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Categories: Shoe Stores, Men's Clothing, Women's Clothing [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Lower Haight, Hayes ValleyMon-Fri. 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
"When I go to this store I walk out with a pair of new shoes. Nuf said - that's 5 stars from me."
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My go- to shop for gifts for guys. This place is more like a gallery than clothing store. Love it.
One-of-a-kind tees. WAY reasonable prices (and I'm cheap).
Local artists.
Variety of styles (black&white, bright colors, abstract art, graffiti-style, bay area pride, social/ political commentary, music, sports, etc.).
Customer service. Not all up in yo' biz but they will nonchalantly ask how you're doing. They're too cool to up-sell. Just *useful* advice if you're having trouble decided between items. No vague feedback.
Tip: Pick up a catalog. FREE! I feel like I get 10 cool points for just having it in my room.
This is a great store with a TON of unique designs. They produce everything in limited numbers and release a new catalog of designs regularly. I have purchased dozens of t-shirts from this location, as well as the location in Berkeley. FYI: Berkeley gets different stuff!
Once you know your size, all of the shirts are cut the same way. I like that because I can order directly from the catalog without worrying about whether or not it will fit. The staff in the store is not overly friendly, but they will help you. Good enough for me!
The shirts are a little expensive but worth it. They are nice quality. I have washed some of my shirts dozens of times and they are still wearable. Some look better with age. 5 stars!
Luuuuurve the designs (esp. Sam Flores), hate the low quality of the hoodies (bad seam and easily-broken zippers). Tees are okay though, quality-wise.
Enjoy, but remember to keep your reciepts!
There aren't many clothing stores that I'd go into just to look at the wares even if I would never buy any, but Upper Playground is one of them. If you're into skater-style cuts for shirts (on the long side), then you might actually walk out with some purchases. Worst case scenario, you might leave with a hoodie!
Definitely the place to go for unique shirts that convey a strong artistic statement. Upper Playground offers a massive selection of graffiti-style, humorous, vintage, and cool graphic shirts that correlates music, sports, and political views at reasonable prices while maintaining excellent quality and service.
Upper Playground is a brand that is universal to the progressive artist and to the folks who appreciate style+art+fashion..
They've invested a lot of energy and resources to promote artists, and that's what I love about the brand.. You can feel the energy and the sincerity of any/all of their products..
That old T just not looking as fresh as it once did? Looking for something different, not the usual bougie hip hop labels in department stores but you're not quite of button-down age? Get thee to Upper Playground where their gear features the work of local artists (big ups to their recent art show featuring Craola!!).
The art here is really what I dig and its interesting to see some of it translated into clothing so you're wearing art for the world to see. I can't knock the hustle, they do have some great designs for their clothing, but at $90 for a hoodie that's ricockulous. Their shirts and shoes OK I get it you're definitely getting what you paid for, but really $90 for a cotton hoodie when I don't think its well-constructed, the seams are shoddy, and there are strings hanging loose? Sure I'll blow $300 on Ice Cream or Billionaire Boys Club but come on this is Upper Playground what happened to the egalitarian ethos of the Bay?
So here it is almost 4 years later, and i return thinner, drunker, and loving life more than ever...
In this past 4 years ive learned a bit about local artists as well, such as Sam Flores, Jeremy Fish and MARS-1, and UP is the place to check their shit out.
And you know?
I might be a little richer.....cuz i DID shell the $60 for the clothing, and may even shell the $150 for the shoes ill never wear.
(Just keep telling yourself, Mick....its art......)
Walruses man....shit. Thats gotta be the coolest logo ever. It just stinks and reeks of goodness.… Read more »
Pretty much what other's have said is what I find true as well..
The clothes are unique, with bits of The Bay peppered in :-)
There is usually quite a large variety to find something that suits you. The store staff is awesome. And the prices are def not bad!
I have seen UP featured at lots of online stores as well as in NYC at certain boutiques. I could be wrong, but I MIGHT have seen UP at Nord's or some other big dept. store. Rest assured, Metro Park carries them as well!!!
