S. Samuel
Months after Jay Z turned into public enemy number one for not pulling out of a Barneys New York partnership over racial profiling accusations, NBA superstar Russell Westbrook is teaming up with the high-end retailer. #TheBlueprint
According to reports, Westbrook will have handfuls of clothes customized.
Now the Oklahoma City Thunder baller’s sartorial skills have landed him an exclusive collaboration with Barneys. The luxury retailer has tapped the elite athlete to team up with a diverse list of menswear designers — including Want Les Essentiels, Naked & Famous, Marcelo Burlon, Selima Optique, Del Toro and Globe Trotter and Nike Jordan — to design several collections of denim, sportswear, leather goods, footwear, bespoke luggage and eyewear that will be available at all Barneys stores and online. (Huffington Post)
Russell’s new set of clothes will be officially premiered overseas this month.
Westbrook told wwd.com that he was “very involved” with and “hands on” in choosing the items available in the collection, which will be a collaboration of Barneys with brands such as Nike Jordan (who Westbrook already represents), Marcelo Burlon, Naked & Famous, Want Les Essentiels, Selima Optique, Del Toro and Globe Trotter. Westbrook will be on hand later this month when the collection is unveiled at a dinner in Paris. “This will be my first time going there,” Westbrook said. “I’m really looking forward to it.” (News OK)
Westbrook also promoted the big fashion move across social media.
“Introducing the Westbrook XO @BarneysNY collection, coming this summer to Barneys New York! http://bit.ly/1ohzHEw #RWxBNY,” Westbrook tweeted June 12. (Russell Westbrook’s Twitter)
Earlier this year, reports claimed Jay Z’s decision to grind it out and stick with Barneys despite multiple racial profiling accusations will benefit underprivileged students.
Despite all of the controversy surrounding Jay Z’s holiday collaboration with Barneys, according to the books, it was an overall success. As you may recall, Hov received a plethora of negative press after Barneys was hit with a racial profiling lawsuit, which went viral after the hip hop mogul appeared to side with the franchise. According to NY Daily News, The Shawn Carter Foundation, benefiting mostly college students, will collect over $1 million in profits thanks to sales from the luxury clothing and accessory line Jay Z and Barneys launched just two months ago. (Rolling Out)
