Cyrus Langhorne
Grammy-winning rapper Kanye West delved into his initial attempts at the fashion industry and revealed a past clothing venture landed him in debt.
According to West, a decision to put his own money into a women’s line ultimately cost him his credit.
His poorly received ready-to-wear women’s collections were paid for completely out of pocket, which he says put him in debt. “I gained because I had the privilege to be educated,” he now says. “I had enough of a value to be able to go into debt, and that was a blessing. Some people don’t even have the opportunity to be able to go into debt.” (New York Times)
Kanye also dished on his interest in doing away with exclusivity and letting the masses get his fashion pieces.
“Before the Internet, music was really expensive. People would use a rack of CDs to show class, to show they had made it,” West said at one point. “Right now, people use clothes to telegraph that. I want to destroy that. The very thing that supposedly made me special — the jacket that no one could get, the direct communications with the designers — I want to give that to the world.” (New York Times)
Back in February, Kanye said he had no intention of putting his adidas debut kicks out for a limited run and at $350 per pair.
“I didn’t want them to be limited, that’s something the company did,” Kanye revealed. “I really want as many people as possible to get them. I didn’t want the price to be 350 [dollars], I don’t want to play this sneaker culture game with costs and they’ll be re-selling them for high prices and stuff. I just want people to have what I make. There ain’t no limited release of The College Dropout [album] – I think with clothing right now, there’s real separatism.” (“The Breakfast Club”)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXOQrlx3EAM
Recently, G.O.O.D. Music star Big Sean talked about Kanye putting together a solid adidas collection.
He showed off the $350 sneakers and praised his mentor for his innovation. “Shout out to ‘Ye for not just executing the shoes, the clothes were really great,” said Sean. “I’ve never really seen a fashion show presented like that. … He changing the game as usual. Proud of my big bro, proud to be a part of a team that really cares about quality and just making a difference.” (Rap-Up)
This nigga so gay