Hot Topic

What is Hot Topic?
Hot Topic is a mall-based chain of retail stores that specializes in apparel, accessories, gifts, and music for teenagers. Walk into a store and the first thing you'll feel is energy. Energy from the music, energy from the merchandise, energy from the people. all of this is what makes Hot Topic different. The merchandise reflects a variety of music related lifestyles, which include street wear, retro influenced lounge, punk, club, and gothic. Add to that the wide selection of unique gifts and unusual accessories and you have it: Hot Topic is like no other store in the mall.

History of Hot Topic
Founder Orv Madden realized in 1988 that no other retailers were taking timely advantage of the direct correlation between music videos, alternative artists, and teenage fashions. Hot Topic takes its fashion cues from music videos, concerts, and music magazines and is always ahead of the curve. Many fashions worn by bands such as Korn, Linkin Park, and Good Charlotte have often appeared in Hot Topic stores prior to their wide spread popularity. If it's happening in music related fashion, it's happening at Hot Topic right now.