueling demand for old-school Ed Hardy or Evisu is coming for Famous Stars and Straps but it likely would've helped if Barker had sent his fanbase towards the revived brand.
However, Barker didn't post about Famous Stars on social media, at least not on his Instagram grid. His IG bio still mentions Famous Stars so I must assume that he's still overseeing the label.
Its launch also coincided with the publication of a lengthy Barker interview, though the article didn't mention his clothing brand even once.
Perhaps Barker would simply rather wear Prada and other luxury labels than his own brand. Makes sense to me.
