Carne Bollente

Boiling down Carne Bollente's international success to that old adage "sex sells" is a lazy way to view the brand. It is a celebration of sex in all of its forms, faces, and shades. No-frills wardrobe basics act as a canvas for the Parisian brand's scenic and vivid sexual illustrations. Delving past Carne Bollente's explosive imagery, you'll find straightforward streetwear that easily works within any style choice or wardrobe. If anything, Carne Bollente creates clothing that's easy to wear across seasons. Embroidered hoodies and graphic pullovers serve as quintessential layering pieces for the cooler months, while brightly printed risqué t-shirts, exhibitionist beach towels, and multi-colored bucket hats will have you ready for the summer heat. It's all part of the brand's charm — Carne Bollente has managed to make staples sexy and empowering.

Started in 2014, the independent label's signature illustrations are inclusive, showing cis and trans couples, hertero and queer ones. Designs are inspired but cheeky, always approached with an air of relatable specificity, humor, and nuance without verging on the problematic. They are often littered with references to the 1960s and 1970s — the golden era of the counter culture movement that gave rise to pornography, women's liberations, and art-house cinema. Equally, you may come across a reference to history's greatest lovers, erotic cave drawings, and classic films.

Sex and fashion share the same cloth. Carne Bollente brings the two worlds together in an engaging and subversive way — sex positivity with a very wearable twist. It has attracted the likes of UNDERCOVER and recently dropped a collaborative project with the late legendary artist Tom of Finland. People may give you a side-eye or two while sporting Carne Bollente. That's their problem, not yours.