Gallery Dept: the art of reconstructed streetwear, born in Los Angeles

Step into the world of Gallery Dept, the brand that redefined premium streetwear by turning every piece into wearable art. Born in Los Angeles under the vision of artist Josué Thomas, Gallery Dept fuses sophisticated upcycling, hand-painting and Californian grunge aesthetics to deliver a wardrobe at the intersection of fashion, conceptual art and skate culture. At MTHOR Shop, we curate the brand's most sought-after pieces — vintage tees, hand-painted jeans, deconstructed hoodies, iconic shorts and accessories — all authenticated by our expert team. Every Gallery Dept item ships sealed with its original tags, tangible proof that quality control has been carried out and authenticity validated before dispatch.

The story of a revolution: Gallery Dept, from studio to global culture

The Gallery Dept journey begins around 2017 in Los Angeles, in a discreet workshop in the La Brea district. Josué Thomas, a multidisciplinary artist and lifelong music and vintage enthusiast, develops the project as a natural extension of his fine-art practice: he buys second-hand garments from Californian thrift stores, paints them, tears them, sews them back together, and turns them into one-of-a-kind pieces loaded with history. The name "Gallery Dept" reflects this philosophy — every garment is treated as a work of art on display in a gallery, and the street becomes the ultimate exhibition space.

Adoption by Lebron James, Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky, Kanye West, Travis Scott and Bella Hadid pushes Gallery Dept to cult status from 2020 onwards. Pop-up stores, an unapologetic DIY aesthetic and the carefully maintained scarcity of every drop turn Gallery Dept into the absolute reference of contemporary Californian streetwear. Today, the brand stands as a movement of its own: that of a slow, artistic and radically individual fashion, answering a generation's hunger for authenticity in a world saturated with industrial logos.

A unique technique: how Gallery Dept makes its pieces

What sets Gallery Dept apart is a fully manual artisanal process, impossible to replicate at industrial scale. Every piece passes through the hands of artists at the Los Angeles studio, who apply mixed techniques: brush-applied acrylic paint, custom stencils, hand screen printing, sandpaper distressing, asymmetrical cuts and selective bleach fades. Bases are systematically authentic vintage pieces — Levi's 501 from the 70s-90s, original tour tees, military surplus jackets — sourced one by one.

In practice, this means three major benefits for anyone owning a Gallery Dept piece: total uniqueness (no two pairs of Painter jeans are alike), superior textile quality (vintage bases are sturdier than current new production), and a real eco-conscious commitment (each piece saves a garment from obsolescence by giving it a creative second life).

The iconic pieces in the Gallery Dept collection

The Gallery Dept universe revolves around several silhouettes that have become iconic, all of which you'll find regularly on MTHOR Shop. The Logo Tee — a white or black t-shirt featuring the hand-painted "Gallery Dept" lettering — is the brand's must-have entry piece. The French Tee and French Logo Sweat Shorts, in heather grey and washed black, are the most sought-after sportswear references. The Souvenir Tee, Lost Tee and Drive Thru Boxy Fit Tee embody the vintage graphic approach that built the studio's reputation.

On the denim side, the Painted Flare Jeans and 5001 Jeans distressed-painted are the most emblematic pieces — often imitated, never matched. On outerwear, the Painted Denim Jackets and Reconstructed Hoodies represent the peak of the house's artistic expression. Finally, sportswear pieces like the Echo Park Baseball Jersey, Insomnia Shorts, Boxing Merch Tees and Thermal Long Sleeves round out a wardrobe that MTHOR refreshes with every official drop.

Why buy your Gallery Dept at MTHOR

MTHOR Shop specialises in selling authenticated streetwear and sneakers. Every piece in our Gallery Dept collection passes through a rigorous check carried out by our team of experts: we verify the consistency of inner labels and neck tags, the fabric quality, the seams, the screen print or hand paint, and the overall drape of the piece, as well as tags, hangtags and original accessories. For deeper checks on premium pieces, we rely on specialist tools such as UV lamps and microscopes. Every order ships with a tamper-evident seal, tangible proof that quality control has been carried out and authenticity validated. Learn more about our authentication process.

We offer worldwide delivery within 2 to 8 days, to your door, signed for, with real-time tracking via email and WhatsApp, pay in 4 with no fees via Klarna or Scalapay, and a France-based customer service team available Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm. Should anything go wrong, our 14-day return policy has you covered.

FAQ — Gallery Dept at MTHOR

How do I check the authenticity of a Gallery Dept piece?

Every Gallery Dept piece sold on MTHOR Shop is authenticated by our expert team before dispatch. We check inner labels, fabric and screen-print quality, the consistency of the hand-painted logo, original hangtags and all finishings. Each order ships sealed as proof that authenticity has been validated. Discover our detailed authentication process.

What size should I pick for a Gallery Dept piece?

Gallery Dept mostly cuts in boxy and oversized fits, true to the LA streetwear aesthetic. On t-shirts and hoodies, we recommend taking your usual size for the intended oversized fit, or sizing down for a more fitted wear. Painter and Flare jeans tend to run large — take your usual size or size down depending on preference. When in doubt, contact our customer service.

Are pieces shipped with their original hangtags?

Yes. Every Gallery Dept piece sold on MTHOR is shipped with all original hangtags, Gallery Dept tags and labels, just as it left the workshop. For hand-painted pieces, the unique brushstrokes and splatters are part of the design — every example is slightly different, that's the brand's signature.

What is the delivery time?

We ship worldwide, with door-to-door signed-for delivery in 2 to 8 days. You'll get real-time tracking by email and WhatsApp, wherever you are.

Will I have to pay customs fees?

No, no customs fees are due from you. MTHOR covers all customs duties and taxes, regardless of your destination worldwide. The price shown on the site is the final price you pay — no nasty surprise at delivery.

Can I return my piece if it doesn't fit?

Yes. You have 14 days from delivery to return your piece, provided it's in original condition (never worn, hangtags attached, seal intact). Refunds are processed within 24 hours of receiving the return.

Going further

Discover also our Chrome Hearts, Sp5der and Hellstar collections, or explore our full Streetwear universe. To learn more about the quality of our pieces, visit our detailed authentication process.