Brands like Pleasures: 6 alternatives, from LA graphic labels to Tokyo rock
The closest matches to Pleasures, in our view, are Basketcase, Hellstar and WACKO MARIA. HBX says Pleasures draws on 1990s grunge and rock record sleeves; Discobrands describes Basketcase's goth-leaning hand-drawn motifs, Hypebeast's HBX roundup describes Hellstar's punk attitude, and END. describes WACKO MARIA's rock 'n' roll aesthetic. No reputable source we found compares these brands to Pleasures directly, so the ranking is our judgement.
Pleasures is a Los Angeles label that TITLE says launched on 6 June 2015 at a pop-up shop. Sneaker Freaker credits Alex James and Vlad Elkin as founders. For prices, we found no Pleasures brand-owned shop, only retailer listings, so we make no cheaper-or-dearer claim about any pick.
Last verified · 44 sources checked · how we chose
The short answer
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Goth-leaning graphics from Southern California
Discobrands describes hand-drawn artwork with religious and goth-leaning motifs in limited runs.
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Punk attitude and bigger hype
Hypebeast's HBX roundup describes dark cosmic imagery, bold graphics and a punk attitude.
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Music-led Tokyo label
HBX says music is placed at the core of its work.
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Grungy graphic tees, Tokyo
Highsnobiety describes the original label's famously grungy tees with skull graphics.
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Another 2015 Los Angeles label
Business of Fashion says it was founded in 2015.
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Los Angeles subcultures, punk included
Overkill describes drawing on LA subcultures including punk and hip-hop.
What 'like Pleasures' usually means
People searching for alternatives tend to want one of three things: the punk, grunge and rock attitude in graphics, a Los Angeles streetwear feel, or collaborations with big names at a mid-range price.
HBX says the brand's inspirations are 1990s grunge and rock record sleeves, with references to 1990s punk subculture, and FEATURE describes punk, grunge and rock-n-roll aesthetics. TITLE mentions a Pro Leather shoe made with Converse and Unknown Pleasures chairs, and FRAME lists collaborations including ROKIT, Adidas, JSP and Akila.
On West NYC's Pleasures page, with no listing date shown and checked in October 2026, the Crash heavyweight shirt was $69.95 regular ($39.99 sale) and the reflective track jacket $139.95 regular ($49.99 sale). Foot District priced Pleasures x Umbro items in euros. We found no Pleasures brand-owned online shop, so we do not label any pick cheaper or dearer; where a pick's own prices are useful we show them and say why they are not comparable.
6 brands like Pleasures, ranked by how close they get
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#1 · $$–$$$
The nearest match in our view. Complex says Zach Kinninger launched Basketcase and designs it; Discobrands calls it a Southern California label run from Costa Mesa.
What it shares
- Graphic-led design: Complex says Basketcase is heavily influenced by tattoos and vintage graphics, with skulls and Western imagery, while FEATURE describes punk, grunge and rock-n-roll aesthetics for Pleasures. We found no source placing punk in Basketcase's work
- Limited releases: Discobrands says collections come in limited runs with emerging artists, and a Complex interview says the Basketcase website opens only during monthly release periods
- Footwear collaborations with large brands: Complex covers a Basketcase New Balance Minimus MT10 collaboration, and TITLE mentions a Pleasures Pro Leather shoe with Converse
Where it differs
- Discobrands says output centres on washed denim, graphic tees and hoodies, workwear jackets and leather outerwear
- Discobrands describes it as run from Costa Mesa, and we could not confirm the directory's Los Angeles origin; Complex pieces also give different launch dates, 2017 and 2019
- Price vs Pleasures
- No like-for-like price. Basketcase's own site was password-gated with no prices when checked in October 2026. A SoleFeed listing showed a Cocoon Tee at $101 without saying retail or sale, against West NYC's Crash heavyweight shirt at $69.95 regular. Different retailers and one unlabelled price, so we do not compare them.
- Best for
- Graphic-led, limited-run Southern California streetwear.