Great selection of unique clothing. A lot of original shirts can be found here and the store has a nice simplistic feel to it.
They had a rad hat I wanted for some time and found for twenty dollars. Cool. Clean place, helpful staff, nice area. Just went there for the hat not shirts but I like clean, plain clothing anyway.
They made a walrus logo the coolest thing in the world. Amazing.
UP is one of my favorite brands, for reals. They basically put a SF twist on all kinds of urban/pop culture trends, and it usually ends up hella fly. It's fresh, it's original, still indie and not played out or overdone like other overly commercialized brands. No, I do not work for Upper Playground.
So, this is the flagship store of the brand, so it is the place to go if you love UP. There's actually a smaller women's only store right next to the bigger men's store, and they're both about the right size for a boutique (although I wouldn't mind if it was a little more spacious, it was kinda crowded when I was there). The staff was pretty nice too, one of the workers took me over to the women's store to pay for a shirt since they were having trouble with the machine in the guy's store. I haven't been to the New York one, but I hope it's got as good a selection as this one.
This store still rocks my world.
My friend mentioned in my original review, unfortunately passed away a few months ago, but with the love she had for all things Sam Flores, I had to go back and buy something from there for my wall. I found the piece I wanted at the store, but had to think about it for a bit. So, when I got home, I ordered it online! They have a huge warehouse of stuff that they sell at the online store as well. Now, whenever I look at my art, I will always think of Rubi.
Jeremy Fish, Shepard Fairey, Sam Flores, and all sorts of other awesome artists rock this store, and rock my world.
I'm more yelping this place for my neighbor Robyn. She has been a huge fan of Sam Flores for quite… Read more »
Upper Playground is a chill spot located near Haight Street. I mainly heard of Upper Playground from a friend who adores Sam Flores. The clothing is a bit pricy but average you won't find it anywhere else.
Does anyone know why this store is called "Upper Playground?" And one more question, does anyone else not understand half their shirts? I seriously stared at their shirts for a few minutes, contemplating what they were referring to and I still couldn't figure it out.
A lot of their designs cater to some sort of designer brand that we know but it's tweaked with a flare of urban-ness (I know that's probably not a word but stay with me here). I swear the people who do design the shirts are either high, cracked out, or simply think differently than I do (duh). I guess it's not really my style but it's something that I can get accustomed to, definitely.
They did have this shirt that says "Cali" on it written in gold printed on a navy blue shirt to mimmick the "Cal" T-shirts I see everywhere. I laughed. They have a lot of pride for Bay Area sports because a lot of their shirts are either black and orange **GO GIANTS!!** or yellow and green for them stankin' A's. I also saw a beanie and on it had the MUNI logo. I laughed as well. Tons of San Francisco pride in this store so if you want something that screams SAN FRANCISCOOOOOOOOOOO this is deifnitely a place you should check out.
I think I'm going to come back in the near future and spend at least an hour in this store, trying to understand their T-shirts. Who knows, maybe I'm the one thinking too much and there really isn't anything to comprehend...
I would rate the store a lot higher if it weren't for the employees or whatever that work stop by there. Don't get me wrong the selection is great and the art is amazing. The music could be turned down a bit...but that isn't an issue. I have been to the store many times and I always get this blah customer service and everyone just seems too busy to help. I asked about sizes of two shirts and one person said they would check in the back for it and never came back! I was in the store just waiting and wandering around; when my friends and I realized that dude was not coming back we just bought what we had and left.
The second time I was in there was with a friend visiting from New York, we were walking around the store and this guy came in with a suitcase and smelled so badly of marijuana it filled the whole store and then proceeded to start an argument with my friend about looking at him. The store employees seemed to know him and took him in the back room. We left.
Great clothing, cool store...horrid employees!
What, I haven't reviewed UP?
This place is great not only because of the great designs and the fact that they are home grown, but they've been owning this part of the Lower Haight with the gallery spaces and expanded storefronts.
Great work by local artists, solidly built clothing and free stickers too.
Another San Francisco original. Most of their clothing are by distinguished artists (like Sam Flores). Good place to go for some San Francisco gear. Some of their stuff can be very hit or miss though.
