Kill City and the Legacy of Punk Subculture Fashion
In 2005, a new fashion label emerged that bridged the rebellious spirit of punk-rock with contemporary design: Kill City. Founded by Drew Bernstein, the visionary behind the iconic Lip Service brand, Kill City brought together the edgy, countercultural attitude of punk with modern aesthetics and high-quality craftsmanship. While Lip Service had already established Bernstein’s name in the goth, punk, and fetish subcultures, Kill City took his creative vision a step further. Following Bernstein’s passing in 2014, the brand was acquired by Blank Generation, ensuring that its legacy remained alive within the world of alternative fashion, though its presence has since quieted, leaving a lasting cultural imprint.
Our Discovery and Exploration of Kill City.
Around the early 2010s, we were deeply immersed in our growing online fashion business. It was during this time that a friend we met through an online forum introduced us to a unique clothing brand called Lip Service. They told us that the brand could do well in ENDHONESA, suggesting that we import it from the USA and offer it to our customers. Intrigued by the potential, we brought in a few sample products and began exploring the brand.
Lip Service had already garnered a reputation within the alternative subcultures, especially among those in the punk and goth scenes. As we delved deeper into its origins and the work of its founder, Drew Bernstein, we stumbled upon Kill City, a sibling brand to Lip Service, yet with its own distinct identity. It felt like we had uncovered something special, a next-generation evolution of Bernstein’s rebellious fashion ethos.
From that point, we began to import Kill City apparel alongside Lip Service and introduced it to our ENDHONESA's customers. The brand’s bold designs—distressed denim, leather jackets, and asymmetrical cuts—resonated with a niche market looking for something that went beyond mere fashion. It was a statement, an attitude.
Kill City: Rebellion in Contemporary Design.
Drew Bernstein had a unique ability to fuse the raw energy of punk rebellion with a more modern, wearable approach. Kill City embodied this fusion. It wasn’t just about replicating the gritty style of punk, it was about evolving it, making it accessible to a new generation. The brand became known for its high-quality fabrics and innovative distressing techniques, especially on jeans and outerwear.
What set Kill City apart were its distinct features, like asymmetrical cuts and unconventional dyeing techniques. For fans of alternative fashion, these weren’t just clothes, they were an expression of individuality. The designs carried a strong message of non-conformity and self-expression, perfectly suited for those who thrived within the punk and alternative subcultures.
Notably, Kill City also gained attention from high-profile musicians and celebrities, further cementing its presence in the culture. Axl Rose from Guns N' Roses, known for his iconic rockstar image, often sported pieces from Bernstein’s collections. This association with famous personalities gave Kill City a rockstar credibility, adding to its appeal as more than just clothing—it became memorabilia of an era, tied closely with the music and attitude of the time.
Our Journey with Kill City and the End of an Era.
For several years, we sold Kill City to a growing base of loyal customers in ENDHONESA. The response was overwhelmingly positive. Customers saw Kill City as something different, not just a fashion label, but a brand that embodied a philosophy. It was about more than the look; it was about what the brand stood for—freedom, rebellion, and a refusal to follow mainstream trends.
But by the end of 2015, we decided to stop selling Kill City. The market had shifted, and so had global fashion trends. It felt like the right time to close that chapter of our business.
Then, just a few weeks ago, while reorganizing our warehouse, we found some leftover stock of Kill City apparel. That discovery took us back in time, reviving memories of those early days when the brand was still alive and full of energy. We tried searching for updates about Kill City, only to realize that the brand had gone quiet. Its social media accounts hadn’t been updated in years, and its website was no longer accessible.
Kill City’s Legacy Lives On
After Bernstein’s death in 2014, Blank Generation took over both Kill City and Lip Service, determined to preserve the creative vision he left behind. Blank Generation, a Los Angeles-based producer of punk streetwear, stayed true to Bernstein’s aesthetic. They committed to continuing the brand’s journey by maintaining its original design team and staying faithful to its rebellious roots.
To us, Kill City is more than just a brand we once sold, it represents a significant part of our journey. It offered us a deeper understanding of how fashion can intersect with identity and personal expression. Today, while Kill City may be more of a cultural memory than an active brand, its impact remains strong in the hearts of those who connected with its spirit.
In this reflective retelling, our experience with Kill City and Lip Service becomes a story about the intersection of fashion and alternative culture, about how a brand can transcend being just a product to become a way of life. Though Drew Bernstein is no longer with us, his legacy endures through the designs he created and the memories they’ve left behind.
References
- Wikipedia. Drew Bernstein. Wikipedia.
- Alison A. Nieder. Lip Service, Kill City Founder Drew Bernstein. California Apparel News.
- Grailed. Kill City. Grailed.
- ENDHONESA Online Store. Good Stuff in ENDHONESA. Good Stuff Online Store.
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