Streetwear began as a DIY movement in the late 1980s and early 1990s with skaters and surfers printing shirts in garages, tossing them into crowds, and creating an underground economy of cult-worthy designs. New York and California led the early wave with brands like Vision Street Wear, Stüssy, and Vans defining the look and attitude of the culture.

Everything shifted in 1994 when Supreme arrived, launching streetwear into runways, magazines, and global consciousness. Japan soon stepped into the spotlight with Bape and other homegrown innovators, turning the country into the modern capital of cool.

At the center of that rise is NIGO, the godfather of Japanese street fashion. So it feels fitting that Human Made, his current brand, has become the first streetwear company to go public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Built with the precision and ambition of a luxury house, Human Made has steadily scaled sales and global influence for years.

On its first full day of trading, Human Made’s stock jumped 13 percent, raising US$113.8 million in capital earmarked for expanding its brick-and-mortar footprint worldwide. With Human Made breaking the seal, it may only be a matter of time before other iconic streetwear labels, including Supreme, follow the path onto the market.