20 Brands Like Kaws for Unique Art-Inspired Streetwear

Discover brands like Kaws offering unique art-inspired streetwear. From graphic tees to iconic vinyl figures, elevate your style with collectible pieces.
Written by: 
Ash Read
Last updated: 

If you're into streetwear that feels more like moving art, you're probably already a fan of Kaws. The brand has mastered the art of turning pop culture into collectible, must-have pieces, from graphic tees and sneakers to its iconic vinyl figures with those signature "X" eyes.

For those looking to expand their collection with new artists and aesthetics, you're in luck. Here are 20 other brands that perfectly blend art, fashion, and street culture to give you that same unique, statement-making style.

1. Mr. Cartoon

Mr. Cartoon is all about bringing tattoo artistry to streetwear. The brand is known for its intricate, tattoo-style graphics on high-quality tees, hoodies, and accessories, giving everything a raw, rebellious vibe. While Kaws is rooted in pop art, Mr. Cartoon offers a grittier, edgier take on art-inspired apparel that's perfect for fans of urban and tattoo culture.

Shop now at mrcartoon.com

2. BAPE (A Bathing Ape)

A legend in the streetwear game, BAPE is famous for its instantly recognizable camo patterns and ape head logo. The aesthetic is vibrant, playful, and bold, with items ranging from about $50 for tees to $300 for its sought-after sneakers. While Kaws channels a fine-art aesthetic, BAPE gets its energy from iconic branding and patterns, but both deliver statement pieces that turn heads.

Shop now at bape.com

3. Huf

Born from skate culture, Huf combines street art influences with functional, skate-friendly designs. You’ll find graphic tees, hoodies, and accessories that feature striking artistic prints but with a cleaner, more minimal approach than Kaws. If you love art-inspired graphics but want something more understated and rooted in skate culture, Huf is a perfect choice.

Shop now at hufworldwide.com

4. Pacsun x Post Malone

This ongoing collaboration delivers affordable streetwear with a post-modern, art-inspired feel. The collections are packed with graffiti prints, playful motifs, and styles that feel right at home with pop culture fans. Prices usually stay in the $20-$70 range, making it an accessible way to get that Kaws pop-art vibe, but with a focus on music and youth culture influences.

Shop now at pacsun.com

5. Vetements

For a high-fashion take on art-inspired streetwear, Vetements is your brand. It offers abstract, deconstructed, and graphic-heavy pieces that blur the line between fashion and art. Prices are firmly in the luxury category, with tees and hoodies often running $300-$800. It’s a great alternative if you love Kaws' art-centric look but want something more avant-garde.

Shop now at vetementswebsite.com

6. Pleasures

Pleasures is known for its rebellious, punk-inspired graphics that pull from horror, skate culture, and pop art. With prices sitting between $30 and $150, the brand offers bold and often provocative designs that make a statement. Like Kaws, Pleasures draws heavily from pop culture, but it does so with a much darker and more disruptive edge.

Shop now at pleasures.co

7. MISBHV

Hailing from Poland, MISBHV masterfully blends high fashion with street art. The brand creates edgy pieces with bold graphics and experimental silhouettes, putting it in a more avant-garde category. It’s similar to Kaws’ fusion of contemporary art and streetwear, but with a unique, fashion-forward European perspective. Expect prices to be in the $100 to $400 range.

Shop now at misbhv.com

8. Cactus Plant Flea Market

This brand is all about quirky, playful energy. Cactus Plant Flea Market is famous for its cartoon-inspired graphics, puffy prints, and limited-edition drops with giants like Nike. Its whimsical, almost kid-like aesthetic makes it a fun alternative to Kaws’ pop art vibe. Prices range from about $40 to $200 for fun, collectible pieces.

Shop now at cactusplantfleamarket.com

9. Brain Dead

Based in Brooklyn, Brain Dead creates art-driven streetwear that feels surreal and abstract. The brand is a favorite among those who want something unconventional, featuring bold, experimental designs and collage-like artwork. If you’re a fan of Kaws’ artistic expression but are looking for something a bit more experimental and eclectic, Brain Dead is the way to go.

