GAT! Gypsys & Thieves are BACK!

Talk about a throwback. If you were into skate boarding, graffiti, raving or just a street dude in the mid nineties then you hopefully remember GAT which is an acronym for Gypsys & Thieves. In the 90's suburban kids wanted to be city kids and city kids just wanted to have fun. Before Sean John and Roca Wear came onto the scene, there was Street Wear. Street Wear was inspired by Stussy and Vision, which was more rooted and infused by the beach scene. Gypsys & Thieves brought the city into the mix inspired by flourishing street art and pioneering hip-hop sounds. The brand provided gear for the young and restless.

Brick Diggler just informed me that we carried GAT in 1989 here at Time Bomb Spot. Also Greg Selkoe was quoted saying recently that GAT was one of the first 5 brands that he had in his store karmaloop in 1999. Being an old school raver I remember this brand mostly for it's jeans. The bottom of the jean openings were 30"-50" wide and featured overly large back pockets and elaborate embroidery. GAT is based in Los Angeles and has making noise in 2010. But don't call it a comeback, they've been here for years!

"As a teenager growing up in So Cal during the 90's you were either a jock, raver, skater or tagger. It just so happened that the last 3 were pretty closely tied, bound together with the overriding themes of drugs, rebellion, and outcast fashion. While there were particular streetwear brands that catered to those kids. Gypsys & Thieves was the one brand that had a harder appeal, especially amongst the graffiti-oriented crews. For myself, GAT was a godsend, a real street brand that displayed obnoxious cartoony graphics styled by my favorite graffiti artists. Eventually, there were plenty of copycat t-shirt brands in every mall across the US, but GAT was always heralded for repping the art and culture right. I'd be foolish if I didn't admit that our brand today has been heavily influenced by GAT's aesthetic during the golden era of streetwear. It's nice to see that the kings have come to reclaim their throne."

Bobby Hundreds (The Hundreds)

"I remember GAT back in '89, real graffiti inspired and the brand name was fire! We were heavy into graffiti back then and noticed artist from AWR were doin' designs, like me boy Tyke. One of my homies liked the line so much that they robbed a store that carried GAT out in OC, I think they got popped too. Gypsys & Thieves! The name is classic! Long live the thieves!"

Dennis Calvero (Crooks & Castles)