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Kim Gordon's X-Girl: 90s Anti-Fashion Defined
27 Apr
Summary
- X-Girl launched in 1994 as an anti-establishment fashion brand.
- The brand embraced DIY, punk, skate, and underground hip-hop.
- Japanese company B's International acquired X-Girl in 1998.
In 1994, Kim Gordon, the iconic frontwoman of Sonic Youth, co-founded the streetwear brand X-Girl with Daisy von Furth. The brand was conceived as a deliberate rejection of mainstream and establishment fashion, with a strong foundation in DIY principles and a clear nod to punk, skate, and underground hip-hop scenes.
X-Girl operated as the sister brand to X-Large, co-founded by Eli Bonerz, Adam Silverman, and The Beastie Boys' Mike D. Gordon and von Furth aimed to create a distinct style, contrasting with contemporary trends by offering mini skirts, A-line dresses, and graphic tees, while avoiding tight-fitting Lycra.
This unique aesthetic significantly shaped the street and rave culture of the 1990s. A notable event was X-Girl's disruptive 1994 runway show, which deliberately crashed the Marc Jacobs show in New York City to generate publicity, embodying the brand's "anti-everything" ethos.
In 1998, X-Girl was acquired by the Japanese company B's International. Since its reintroduction to the U.S. market under new ownership, X-Girl has forged notable collaborations with brands like Reebok, Dr. Martens, Dover Street Market London, and MadeMe. Despite ownership changes, the brand's heritage as a female-founded enterprise continues to resonate.