Shop now at braindead.co

10. Ader Error

Ader Error is a South Korean collective that brilliantly merges art, fashion, and streetwear. Their pieces are known for playful, deconstructed styles and quirky, high-concept graphics. With a price point of $100-$400, the brand offers a similarly art-inspired look to Kaws but with a distinctly conceptual, fashion-forward approach.

Shop now at adererror.com

11. Subcrew

Subcrew is a Hong Kong streetwear label that excels in bold, minimalist graphic design. Instead of cartoon figures, the brand focuses on an impactful logo and distinctive typography. Priced between $50 and $150, Subcrew shares Kaws' appreciation for strong visuals but delivers them with a cleaner, more utilitarian-inspired aesthetic.

Shop now at www.subcrewreact.com

12. The Hundreds

A classic streetwear brand rooted in Los Angeles skate and urban culture, The Hundreds is known for its comic-style graphics and pop art influences. It has that same fun, graphic-heavy vibe as Kaws but leans more into traditional streetwear themes and is more accessible, with prices around $30-$80. It's a great choice if you appreciate pop art-inspired designs with a laid-back, West Coast feel.

Shop now at thehundreds.com

13. Yoon Ahn’s Ambush

Ambush is a Tokyo-based brand that sits at the intersection of high fashion, art, and streetwear. Known for its sculptural jewelry, experimental apparel, and Nike collaborations, it's where art becomes wearable in a truly innovative way. While more focused on jewelry and luxury than Kaws, Ambush is the perfect alternative for those who see streetwear as an elevated art form.

Shop now at ambushdesign.com

14. Boris Bidjan Saberi

If you're seeking a darker, more avant-garde take on art-inspired fashion, Boris Bidjan Saberi is an excellent choice. This luxury label features monochrome palettes, sculptural silhouettes, and incredible craftsmanship. It skips the pop art of Kaws in favor of a moodier, more experimental aesthetic, making it a high-end alternative for streetwear connoisseurs.

Shop now at www.borisbidjansaberi.com

15. Stüssy

As one of the originators of streetwear, Stüssy has always championed graphic art. Its surf-inspired logos and laid-back designs have defined the scene for decades. Priced between $40 to $150, the brand shares Kaws’ love for bold visuals, but filters it through a relaxed, Southern California surf culture lens that's always in style.

Shop now at stussy.com

16. Off-White

Off-White skillfully merges streetwear with high-fashion concepts. The brand's use of quotation marks, graphic stripes, and modern art references makes it a high-end counterpart to Kaws’ style. While prices range from $200 into the thousands, Off-White offers a similarly art-driven aesthetic, focusing on deconstruction and social commentary.

Shop now at off---white.com

17. Alyx

Alyx is a luxury streetwear brand celebrated for its edgy fusion of high-concept design, utility, and industrial-inspired hardware. While prices are steep (ranging from $300 to over $1,000), its focus on innovative and meticulously crafted graphic pieces makes it an art-world favorite. It shares Kaws’ penchant for blending art with streetwear, but with an industrial It-girl twist.

Shop now at www.alyxstudio.com

18. Heron Preston

Heron Preston’s collections often feature bold, utilitarian graphics with a focus on sustainability and modern culture. Known for its signature orange accents and workwear-inspired vibe, it offers a strong point of view. It’s a great alternative to Kaws for anyone who wants their graphic pieces to come with both an artistic *and* a social statement. Prices generally sit between $150 and $500.

Shop now at heronpreston.com

19. Kidrobot

If you love the collectible toy aspect of Kaws, Kidrobot is your new favorite spot. The brand specializes in limited-edition art toys, streetwear, and accessories that channel the same pop and street art energy. It’s perfect for adding a playful, character-driven touch to your collection, with apparel starting around $30 and collectibles spanning all price points.

Shop now at www.kidrobot.com

20. Cav Empt (C.E)

This Japanese streetwear brand is for those who love futuristic, tech-inspired art. Cav Empt’s collections are filled with surreal, dystopian graphics and digital motifs that feel like they're pulled straight from a cyberpunk film. It shares Kaws’ love for conceptual designs but applies it to a more dystopian vision, typically priced from $70-$200.

Shop now at www.cavempt.com

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Looking for more inspiration? Explore our full brand directory or check out our curated brand guides to find your new favorite thing.