Upper Playground's character catering to the graphic-T revolution hits my T-shirt spot. Not only do they carry an extensive, renewing line of clothing for men, but they allow me to support local business and style.
The Sam Flores collection, the Morning Breath collection, and the Saber collection are the ones I like to sport. Not gay looking, edgy but not trying to hard. Heart it! Looking forward to the future lines!
So my experience is not about the store but about a Beezy who works there. She happen to sit by me in a local restruant and I made a nice comment about a shirt her friend was wearing. Her friend is like "oh she works at Upper Playground". I'm like "cool!". Then this girl had nothing but the "I'm too cool for skool" vibe rolling off her for the rest of the time, and she was like 12 years old. Awesome. Fuck that attitude, what a little bitch. I wouldn't be spreading around were I worked with a bitch attitude like that. Fire the Beezy.
Cool tshirts for hipsters. I am jonesing for the Lil Wayne meets John Wayne shirt presently. Better SF-centric gear here than in the cheesey shops in Fisherman's Wharf.
Upper Playground is a Lower Haight fixture; in many ways - some of them literal - they define the neighborhood's aesthetic; for example, the neighborhood street signs/flags (the vertical ones that hang from some lamp posts) were all conceptualized and designed (and donated) by Upper Playground. I fucking appreciate that kind of integration.
UP has a massive selection of sweet t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats and various other randoms. Cool shop, cool people, and damned cool designs. If you're into this style of street art, do yourself a favor and get over to UP to see what you've been missing.
I remember the day very distinctly. It was the summer after fifth grade and I was swimming in our backyard pool. One of my neighborhood friends called me over to the fence and in a very contraband way passed me a cassette tape through the links. All he said was, "Listen to this." We always had a jam-box playing while we were swimming, so I popped out the tape (which was probably Phil Collins) replaced it with the new and pressed play. I ran back and jumped in the pool before the song started. It was La Di Da Di by Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh. It was the first rap song I had ever heard. I honestly don't remember how many times I listened to it that day but I'm sure it was on repeat til I went to bed that night. I was mesmerized.
Since that day, I've been a Hip Hop Junkie. There hasn't been a time in the last 23 years where I haven't been listening to it. It's not just rap that fascinates me but Hip Hop as a whole. You may ask, "Aren't they the same?" As a much smarter man than me once said, "Rap is something you do, Hip Hop is something you live." That was KRS One. Hip Hop is a lifestyle.
It's that lifestyle that's on sale at Upper Playground. Shirts, hats, hoodies, prints, dvds, art. It's a great spot. Spacious and clean. I'll pop in every now and again and never leave empty handed. My only complaint here is that you are watched like a hawk anytime you are in the store. They have a side room and if you walk in there and no one else is in there... an employee will magically appear in that room in a matter of seconds just to deter shoplifting I'm sure. Which I understand, but I don't like being watched while shopping.
That's actually a big grievance and it really does kind of irk me, but it really is my only complaint with this store. Otherwise this would be a glowing five star review.
As stated before, I am not a tee and hoodie wearing kind of girl. I like them on guys (except for the all over print hoodies) but I only need that stuff for the gym or if I don't feel like wearing my pj's around my neighborhood on a particular day.
So I didn't really expect much when I walked into Upper Playground but I came this close to actually purchasing a hoodie. It had cherry blossoms and a pretty graphic that I could almost picture myself wearing but I decided in the end it was a little too Asian for me.
They also sell prints of some of the designs and if they weren't out of the ones I liked, I would have bought one. The dressing room was covered by shower curtains that would look great in my bathroom but I didn't notice them for sale anywhere around the store.
This is the first store with a much larger men's section than women's section I have seen in a long time. Take that for whatever it's worth.
I heart art and the artsy fartsy people who make it.
Upper Playground is where I will come one day when I have some spare cash to drop on some very worthy pieces of artwork, by seriously rad designers.
I purchased a Sam Flores hoodie here. 2nd best thing to real art, is art on a hoodie!
