Corteiz
Corteiz (independent) · United Kingdom
Corteiz is a London streetwear label founded in 2017 by Clint Ogbenna, known as Clint419. It built a cult following through scarce drops, password-protected web launches and street events instead of conventional advertising. Its collaborations with Nike and Supreme made it one of the most talked-about British streetwear brands of the 2020s.
| Founded | 2017, London |
|---|---|
| Founder | Clint Ogbenna (Clint419) |
| Ownership | Founder-owned |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Recognition | Fashion Awards 2023 nominee, New Establishment Menswear |
| Website | corteiz.com |
What is Corteiz?
Corteiz, also styled CRTZ, is a British streetwear brand whose Alcatraz Island logo and slogan Rules the World appear across T-shirts, tracksuits, cargo trousers, footwear and bags. It is owned and run by its founder and positions itself as an outsider to the established fashion system.
History
Clint Ogbenna, a British-Nigerian entrepreneur, launched Corteiz in London in 2017 with a limited run of screen-printed T-shirts and crewnecks. In 2021 Nike took legal action over the similarity of the name to its Cortez shoe; the two companies later worked together. Corteiz was nominated in the New Establishment Menswear category at The Fashion Awards 2023.
Products and positioning
The brand sits in the mid-market to premium area of streetwear and relies on scarcity rather than high price points. Notable releases and partnerships include:
- Nike Air Max 95 in three city-exclusive colourways for London, New York and Paris (2023), followed by a fourth in 2025
- A capsule with Supreme (2023)
- Cargo trousers, tracksuits and graphic tees as core products
Business model and distribution
Corteiz sells largely direct to consumers through its own website, where products typically sell out quickly. Wikipedia describes password-protected web launches and in-person events as central tactics, including:
- A 2021 Soho T-shirt release exchanged for metro tickets
- A 99p market stall pop-up in 2022 that drew more than 2,000 people
- The Da Great Denim Exchange in New York in 2024, trading other brands' jeans for 250 pairs of Corteiz denim
No wholesale network is documented in the sources reviewed.
Why it matters
Corteiz is a prominent example of community-driven brand building in the social media era. Its use of secrecy, scarcity and physical events has been widely copied by other streetwear labels and is studied as an alternative to paid marketing and wholesale expansion.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Corteiz?
Corteiz is owned by its founder, Clint Ogbenna, a British-Nigerian entrepreneur also known as Clint419. He launched the brand in London in 2017.
Why is Corteiz so hard to buy?
Corteiz releases products in small quantities, often through password-protected web launches and surprise events. Most items sell out quickly, and the brand relies on scarcity rather than broad distribution.