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To make a splash in a crowded market, new streetwear brands often rely on loud, IG-popping pieces and celebrity co-signs. Isaac Allen, the 21-year-old founder of Zic, opted for a different approach.
Since 2023, Zic has become a go-to for stylish staples. Think wide-leg jeans with a faded wash that drape perfectly over a pair of sneakers or a zip-up hoodie with a cropped fit that falls right at the waistline. No statement pieces. No flashy logos. Just good clothes.
In his first published interview, Allen shares his thoughts on the brand’s journey, what inspires him, his goals, and more.
Allen’s interest in fashion kicked off as a middle-school student in his hometown of Methuen, Massachusetts, near the border of New Hampshire. At the time, starting his own clothing brand wasn’t even a thought—he just wanted to get fresh for class. His older sister exposed him to trends earlier than his peers and, like so many young designers, he was influenced by Kanye West and Virgil Abloh. But Allen says he takes the most inspiration from his everyday surroundings.
“There isn’t a specific person or thing I look to,” Allen tells Complex, “it’s really whatever hits me at the moment.”
He tried to launch his first brand in high school, but it fizzled out quickly. As a freshman in college, he decided to give it a second chance, and officially started Zic in 2023.
Allen didn’t attend design school or receive any formal training; instead, he’s grown his abilities by studying how the clothes in his closet are constructed. He’s been able to keep leveling up through his obsession with the process and willingness to make mistakes.
Unlike many upstart streetwear brands, Zic didn’t rely on graphic T-shirts, logo hoodies, and caps to jumpstart his brand. His approach was much more subdued, which matches his personal style. The first piece that Zic ever released was a black and grey hoodie in January 2023. Its most popular drop was a camo zip hoodie in 2024, but Allen says that the reversible bomber jacket he debuted in 2025 is his personal favorite.
“Everything is silhouette driven. It’s about cut, shape, and feel, not loud branding,” says Allen. “I only make what I would personally wear. That keeps the brand consistent.”
Despite a lack of logos, Allen finds ways to make his label’s pieces eye-catching. Sometimes this looks like a zip-up with the perfect crop. Or a hoodie made of nylon that resembles a bomber. The familiarity of Zic’s designs make the brand approachable.
In just two years, Zic has cultivated a devoted online community of more than 300,000 across social media platforms including TikTok and Instagram, but the former is the more engaging of the two. Allen uses the page to give fans a peek into his daily routine, previews of upcoming drops, and styling tips.
But Zic’s movement can also be felt in real life. The brand held its first pop-up in New York City, where Allen currently resides, in September 2024. It was a moment that Allen says “stamped” the brand and its potential. Other host cities have included Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Chicago. “Seeing lines wrapped around the block in a city I’m not even from was a very different feeling,” he says. “The youth can always tell what’s real and what’s not. You can’t fake community.”
Zic is ending 2025 with a brand new collection. On Dec. 26, a five-piece capsule of woodland camo pieces will be released through the brand’s web store. Highlights include baggy cargo pants and a hooded leather jacket, one of the brand’s best cut-and-sew items to date.
With a strong community and multiple successful releases under its belt, Allen is excited to grow the world of Zic. He wants to expand the brand’s offering into footwear, with boots, sneakers, and mules. Outside of the clothes themselves, he hopes to take the brand’s pop-ups outside of the States and eventually host his own runway presentation. But he isn’t rushing.
“Everything grows at its own pace,” says Allen, “I don’t look too far ahead.”
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