It unfortunately shrank to a size small enough to fit my cat (almost). So, I emailed up the ladies at the store and they are going to exchange it for me. LOVELY!!
Customer Service rocks here and once again everyone here is too cool for school. I'm envious.
If only I could be a creative type and make rockin' art.
HELL, if only I could draw stick figures.
There once was a time when UP was still a little shop on Fillmore in the Lower Haight district, where the women's and men's hiphop/urban inspired shirts were divided by a flimsy wall. Now, as shit's been blowing up, not only are there two gender specific stores that co-exist side by side, but there's even another location in Berkeley. Being one who hates hype, I sigh at this. But anyway, I still got love for the UP. I'm usually not one for graphic t's, but I make an exception here since the Playground always hosts the finest designers with the phatest prints.
At 25-30 bucks a pop, a t-shirt is still the cheapest item in which you can acquire some of your favorite artists' work. I especially like Mike Giant's Oakland-pride shirts which give shoutouts to ghetto girls in tube socks and the Raiders (interchangeable with LA pride, but that's another post for another time). And of course, who can forget Mr. Flores, the man who has helped make UP the company that it is today.
Aside from the infamous t-shirts and hoodies, UP also provides a few other select items which are purchase-worthy, including some choice sneaks, travel bags/totes, candles, pillows, etc. I got an ex a really nice pleather bag that he uses as a gig bag for cables, which ran me around 50 bucks.
One less star goes to the fact that while quality of the items are pretty good, the sizes are highly inconsistent. I purchased three of the same shirt in different colors because I loved it so much, but didn't try all of them on at the store, figuring that they'd all fit the same. Lo and behold, they did not. As my luck goes, the two I didn't try on turned out to be much smaller and shorter. Same goes with the hoodies. Not all fit the same, and vary in quality. One hoodie I got I realized is much too thick and boxy for my liking. Wtf gives? Moral of the story, try on all that shit before shelling out the big dollos because if you're like me and don't live in SF, you'll be really annoyed too.
I love this store, I will spend $ here and I'm frugal LOL. I always stop here before I go and visit my Bay Area transplants in there new respective and wack territories, just playing... They are happy when I bring a lil taste of home. Funny though when I travel lots of the stores around like South St. in Philly, 5 Points in ATL, Melrose in LA etc. carry Upper Playground gear, but they won't have everything. Imagine this as like the flagship store in the City where it all started, complete with Jeremy Fish inspired Dildo's and knitted hat and scarf set, Sam Flores shower curtain, pillows, posters, buttons tote bags, kicks by freaken fantastic artists etc. Great folks affiliated with this store too, this brand has come so far, I'm so proud and I'm a SF'n!
Before moving to SF, I was given a Sam Flores t-shirt as a gift and I loved it! His art is crazy nice. So of course when I walked into the Women's side of Upper Playground, it was seriously like walking into a playground for me. Sam Flores tees from floor to ceiling. Awesome choices, as well as choices of other tees that are SF specific.
Took a walk over to the Men's side and was simply amazed. The men's side is about 4 times larger than the women's side. This is an awesome place to get someone a gift. A gift that can only be found in SF. I'm actually surprised that I haven't seen Sam Flores shirts at boutiques in NYC. They'd sell really quickly I would think.
Awesome store. Friendly staff. Cool interior.
I've always love the artful designs of upper playground clothing. So I kind of know that their clothing would be a bit top notch even though I didn't see it in person. I know they have an actual store here in San Francisco, but decided to order online from their website because I'm lazy like that. Delivery was fast and I'm satisfied, in general, with what I bought. I had to take one star off since they sent me a hoodie and the end of the strings were frayed. I expect better quality with the money I'm paying, but it's ok because the rest of the hoodie was nice. I'll just use something homemade to fix that problem.
This store is pretty much unavoidable. A must for those who like art and the "urban" scene. Plus, I love the inspiration it gives me!
They carry a variety of artist based items: shirts, prints, figures, bags, pillows, dvds, and of course the fifty 24 sf goods! Carrying the art of Sam Flores, Jeremy Fish, etc including the Upper Playground brand itself. You pay for what you get, and you're paying for art....so don't expect bargain deals! It's worth the spend.
