Dapper Dan has had one hell of an epic life story: growing up poor in Harlem in the 1950s, Daniel Day (aka Dapper Dan) hustled his way to become a fashion icon, pioneering high-end streetwear and dressing the likes of Salt-N-Pepa, LL Cool J, and Jay-Z. He was faced legal pressure from Gucci in the 90s for using knock-off Gucci symbols in his design and forced to close his store. In 2017, though, it was Gucci that was criticized for ripping off one of Dapper Dan’s designs. Gucci soon acknowledged that the jacket was indeed in a homage to Dapper Dan and reached out to collaborate on a men’s line with the legendary designer.
I walked by this mural and was drawn by how dapper Dapper Dan looked although, at the time, I was only vaguely aware of Dapper Dan’s standing in the world of luxury streetwear. The more I read about him, the more I became fascinated by how he hustled and made a reputation for himself despite the challenges and prejudice he faced.
Apparently, there’s a memoir coming out this summer. I’ve already pre-ordered; can’t wait to learn more about him!