Cocoon Tee, SoleFeed listing (retail or sale not labelled) $101 (SoleFeed, Oct 2026) · Scar Thermal Lined Zip Hoodie, SoleFeed listing (retail or sale not labelled) $224 (SoleFeed, Oct 2026) · Lax Blowout Denim Blue/Black, SoleFeed listing (retail or sale not labelled) $268 (SoleFeed, Oct 2026) · Souvenir Jacket, SoleFeed listing (retail or sale not labelled) $279 (SoleFeed, Oct 2026) · Enter Hoodie, vintage black, HBX sale price £60 (was £140) (HBX, Oct 2026) · Enter Cap, black, HBX sale price £25 (was £55) (HBX, Oct 2026)
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#2 · $$$–$$$$
A Los Angeles label that Complex says Sean Holland and Joseph Pendleton founded in 2020. Hypebeast's HBX roundup describes a punk attitude in its graphics.
What it shares
- A punk-tinged graphic identity: Hypebeast's HBX page describes dark cosmic imagery, bold graphics and a punk attitude; HBX says Pleasures references 1990s punk subculture
- Adidas collaborations: Complex lists a Hellstar x Adidas Superstar released at ComplexCon 2025, and FRAME lists Adidas among Pleasures' collaborations
- Los Angeles base: Complex and StockX place Hellstar in Los Angeles
Where it differs
- Flame graphics and acid-washed sweats are the defining looks per Complex
- Much larger scale: Complex reports that Capsule 10 in 2023 sold $2 million in 30 minutes
- Price vs Pleasures
- No like-for-like price. StockX shows retail prices of $120 for a Sports Core gel logo tee and $300 for a Studios zip hoodie. West NYC listed Pleasures' Crash heavyweight shirt at $69.95 regular. Both are in dollars but come from different listing types (StockX versus a retailer) and different dates, so we do not compare them.
- Best for
- Punk-tinged graphics from a bigger, hype-driven LA label.
Sports Core gel logo tee (red) $120 (StockX retail price, released June 2024) · Studios zip hoodie (red) $300 (StockX retail price, released September 2024) · Flame short (pink / white) $100 (StockX retail price, no release date shown)
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#3 · $$$–$$$$
A Tokyo label established in 2005, which Slam Jam says was founded by retired J-League footballers Keiji Ishizuka and Atsuhiko Mori. HBX says music is at the core of its work.
What it shares
- Music-driven design: HBX quotes the tagline 'MUSIC IS THE TRIGGER OF IMAGINATIONS', and TITLE's interview names bands Alex James likes
- A rock aesthetic: END. says its AW21 collection leaned into a bold rock 'n' roll aesthetic, and FEATURE describes rock-n-roll aesthetics for Pleasures
- Converse collaborations: Hypebeast's 2019 profile lists Converse among WACKO MARIA's past collaborations, and TITLE mentions Pleasures' Pro Leather with Converse
Where it differs
- Hawaiian shirts, leopard prints and souvenir jackets are its signature staples per Hypebeast
- A Japanese brand with its own PARADISE TOKYO flagship, where we found no Pleasures store
- Price vs Pleasures
- No like-for-like price. HBX listed WACKO MARIA's UFC heavyweight full-zip hoodie at £215 regular and £130 on sale (checked October 2026). Pleasures' hoodie we found is Foot District's Pleasures x Umbro Spine plaid hoodie at €127. Different currencies, so we do not compare.
- Best for
- Music-led rock style with Japanese craft and collaborations.
UFC heavyweight zip hoodie £215 (£130 sale) (HBX, Oct 2026) · Silver Nude Ring €205 (incl. German VAT) (Firmament, Oct 2026)
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#4 · $$–$$$
A Tokyo label founded by Takahiro Miyashita, dated 1997 by Highsnobiety and 1996 in later coverage. Hypebeast reported Miyashita's return in September 2025.
