Skepta, born Joseph Junior Adenuga, is not only one of the most influential voices in British grime but also a style icon who has managed to fuse street aesthetics with high fashion. His approach to fashion is visceral, never forced: it’s style that adapts to his identity, not the other way around. But why do we like him so much? What are the elements of his style that make him shine not only as a musician but also as a fashion icon?
One of the key moments that marked his entry into the fashion world was the 2015 runway show for Nasir Mazhar, where Skepta brought the attitude of London’s streets to the catwalk in a black technical suit. Another notable look was at the 2018 Met Gala, wearing Burberry: a blue and black outfit with an oversized cape that looked like a cross between a sci-fi film and a gothic novel. A dark, theatrical elegance that only he could make look effortless.
For Skepta, fashion is not just image, but language. His lyrics often reference brands and pop culture icons. Lines like “How you mix the Chanel with the Preme” in Text Me Back reflect an aesthetic that lives both in his bars and his looks. In the end, the way he rhymes Supreme and Chanel—two brands equally famous but worlds apart—is the same way he fuses sharp tailoring and tracksuits.
In 2023, he relaunched his brand MAINS with a show at London Fashion Week that felt like a love letter to the nineties. Faded denim, biker overalls, oversized shirts, and technical pants—all with a dusty, nostalgic color palette. MAINS is the most direct expression of his vision: a space where urban culture meets fashion precision.
Even his collaborations speak volumes. With Puma (we’ll get to Nike shortly), he launched Skope Forever, a collection that reinterprets the brand’s sporty DNA through a grime lens. The sneakers reflect this aesthetic: gritty, with technical materials and saturated colors that channel the energy of a sound system.
Among his most iconic looks in recent years: the Diesel total denim suit with a brown coat and red boots at Milan Fashion Week 2022; the forest green trench coat with studded loafers seen during the Burberry AW24 show; or the MAINS double-breasted suit worn at GQ Men of the Year—perfectly balancing minimalism and graphic statement.
Skepta’s collaboration with Nike
One of Skepta’s most iconic collaborations is undoubtedly with Nike, where he reimagined some of the brand’s most iconic models through the lens of his personal and cultural background. It all began in 2017 with the Air Max 97 Ultra SK, inspired by his travels to Marrakech and his first-ever sneaker, the 1999 Air Tuned Max. With an iridescent upper and details reminiscent of Moroccan markets, this shoe marked the start of an increasingly bold series of releases. In 2018, Skepta released the Air Max 97/BW, a unique fusion of two cult silhouettes, paying tribute to his bond with Paris.
The following year came the Nike Shox TL, all-black with chrome details—a symbol of his futuristic aesthetic. But in 2021, the collaboration reached new heights with the Air Max Tailwind V: two colorways, Bright Blue and Bloody Chrome, featuring butterfly wing-inspired motifs symbolizing transformation and iridescent finishes that echo the cover of his album Ignorance Is Bliss. Each sneaker is not just a design piece but a narrative extension of his creative universe, where music, style, and identity blend seamlessly.
In short, Skepta doesn’t follow trends—he sets them. He’s one of those artists for whom style and music are two sides of the same coin. Every outfit tells a story—not just his own, but of a culture that has learned to walk the runway without forgetting where it came from.
