A special type of marks that the robbers are after

in recent months, a wave of ungdomsrån hit Stockholm. It is, above all, designer clothes and expensive mobile phones that the young robbers are out for. The police in Nacka and Värmdö calls on children and young people to DNA mark their valuables to make them less stöldbegärliga.

at the same time playing expensive designer clothing to a significant and complex role in many young people's social existence. At four schools in the Stockholm inner city and western suburbs as DN has visited says the young people of different ages unanimously that the right designer clothes, give you the status.

" It's just the way it is. People look at you different if you have expensive designer clothes or cheap. You go around in H&M clothes so you will be seen as a poor kid that can't afford anything. But if you come to school with the type of Louis Vuitton, Gucci, or Armani, so you get respect, " says Hicham Benkhalfa, 14, which is in the eighth grade in Grimstaskolan in Vällingby.

Hicham Benkhalfa, 14 and Ardoan Khalaf, 14, Grimstaskolan. Photo: Fredrik Funck

in expensive designer clothing to impress the surroundings is a phenomenon that has its roots in the hip-hop culture. In social media it is called ”flexing”. Last spring, created the nine-year-old and storskrytande Instagram star Lil Tay headlines when she appointed to ”the century's youngest flexare”.

To flex the upscale brands are in the highest degree, something which also occurs among young people in Stockholm, according to the students. Among the brands they mention are labeled as Gucci, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Valentino, Gant, Moncler, Louis Vuitton, Canada Goose, Parajumpers and Stone Island.

just to throw on any märkesplagg and expect to be accepted. It is important to have the right style, the right brands, in the right circles.

" I Come here as a local with a fashion style like no one in the suburb of, say, Lindeberg, will I be teased and judged because I have a ”Swedish” style of dress. They would say that I am geeky and nerdy and stuff like that, " says Ardoan Khalaf, 14, on Grimstaskolan.

high school mean to märkeshetsen can build on an uncertainty that makes you want to fit in.

– For my little brother who is 14 years of age, it is very much that you have to have the right brands in order to fit in, because they feel unsure of themselves. Surely, everyone wants to dress good, but it's not as important that it must cost a lot, it's pretty silly, " says Gustaf Sjögemark, 17.

to be a marker that clearly identifies the different geographical areas in Stockholm. And it need not be on different sides of town, but may differ from one station to another – or just a few numbers farther down on the same street.

”My parents have told me to give from me everything about it and someone will want to rob me so no harm. It's a simple robbery on the way,” says Daniel Perski, 17 at Kungsholmens gymnasium. Photo: Fredrik Funck

– We can recognize the students from certain schools just because of that there is a difference in what brands you have, " says Daniel Perski, 17 years, at Kungsholmens gymnasium.

– All of the circuits has its own type of märkeshets, adds Elina Azizi, 18.

as the Eastern real's classic premises at Östermalm completely renovated the students in Anna Whitlocks gymnasielokaler a little further down the street from Kungsholmens gymnasium. The move has been made that the differences have come closer.

”All of the circuits has its own type of märkeshets”, says Elina Azizi, 18, at Kungsholmens gymnasium. Photo: Fredrik Funck

– At our school, people are very aware of environmental issues. There are two different ways to look at fashion, whether it is the influences-the style, or you have this second-hand style available at our school, " says Astrid Onno, 18 at Kungsholmens gymnasium.

as a DN talk to knows someone who was robbed of designer clothes and other statusprylar the last time.

”Especially in the inner city, I would say that it is important, and in Bromma, Lidingö and Djursholm,” says Nathalie Holmström, 17 on the East real's gymnasium. Photo: Fredrik Funck

– My girlfriend was robbed at Brommaplan, and they took her Monclerjacka, Zadig & Voltaire bag and AirPods, " says Nathalie Holmström, 17, on the East real's gymnasium.

A guy at Kungsholmens gymnasium says that several people he knows have been affected by pistolrån lately. Therefore, he is afraid to talk openly in the media about the topic and want to be anonymous.

" well It's a special type of marks that the robbers are after. Gucci, stuff you recognize from afar. It's supposed to be seen, " the 18-year-old guy.

by Daniel Perski:

– For example, all of the Louis Vuitton clothing something lättigenkännligt motif. Everyone has a ”patch” (patch) on the sleeve. The jackets cost type 8.000 bucks and it is not reasonable for all femtonåringar to afford, without the need to rob in order to get it.

this type of designer has different characteristics. It can be anything from a patch, for example, a red tygvimpel affixed to the sleeve on the jackets of the brand Alpha. The hallmarks are the very statusmarkören on the grounds that they are considered to prove that the garment is authentic, it say several of the students.

" Right with Stone Island it is the patch itself that is worth something. It happens that they take the whole jacket, but sometimes, they just take the patch itself, " says Daniel Perski.

märkeshetsen, it becomes increasingly more expensive to fit.

– the Standard for what is reasonable for a given age has become more extreme. Thus, it is the child who is twelve years of age who want to have shoes for 4,000 kronor, " says Daniel Perski.

But the obsession with expensive brands are not equally significant in all the circuits.

In Bromma is the more designer clothes, people have the same style. Here, people from so many different places, so it becomes more mixed and not as important then, " says Christina Lundblad, 18, at Kungsholmens gymnasium.

”Here, people come from so many different places, so it becomes more mixed and not as important then,” says Christina Lundblad, 18 at Kungsholmens gymnasium. Photo: Fredrik Funck

the gymnasium in the Brommaområdet agree with.

Many people in this school live in Bromma and affect each other in how to dress. It is spread by it. Among those who go here have enough all right so similar to the style of dress, " says Elina Näsmark, 16.

the Worst is the pressure among secondary school students, mean young people.

”There are two different ways to look at fashion, whether it is the influences-the style, or you have this more second-hand style available at our school,” says Astrid Onno, 18 at Kungsholmens gymnasium. Photo: Fredrik Funck

– When you were younger all had the same style and it was important to show the logo, type, Ralph Lauren, " says Astrid Onno, 18 at Kungsholmens gymnasium.

– Many of which we have as role models here in the suburbs buy expensive clothes. For example, it can be an older sibling, and then have them as role models and it affects everyone. You listen to their music and then I want to have the same clothes as them, " says Hicham Benkhalfa, 14, in Grimstaskolan.

" I can imagine that it is associated with stereotypes in the rap world. It is a stereotype that man should have a golden Rolex and a Gucci clothes and be a criminal. I guess they work as some type of role model, " says the anonymous guy at Kungsholmens gymnasium.

Daniel Perski at Kungsholmens gymnasium emphasises that musical artists play great importance in this context.

" just Look at the music people listen to, in many hip hop songs name-drops the brands all the time. Then you have children that go around and sing these songs, but do not have any of the context that this comes from an american culture of violence.

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