Gritty Parisian streets. Police brutality. Angst. Murder. Intense performances. Sportswear. Only one piece of media should be springing to mind – Mathieu Kassovitz’s 1995 masterpiece La Haine.
La Haine might only take place over 24 hours, but its legacy has lasted a lifetime. The black-and-white film is a blistering insight into the relationship between the state and the marginalised, masculinity and impotence, rage and inertia. Young men trapped in a system that neither sees nor values them, circling the same streets, having the same arguments, revisiting the same dead ends, over and over again.
La Haine’s widespread success far outside of its home country is largely down to the portrayal of its three main characters – Vinz, Hubert, and Saïd. The three friends might just be the most complex, yet realistic characters ever squeezed into an hour and a half film. Vinz is brash and volatile, but beneath his hardened exterior lies fear and vulnerability. Hubert is his quiet, grounded counterpart, thoughtful and longing for a life beyond the neighbourhood, yet painfully aware of the hand he has been dealt. And Saïd functions as the quick-witted bridge between their tense dynamic.
Each character is a unique product of the environment that surrounds them, and their stylistic choices embody their personalities. Vinz opts for denim, track tops and a shaved head – determined to portray himself as more serious than he really is. Hubert, by contrast, dresses for practicality, mixing workwear brands like Carhartt with upcycled military surplus. Whereas Saïd is determined to dress above his means and stature, sporting fur-lined shearling jackets with complete Tacchini tracksuits.
The wardrobes of each character only bolster La Haine’s status. Everything feels as if it has been pulled from real wardrobes and then literally dragged around the dirty Parisian backdrop. Just like the film itself, the looks are raw, unsanitized, and brutally honest.
To pay tribute to Kassovitz’s masterpiece – and his three characters – we’ve put together a La Haine-inspired style guide below.
Donned by both Hubert & Saïd, the shearling collared flight jacket is undoubtedly La Haine’s most outrageous piece of outerwear. Insulation matters on Paris’s cold streets, and this YMC number looks ridiculously toasty.
When you think of iconic La Haine garments, you think of Hubert’s Carhartt beanie. The design hasn’t changed much, if anything, since the film debuted 30 years ago, and that’s because it hasn’t had to.
Don’t think they ever appeared on screen, but these Carhartt Watch Gloves go hand in hand with the beanie. Ideal for not leaving fingerprints on repossessed firearms.
Sergio Tacchini x Stuarts Orion Track Top
La Haine features some of the finest sportswear to ever appear on the big screen. Lacoste polos, vintage Nike zip-ups, and of course Saïd’s Tacchini tracksuit. With the film being shot in black and white, we’re not sure on the actual colour of his tracktop, but this cream and ruby red iteration looks right up his street.
One of the things La Haine gets so right is the way its characters blend sportswear with streetwear. The clothes clash by era, formality, and wear, yet still land as coherent looks. Which brings us neatly to these Stüssy joggers. No fuss, all comfort.
Pop Trading Company – Hooded Flight Jacket
If we had to back a single brand for the La Haine look, it would be Pop Trading Company. Everything they make feels lifted straight from the wardrobe of a greasy ’90s graffiti-skate rat. Case in point: this hefty Hooded Flight Jacket, cut from seriously hardwearing 100% cotton canvas.
Reebok – Club C Revenge Vintage
Reebok outfitted the cast of La Haine, and the brand even revisited the film with a collaboration in 2020. That stock is long gone, but this Club C Revenge colourway feels right in step with the original.
Arguably the most recognisable Reeboks ever made. Back in the ’90s, these bobby dazzlers ruled dancefloors from Paddington to Paris.
Cafe Mountain – College Logo Tee
A graphic tee from Cafe Mountain that fits the bill. Not much more to say.
Another intrinsic part of Hubert’s getup: the camouflage pant. Hardly the ideal disguise for Parisian streets, but its military print was a staple of mid-’90s streetwear.
Pop Trading Company – Padded Jacket
Another fitting outerwear option from our pals at Pop Trading. Sort of like a coach-flight jacket hybrid.
Umbro – NQ Relaxed Track Jacket
We’d wager that a good chunk of the UK watched La Haine on its release wearing a track top not unlike this Umbro one. Quintessentially ’90s.
