Which designer founded Stüssy, the California streetwear brand?

Shawn Stussy founded Stüssy, the California streetwear brand.

Stussy began in the early 1980s when Shawn Stussy applied his distinctive hand-drawn signature to surfboards and later to T-shirts. The signature became the brand’s best-known visual mark and helped connect surf culture with emerging street fashion.

The label expanded through informal distribution and collaborations with retailers and individuals who identified with its relaxed California style. Its early appeal crossed surfboarding, skateboarding, hip-hop, and club culture rather than belonging to one single subculture.

Shawn Stussy left the company in 1996, but the brand continued internationally. The accent in “Stüssy” is part of the brand’s stylized name, while the logo itself is based on the founder’s handwriting. Stüssy is often cited as an early streetwear label because it treated graphic T-shirts, caps, and casual clothing as cultural signals rather than merely sportswear.