Pictured: Dapper Dan
Photographer: Toni Cenicola
What Black Designer comes to your mind when you think of Hip Hop Fashion? Take a second. FUBU (Daymond John) or perhaps Carl Kani? Well before these dope black designers came along, there was Dapper Dan. Daniel R. Day aka Dapper Dan was born August 8, 1944, in Harlem, NY where he grew up with his 8 siblings. Before fashion, Dapper Dan wanted to be a journalist and worked for the Harlem Newspaper 40 Acres.
A visit to the Motherland ignited a shift in passion after he met a stitchmaker who made him realize that he could tell stories through fashion. Dapper Dan decided to teach himself fashion at the local library. In 1982, he opened a store on 125th St. Madison and 5th Avenue where he outfitted the who’s who of New York’s rap and street scene. Amongst his clientele were LL Cool J, Eric B, Rakim, Salt N Peppa, etc. Dapper Dan was also known amongst street thugs for his designer reimagined designs of Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Fendi that often rivaled the original. In 2018, Dapper Dan opened a new atelier on Lenox Avenue in partnership with Gucci, “Dapper Dan of Harlem”, the first luxury house fashion store in Harlem. As of December of 2023, he has a limited fashion line with the Gap.
Pictured: Dapper Dan of Harlem
Pictured: Dapper Dan x GUCCI Collection
Photo Credits
First image (top)
Pictured: Dapper Dan
Photographer: Toni Cenicola
Via: NY Times
Second image (left)
Caption: Dapper Dan of Harlem
Pictured: Dapper Dan
Photographer: Jelani Day
Via: https://www.instagram.com/jelaniday/
Third image (second to right) and Fourth image (right)
Pictured: Dapper Dan x GUCCI Collection
Photographer: Ari Marcopoulous
Via: Harper’s Bazaar