If you like Trapstar, brands worth knowing include fellow London names like Corteiz, Broken Planet and Syna World, the more design-led Aries Arise, and smaller quality-led independents across Europe such as Patta, Daily Paper, Nude Project and our own Phrase Studios. What ties them to Trapstar is not a single look but a shared way of working: strong graphics, limited runs and a real connection to music and local culture.
Trapstar has run out of London since the mid-2000s, built on the line "It's A Secret", bold branding and close ties to the city's music scene. Its releases tend to arrive as drops rather than permanent collections, which is part of why the label feels so recognisable. The brands below share some of that DNA, though each takes it somewhere different. We have grouped them so you can find the one that matches what you actually favour about Trapstar.
If you like the London hype and the drops
These labels sit closest to Trapstar's energy: London-rooted, graphic-heavy and released in limited windows that sell quickly.
- Corteiz is a London brand known for guerrilla releases, a strong in-group feeling and a logo that has become a genuine street signal.
- Broken Planet leans into cosmic, message-led graphics on heavier basics, and has grown a loyal following through timed drops.
- Syna World is the label linked to rapper Central Cee, carrying the same music-first, drop-led approach that Trapstar helped popularise.
If you favour the design over the hype
If the part of Trapstar you like is the branding craft rather than the queue, a more design-led London name may suit you better.
- Aries Arise is a London label with a distinct graphic language and a more studied, art-adjacent take on streetwear, less about scarcity and more about a consistent point of view.
If you want smaller, quality-led independents
Beyond the bigger names sit independent studios that put fabric, fit and a clear identity ahead of volume. Several of the most interesting ones are European.
- Patta is a long-standing Amsterdam institution with deep roots in Dutch street culture and a catalogue that mixes heritage with new releases.
- Daily Paper, also from Amsterdam, builds its work around founders' heritage and a clean, design-forward wardrobe.
- Nude Project is a Spanish independent that grew a strong community around storytelling and a recognisable in-house aesthetic.
- Phrase Studios is our own studio, and we describe our lane as Lowlands streetwear rather than a copy of London hype.
To be specific about where we fit: Phrase Studios is an independent studio in Ghent, Belgium, founded in 2023 on the line "From friends, to friends". We work in numbered chapters, small runs of heavyweight-cotton pieces that we do not restock once a chapter sells through. That means our tracksuits and heavier basics are made in limited quantities, closer in spirit to a drop than to an always-on catalogue. If you want to see how we sit alongside the names above, our guide to European streetwear brands and our brands like Corteiz piece both go into more detail.
None of these are straight swaps for Trapstar, and they are not meant to be. Corteiz and Syna World share the London, music-led, drop-driven feel most directly. Aries Arise is the pick if design language matters more than scarcity. Patta, Daily Paper, Nude Project and Phrase Studios are the route if you would rather back smaller, quality-led independents with their own identity. The honest answer is to start with the one thing you like most about Trapstar and work outward from there.
FAQ
What kind of brand is Trapstar?
Trapstar is a London streetwear label that has been running since the mid-2000s. It is known for the line 'It's A Secret', bold branding, close ties to the music scene and a drop-led release model rather than permanent seasonal collections.
Which brands are most similar to Trapstar?
The closest in feel are other London, music-led, drop-driven names such as Corteiz, Broken Planet and Syna World. If you care more about design than hype, Aries Arise fits, and independents like Patta, Daily Paper, Nude Project and Phrase Studios offer a smaller, quality-led alternative.
Where is Phrase Studios from and how does it release?
Phrase Studios is an independent studio in Ghent, Belgium, founded in 2023 on the line 'From friends, to friends'. It works in numbered chapters, small heavyweight-cotton runs that are not restocked once they sell through.