They recently remodeled it to a very nice, wood based set up. Very clean and modern. And they also now have a men's and women's store. The store usually carries a good selection and I've never had any problems with finding sizes for shirts.
Friendly staff, and always helpful.
Only problem: walking out with an empty wallet... :)
Te amo.
Two stores really...Although, the women's one is never quite as fun as the guy's side. Consistently fresh designs with a very broad audience. Hats are awesome here, but I wish they had a size smaller than 7 :( Apparel for women, kids and guys. Prints from their artist, with an option to have it framed! (I wish the prints would come signed!) Bags, pillows, shower curtains, skateboard decks and other random merchandise (even UP socks!!)
I got to meet Sam Flores here!!! That is why I love you Upper Playground..
Now, I'm not allowed to come here if I don't have money to spend...Four stars because you make me broke...and still want to spend more for that new pink bunny hat designed by Jeremy Fish.
Go next store to the Fifty24SF gallery and stand in awe of their featured artwork.
Did I mention, I love you?
**BTW DO NOT make eye contact with the drug dealers in front of Walgreens**
I think it's hard for a guy is to go shopping during the holidays. You get dragged into a mall with ; screaming kids, rude pedestrians, and 22 year old retail employees showing you things that make you look like "old dude in the club". Top that off with low blood sugar and it's not a good experience for the guy or anyone else in his vicinity.
I recommend guys do two things. 1. Don't wait last minute to by gifts. You'll be stuck in a store with your fellow procrastinators fighting over a Nintendo Wii for your nephew. 2. Shop at small stores, you know, mom and pop and independent businesses.
One of my favorite small business in SF is Upper Playground. It's great for what I call the everyday "mindful/casual" look. This place has durable gear that fits me really well, it can be intermingled with basics I already have, and they can shift into streetgear you can rock at night. You may look like a bum but you get to show you have a little style.
I did about a 3rd of my x-mas shopping there;) I bought two prints for 2 couples I know, a few T's for my hommies, a couple of mugs for clients, some baby clothes, and a couple of books.
You don't have to be knee deep in Hip Hop roots to shop there either. It's all about urban dwelling. You'll see a big mix of folks in there and the staff is helpful and mature, meaning- you won't have to know the the real names of the Wu-Tang Clan to stroll in and have someone help you out.
go...
Typical day for me when i go to haight is.......get to upper haight first, walk around, get food, maybe buy some records...then check out the clothing shops. shoe shops..whathaveyou and when im done i realize out of all the shops, i have found nothing i like, dont get me wrong theres some cool shops on upperhaight( like TRUE or some may say stussy-but when did stussy become cool?-stussy=streetwear bandwagons) well the image change paid off i guess...anywho...sometimes i find something i like at TRUE or some random place, but almost everytime i end the day off by going to UPPER PLAYGROUND in the lower haight cus i know i will find something i like.....
the community of artist that design the gear and whatnot stand in an elite class of creative minds amongst themselves...(i dont even know what that means).... but they're dope.
peep fifty24sf, peep the dithers video, peep the run up video, peep it all....
I realized i should write a review on this when i looked down at my shirt and saw that i had a walrus on it.....
Upper Playground I think I love you.
Though my work uniform now consits of merino wool v-neck sweaters, slacks and Ferragamos, I still defiantly sport your Snoop Dog smoking a bleezy t-shirt circa 2003 under my polyesther-blend button-up. It's been cold lately, and I've been taking the train so I've been wearing trench coats, but tucked away in my back pack is my trusty Jeremy Fish hoodie, still equiped with the ski mask you oh so brilliantly attached--should i decide to rob my local liquor store (Sam's Market, you suck!) or decide to do a quick throw-up on the side of the CalTrain. I cried the day i accidently shrank my Fillmore sweatshirt after 5 years of use.
Upper playground, I know you're expanding, with another flagship store in Portland, stores in Japan (you're international playa!), etc. but please don't lose that grimey, "I made it in my Lower-Haight studio", feel that your clothes tends to have. There's other places like Lower Haters, but UP, you popped my cherry.
