SoJones.com, Hip-Hop Clothing Site, Heads To Las Vegas for Magic

Article written by: Rodrick Rainey
Posted on: February 28, 2004

SoJones.com visited the 2004 Magic, spring fashion convetion, in Las Vegas from March 23rd until the 26th! It’s definately the biggest fashion event we’ve been to at this date and many people were there. Celebrities, regular hiphop fashion heads, models, and more were in attendance. And From the casinos to the convention centers the Magic had sponsored for the fashion week, everybody had one thing in common: They wanted to see the hottest of the new designers and what the new and old were bringing out.

What did SoJones.com think about the Magic? Honestly there was not any break out trends there. Bootlegging and copying were also a big problem quickly recognized as there seemed to be a lot of Asians in the back of the hiphop fashion area of the convention center with ridiculously close copies of everybody else’s gear. And this is not a racial thing, it’s just the truth. SoJones.com does not even understand how people support this or why they choose only hiphop culture to bootleg as they did, but it is disquisting how it is done. However, just because no big trend is breaking out and a lot of bootlegging going on, it does not mean that there’s nothing hot and improved upon available!

Art on clothing was one of the biggest concepts shared by designers at Magic . Of those designers, including Miskeen “Originals”, SoJones.com’s top pick was not the line everybody seems to think is the 1st to paint on clothing. Our top pick was Meja Mikasa out of Forestville, Maryland! None have quite touched the creative energy they put into painting clothing. Meja Mikasa mixed the chosen mediums to produce a high quality paint they outlined with stitching, put on button down shirts, jackets, and more.

As far as painting on shoes, the head turner at the show for SoJones.com was Killa-Kicks. They had a line up of shoe designs that was excellent and quality, style, and texture. Killa Kicks definately puts pressure on Nike’s “Remix Da Kickz” to drop better Nike exclusives.

Other big surprises for SoJones.com, included finding out “Sean John”, P. Diddy’s clothing line, was removed from “hiphop fashion” and is now considered an upscale clothing line fit for pop culture. Is this selling out? SoJones.com knows the money involved in making the change probably persuaded P.Diddy to make the transition, but has he forgotten that hiphop is what built him? I doubt that but the change does make Sean John’s future questionable in urban communities.

Can you not consider your line upscale and still be hiphop? SoJones.com definately thinks so as Jajuan Michael shut down all competition with their upscale pieces. They are truly creating a totally new branch of hiphop fashion with their designs. You can compare this line to your DKNY, Versace, and other high fashion names but they are staying rooted true to urban culture! HipHop honeys video model Francine Dee was even browsing Jajuan Michael’s clothing while SoJones.com was visiting JJM’s booth. Expect to see this line appearing in videos and the streets in 2004!

Out of the past news from SoJones.com, we already knew a few things to expect. Two of the products we were seeking that completely flatlined all excitement we had for the hiphop fashion convention were Latrell Spreewell’s new “spreewell rim” shoes and Ludacris sponsored “Da Hood” collection. Ludacris’s “Da Hood” collection was totally whack and SoJones.com finds it hard to believe they even bought a booth out at the Magic Show in Las Vegas. The shoes in “Da Hood” collection are basically all knock offs of shoes commonly found in the urban community. Dada’s Spreewell kicks was thought to have a different feeling about it, but indeed it’s really just a child’s shoe. It should replace the LA Tech era for the children of today. It’s not whack at all, but SoJones.com finds it hard to picture a grown man or woman walking around in it.

And some people, actually like to know what kind of person they are supporting. Well SoJones.com definately understands this request and likes to provide an insight on these “hiphop” designers! We decided to put togethor a little table of the cool designers versus the industry busters. The industry busters are those who know nothing about what hiphop is and treat the people like SoJones.com, who try to get pictures and information for the hiphop community, with no love. How can you just turn your back on those who make you? And while some of these people are producing hot designs, “you are what you wear”! So why support somebody simply feeding off a culture with no knowledge of it or any plans on supporting it? Fake recognize fake and real recognize real, so in the words of Jay-Z “Who You Wit’”?

: : THE FAKEST : :	: : THE REALEST : :
JEFF HAMILTON DA HOOD COLLECTION MISKEEN ARME	TROOP L.R.G. ROCAWEAR FETISH PHAT FARM BABY PHAT

There’s much more to the SoJones.com commentary on the 2004 Magic Spring Fashion Convention in Las Vegas, but we feel it’s too long for this website. It includes information on Dr. Denim, Johnny Handsome, Johnny Girl, Pink Cookies (one of the most explosive clothing lines for females), NexLyne, Troop, Jajuan Michael, Rocawear, Dirt McGirt Clothing, Arme, Big Baby and more. Sign up for the SoJones.com Magazine that is being mailed out free of charge currently to get the whole commentary and a detailed insight on what went down. Photos taken by SoJones.com are available on the photo captions page. Questions can be asked in forums for timely answers….