What it shares
- Grungy graphic tees: Highsnobiety says the original label's famously grungy tees include skull graphics, and HBX cites 1990s grunge as a Pleasures inspiration
- A music-linked name: Highsnobiety says the name was inspired by the Beatles' Revolution 9
Where it differs
- A runway-level label: Highsnobiety says the original evolved from graphic-heavy to elegant runway shows
- Ownership history: Highsnobiety says Miyashita sold the label and its parent company in 2010
- Price vs Pleasures
- No like-for-like price. Number (N)ine's own site listed the BACK, I MISSED YOU. tee at $168.80, sold out, with no date (checked October 2026). West NYC's Pleasures Crash heavyweight shirt was $69.95 regular. The Pleasures price is a retailer listing and the Number (N)ine items were sold out, so we draw no conclusion.
- Best for
- Grunge-flavoured graphic tees with a Tokyo fashion pedigree.
'BACK, I MISSED YOU.' tee $168.80 (brand site, Oct 2026) · 'Ian.' tee $270.20 (brand site, Oct 2026)
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#6 · $$–$$$
Nike SB says Chris Printup and Alex Erdmann founded Born x Raised in 2013. Overkill says it draws on LA subcultures including punk and hip-hop.
What it shares
- Los Angeles subcultures: Overkill lists punk, hip-hop, skateboarding and surfing
- Big-brand collaborations: Patina Supply's page says it has worked with Nike, Stüssy, Levi's and the LA Dodgers, and FRAME lists Adidas for Pleasures
Where it differs
- Old English typography and sports-team collections, such as NFL and MLB collection names on its site
- Yo! Venice reported in June 2023 that founder Chris Printup had died after a car accident; sources also differ on the founding year, 2013 per Nike SB and 2011 per Overkill
- Price vs Pleasures
- No like-for-like price. Born x Raised's own site listed the 49ers Blockletter Tee at $50 and the Applique Stack Hoodie at $140 (checked October 2026). Pleasures' dollar prices come from a retailer (West NYC) with regular and sale labels, so we do not rank them.
- Best for
- LA-rooted graphics with sports and subculture references.
Applique Stack Hoodie, black $140 (bornxraised.com, Oct 2026) · Bar Towel Bomber, black $275 (bornxraised.com, Oct 2026) · 49ers Blockletter Tee, black/white $50 (bornxraised.com, Oct 2026) · 49ers Old English Snapback, red/black $50 (bornxraised.com, Oct 2026) · Casinola Dice 3-Pack, black $20 (bornxraised.com, Oct 2026) · Speed Rocker T-Shirt £50 (Patina Supply, Oct 2026; listed as regular price) · Paranoia Football Jersey, black £125 (Patina Supply, Oct 2026; listed as regular price)
At a glance
| Brand | From | Price tier | vs Pleasures | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pleasures | Los Angeles | $$–$$$ | — | Punk, grunge and rock graphics, collaborations |
| Basketcase | Los Angeles | $$–$$$ | No like-for-like price | Tattoo-influenced graphics, denim, limited runs |
| Hellstar | Los Angeles | $$$–$$$$ | No like-for-like price | Flame graphics, acid-washed sweats |
| WACKO MARIA | Tokyo | $$$–$$$$ | No like-for-like price | Music-led rock style, Hawaiian shirts, leopard prints |
| Number (N)ine | Tokyo | $$–$$$ | No like-for-like price | Grungy skull-graphic tees, Tokyo runway |
| Anti Social Social Club | Los Angeles | $$ | No like-for-like price | Slogan hoodies, collaborations |
| Born x Raised | Los Angeles | $$–$$$ | No like-for-like price | Old English type, sports collections |
Price tiers use the directory's $–$$$$$ scale and describe typical retail positioning, not exact prices.
A note on dupes and replicas
We don't list replicas or sellers of Pleasures look-alikes. In our research we found no source describing counterfeit Pleasures or how common it is, so we make no claim about that. In the sources we opened, Pleasures was listed by retailers including West NYC and Foot District, and Slam Jam's Pleasures page lists 19 items; we found no brand-owned online shop.
If you want the punk and rock look without Pleasures, a genuine alternative is a different brand with its own designs; the picks above were chosen on that basis.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best brands like Pleasures?