Though the Black Eyed Peas and I may have sold out, I hope you never have to.
OVERRATED!
I've been to this store a few times and bought a shirt once as a gift but never thought their clothes were that great. Their designs just aren't my style. Obviously most other people who rated this place think the designs fit them. Not me. Their shirts lack a sense of humor and basically are art pieces which very few people can understand and even less people who care to understand. It's clothing for people that want to be unique but doesn't necessary look or feel good. Again, this is my opinion, so don't think that I don't appreciate art or fashion. I just don't appreciate this shitty store. I probably would have given this place 2 stars if this place didn't already have an average rating of 4.5. I need to do my part to bring it down a bit since it's HIGHLY OVERRATED. Oh yeah, and the service is really bad. Maybe it's because I went in in my work clothes (slacks, dress shirt) and I wasn't Haight enough, or Fillmore enough (The store is on Haight and Fillmore). If I can get one person to not buy into the hype with me, I've done my job. Peace.
Loved it, even though there is a better selection for guys than the ladies. I was impressed by the fact that the shirts weren't necessarily "boutique" prices like in the $30 plus range, but in the average 22-25. However, I was diggin' the art prints and was able to purchase a Sam Flores Print that I thought was cute. RCA Love? (All I gotta say is the guy looks like he wants to put a "male" input into the female "plug"... hmm... sexual but subtle.) I originally wanted the Violin Print or the Stereo Heads prints, but they ran out of those. Boohoo.
I will be back!
Yes yes y'all and ya don't stop!
van ness d. gave me the key to happiness by hookin a Mervyn's wearin brotha up with a gift certificate. I had no idea what to expect when I arrived, but after 5 minutes of looking around, I knew I was going to be walking out with more fly gear than when overall shorts and cutting lines in your eyebrows were in style.
My heart skipped a break beat when I saw shirts enunciating dope rappers like the Beastie Boys, Chuck D, Run DMC, and Erik B & Rakim (a la Ricky Powell).
They also had fresh hoodies featuring local skater artist Jeremy Fish. If you haven't seen this guy's work, quit being a Dave Matthew's Band poser and check it out.
On the real, this store will finally give you a reason to take that Color Me Badd t-shirt out of rotation. When you walk in, say "Hi" to the short little hottie behind the counter and toss your plastic on the counter. If you don't walk out of here with something, you just ain't tryin', B!
If ya don't know, now ya know.
This place should be called Danger. It is very easy to walk out with a plethora of t-shirts that will cause your dresser drawer to become so full that it will no longer close, thus causing tees to wedge in the back of the drawer, which throws the runners on your drawer to fall off track and bend....requiring furniture repair, making that super super cool t-shirt cost you even more than what you already thought was too high of a price to begin with for a t-shirt.
And you know what? I don't care!!
The thing is...
I can't get excited about spending $26 on a t-shirt. I don't care how much I love the creative designs.
Well, I chalk my new purchase up to an indulgence.
Everyone should check Upper Playground out for themselves. I get a sense that they're here to stay.
The t-shirt designs reflect varying splinters of Sucker Free's (SF) Popular culture. This is made evident by the homage to Muni via beanie replete with the Muni logo and the brown/orange shirt with silkscreen caricature of a Muni bus with web of cables hovering above.
But alas, $24-26 for a t-shirt? Oww, I have got to learn to silkscreen!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
UPDATE
I Love my Upper Playground Big Lebowski shirt so much. Everytime I wear it I make friends on the street, in elevators, bars...everywhere.
Also, the cut of the girl's t-shirts are sooo flattering. The cut actually makes my pudgy arms look lean. A miraculous t-shirt indeed.
Utterly amazing.
One can frame and display each of these t-shirts in an art gallery.
I spent an hour looking through all the shirts and walking out not buying a thing. I was even bold enough to grab the last free VICE magazine. I know I have no shame.
Robert P. says:
My advice: Come here on payday.
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Upper Playground is EXACTLY where I will be on Fridays.
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