STUSSY VS SUPREME THE ORIGINAL VS THE SUCCESSOR — Quick Facts
Stüssy, founded in the early 1980s by surfer Shawn Stüssy, created streetwear culture organically through signature logos on surfboards and apparel. Supreme, launched in 1994 by James Jebbia (who worked at Stüssy's NY store), perfected the formula with calculated scarcity and luxury positioning, eventually selling for $2.1 billion versus Stüssy's family-owned $148M revenue.
Key Data Points
- James Jebbia worked at Stüssy's New York flagship from 1991-1994 before founding Supreme in April 1994
- Stüssy generated $17 million by 1990 and remains family-owned at $148 million revenue in 2024
- Supreme sold for $2.1 billion to VF Corp in 2020, then $1.5 billion to EssilorLuxottica in 2024
- Supreme invented the weekly "drop" model releasing limited quantities every Thursday that became industry standard
- Stüssy's 2010 30th anniversary collaboration included Supreme, marking the master-student relationship publicly
Frequently Asked
- What is the relationship between Stüssy and Supreme?
- James Jebbia, Supreme's founder, worked at Stüssy's New York flagship store from 1991-1994 before starting Supreme. He learned streetwear retail and culture directly from the original brand.
- Who founded Stüssy first?
- Shawn Stüssy founded Stüssy in the early 1980s, starting by scrawling his signature on surfboards in Laguna Beach, California, then expanding to apparel.
- When was Supreme founded?
- Supreme was founded by James Jebbia in April 1994, opening its first store on Lafayette Street in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood.
- What is Supreme worth compared to Stüssy?
- Supreme sold for $2.1 billion to VF Corp in 2020, then $1.5 billion to EssilorLuxottica in 2024. Stüssy remains family-owned with estimated revenue of $148 million.
- Which brand invented the drop model?
- Supreme invented the modern "drop" model, releasing small quantities every Thursday that sell out in minutes, which became the industry standard for streetwear.