C2H4
C2H4 is a Los Angeles-based streetwear label founded by designer Yixi Chen. Named after the chemical formula for ethylene, it makes hoodies, tracksuits and jackets built around future-themed storytelling.
| Founder | Yixi Chen |
|---|---|
| Base | Los Angeles |
| Name | Chemical formula for ethylene |
| Collaboration | Kappa |
| Website | c2h4la.com |
What is C2H4?
C2H4 is a streetwear brand based in Los Angeles and founded by designer Yixi Chen. The name is the chemical formula for ethylene, and the logo is an illustration of the ethylene molecule. The brand calls its designers "chemists", describing design as combining different substances to create something new.
Products and positioning
C2H4 produces streetwear staples such as hoodies, tracksuits and jackets, often with distressed and military-inspired details. One of its best-known releases was a turquoise and white collaboration with Kappa.
Design approach
Collections are built around stories about the future. Chen draws on films, television, music and small everyday details, such as warning signs and food carts on aeroplanes. Examples include:
- Post Apocalypse (autumn/winter 2017), imagining life after a third world war
- Zero Gravity (spring/summer 2018), imagining what people might wear in 2082
Why it matters
C2H4 belongs to a generation of designer-led streetwear labels that pair narrative concepts with technical styling, and its sportswear collaboration shows how such brands work with established names to reach new audiences.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded C2H4?
C2H4 was founded by designer Yixi Chen and is based in Los Angeles.
What does C2H4 mean?
C2H4 is the chemical formula for ethylene, and the brand's logo is an illustration of the ethylene molecule.