In our assessment, Basketcase, Hellstar and WACKO MARIA come closest: Discobrands describes Basketcase's goth-leaning motifs, Hypebeast's HBX roundup describes Hellstar's punk attitude, and END. describes WACKO MARIA's rock 'n' roll aesthetic. No source we found compares them to Pleasures directly.
Are there cheaper brands like Pleasures?
We can't say like for like. Pleasures' dollar prices come from a retailer, West NYC, where the Crash heavyweight shirt was $69.95 regular, and we found no brand-owned shop. Picks such as Anti Social Social Club list a Classic Mind Games Tee at $45 on their own site, but that compares an official store with a retailer.
Who founded Pleasures, and when?
Sneaker Freaker says Alex James and Vlad Elkin founded Pleasures in 2015; TITLE and FEATURE name Alex James.
What is Pleasures known for?
HBX says its inspirations are 1990s grunge and rock record sleeves. FRAME says the brand gained traction in 2015 after its second collection, and separately that a T-shirt featuring Kurt Cobain's suicide note caused controversy that gave the brand exposure.
Is there a Pleasures dupe?
We don't list replicas. We found no source on counterfeit Pleasures.
Where is Pleasures from?
FEATURE calls it a Los Angeles-based streetwear label.
How we chose these brands
We started from the directory's brands and used its style, product and price data to shortlist six whose look or origin overlap with Pleasures, keeping only brands for which we had already researched and checked a record. Facts such as founding, ownership and prices come from the numbered sources below, each opened and checked in October 2026. Rankings, 'what it shares' and 'best for' are our editorial judgement: no reputable source we found compares these brands to Pleasures directly. Pleasures has no brand-owned shop in our sources, so we make no cheaper-or-dearer claim. Prices are single snapshots from retailers and brand sites and will change.
Sources
- TITLE: Interview with Alex James of Pleasures
- Sneaker Freaker: Pleasures x Puma interview
- West NYC: Pleasures
- FEATURE: Pleasures
- HBX: Pleasures x Hypebeast (2017)
- FRAME: Pleasures
- Foot District: Pleasures
- Slam Jam: Pleasures
- Complex: ComplexCon Long Beach 2019 brands to watch
- Complex: Basketcase x New Balance Minimus MT10 interview (2024)
- Discobrands: Basketcase
- Basketcase official site
- SoleFeed: Basketcase Gallery
- HBX: Enter Hoodie
- HBX: Enter Cap
- Complex: How Hellstar became one of the most influential brands
- HYPEBEAST: New arrivals from HBX, Hellstar (2026)
- StockX: Hellstar Studios Zip Hoodie
- StockX: Hellstar Sports Core Gel Logo T-shirt
- StockX: Hellstar brand page
- StockX: Hellstar Flame Short Pink/White
- HYPEBEAST: HB100 Atsuhiko Mori (2019)
- Firmament Berlin: WACKO MARIA Silver Nude Ring
- HBX: WACKO MARIA UFC hoodie
- END.: WACKO MARIA AW21
- Slam Jam: Interview with Atsuhiko Mori
- HBX: WACKO MARIA brand page
- FASHION PRESS: WACKO MARIA
- Highsnobiety: Number (N)ine by Takahiro Miyashita (2026)
- HYPEBEAST: Takahiro Miyashita returns to Number (N)ine (2025)
- Number (N)ine by Takahiro Miyashita: shop
- Highsnobiety: Takahiro Miyashita interview
- Highsnobiety: Takahiro Miyashita and Number (N)ine
- Business of Fashion: Anti Social Social Club acquired by Marquee Brands (2022)
- Highsnobiety: Anti Social Social Club 10th anniversary interview
- Stadium Goods: Mind Games Hoodie
- Anti Social Social Club official site
- StockX: Anti Social Social Club Camo Anorak Jacket
- Nike SB: Born x Raised (Sail Box Era)
- Overkill: A declaration of love for the real Los Angeles
- Patina Supply: Born x Raised
- Yo! Venice: Founder of Venice-based Born x Raised dies (2023)
- Born x Raised: homepage
- Born x Raised: all products