Photos From Left: Karl Kani - Tupac Shakur - Karl Kani Clothing Ad Featuring Tupac
Carl Williams, founder of Karl Kani, and Tupac Shakur, a Hip Hop Legend, are ultimately credited with being the
co-founders of the Hip-Hop clothing world. Togethor, the two embarked upon a journey to bring some of the
millions of dollars mionrities spent on fashion, back to the urban communities.
During a fashion era which Levi, Arizon Jeans, Nike, and other clothing labels dominated the Hip Hop lifestyle, Carl Williams
recognized a void in fashion. He realized much of the Hip Hop crowd was altering the fit and wearing styles promoted
by the clothing labels. Williams recognized that Hip Hop culture clothing different from the masses outside of the once
subculture.
In the early 80s, a big fan of Hip-Hop music, Kani started to embark upon his journey to create the first Hip Hop clothing
label. Residing in Brooklyn, New York the aspiring designer soaked in urban surroundings locally and paid attention
to those in the media and elsewhere, to add to his inspirations.
Wiliams made his first mark in fashion during 1989, having Karl Kani clothing sold at a store called Simons in New York
City. The clothing was a hit in the urban community as expected but did not see ultimate success until after the clothing
was worn by rapper Tupac Shakur.
[ Keith Perrin and Daymond John; FUBU Co-Founders ]
Shakur, a platinum rap artist, was already wearing Karl Kani clothing in media appearances by the time he met
Carl Williams in the 1990s. When the two finally met, they were mutually appreciative and respectful of each others work.
The bond between Hip Hop music and fashion was also set in stone at this point.
Shortly after meeting, Williams signed Tupac to be the new face of the Karl Kani clothing brand and Tupac wore the Hip Hop
clothing brand, spreading the word that the black communities could support their own. Accepting the voice of the
trendsetting Hip Hop icon, a world of opportunity was opened for the original urban community and culture.
Moving forward from success of Karl Kani clothing was not easy for others. In the 1990s there were still few
designers that took risks to create innovative labels for Hip Hop culture. With only one major success story, producing
a clothing line Hip Hop would accept was still a task few understood.
In 1992, four friends from Queens, New York accepted the challenge, creating the FUBU clothing brand. Daymond John, Keith
Perrin, J. Alexander Martin, and Carl Brown were inspired by the streets they grew up in, starting with a tie-top
wave cap embroidered with the FUBU name.
FUBU's tie-top cap spread rampantly throughout New York, convincing the brand founder, Daymond John, to take out a $100,000
loan against his mother's home mortgage. John then moved the operation to the basement for more space and faster production.
As fast as the group produced work, it would be sold in the streets and stores. Eventually it became in high demand across
the United States, making FUBU one of the fastest trendsetting labels in all fashion to date.
The four friends went on from their tie-top cap to create a full clothing range that became the forefront of national
Hip Hop clothing and culture during the mid and late 1990s with the help of long-time friend LL Cool J. Commercials on
television became a hit with all audiences watching as LL Cool J rapped a quick sixteen.
Since FUBU and Karl Kani, many brands have been birthed and evolved into powerhouses. Hip Hop artists even started and
continue to create their own clothing lines based off their personal style, likes, and dislikes which is always
re-defining the look of Hip Hop culture. Jay-Z and Damon Dash created Rocawear, Fabolous created Rich Yung Society, Pharrel
Williams created Billionaire Boys Club, and even more in the last 5 years.
Sean Diddy Combs, also a music artist, has been a stand out with his Sean John clothing in recent years and progressed
into fashion further than most other Hip Hop clothing lines. Combs even turned his Sean John line into a 5th Avenue
shopper attraction, creating some of the most suave suits, button ups, jeans, and seductive womenswear to date. Sean
John 5th Ave is more importantly the first black-owned business on the popular high-fashion strip of Midtown Manhattan,
New York City.
Sean John's continual expansion has reset goals for Hip Hop clothing industry moguls. Diddy expanded into the
fragrance world in 2006 and since has recieved the prestigous CFDA (council of fashion designers award) for fragrance of
the year. In 2007 the Sean John Unforgivable fragrance became the best selling (#1) fragrance, shaking up the cologne and
perfume world. It was the first time a men's fragrance outsold all women's scents.
Photos: Apple Bottoms Co-Founders: Yomi Martin - Nelly -
Rocawear and House of Dereon: Solange, Jay-Z, and Beyonce -
Sean John Unforgivable Ad: Sean Combs
Hip Hop clothing is still expanding today as each artist finds a fan base with common interests and style. The close
family duo of St. Louis Rapper Nelly and cousin Yomi Martin proved expansion capabilites in 1997. The two brought Vokal
clothing to the world but found even more success in the untapped womenswear market. Yomi Martin and Nelly dreamed up
the idea for "Apple Bottom" clothing and it became such a staple Women's Hip Hop clothing brand, it inspired other artists
and lines to focus on the urban ladies.
Other key role players in the Hip Hop clothing world include Dapper Dan, a customizer from the 80s/90s that dressed rappers
in customized European fashion pieces for over a decade.
Designers Russell Simmons and Kimora Lee founded the Phat Fashions company which produced Phat Farm and Baby Phat clothing
which have been popular internationally. Kimora's Baby Phat diva trainer sneakers even helped make Phat Fashion sneakers
compete with Nike for the best seller at some points.
Baby Phat, which was founded before Apple Bottoms, in 1999 is a premier women's brand that's not been labeled Hip Hop but
Hip-Hop inspired. The Baby Phat clothing and fashion accessory line is probably the best selling Hip-Hop inspired brand
to date by 'guesstimation'.
Other women's Hip Hop clothing designers include Beyonce Knowles, who owns Dereon clothing and the upscale House of Dereon
clothing brand. Jennifer Lopez, the one-time Bronx fly girl and face of women's Hip-hop, founded J-Lo clothing
in 2003, following up with an upscale line entitled Sweetface in recent years.
From fashion to sneakers to accessories, the Hip Hop clothing has continued successful expansion. As long as the urban
community has identity this will never change. Billions of dollars are spent by Hip Hop culture and it's only right we keep
the cycle going by supporting Hip Hop clothing moguls, designers, artists, and other entreprenuers.
