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Tommy Hilfiger claims Russell Simmons told him “street kids and rappers” wore his clothes to feel rich

by Monica C. Smith
Russell Simmons, Tommy Hilfiger

Tommy Hilfiger Presents Spring 2013 Women’s Collection At High Line’s Chelsea Market Passage – Backstage

Tommy Hilfiger has Russell Simmons to thank for his popularity amongst the hip hop community throughout the 1990s.

Prior to luxury fashion houses becoming go-to status symbols of success, the who’s who of the culture could be seen in Hilfiger’s editorial campaigns and draped in the ready-to-wear attire. While his clothing line was already popular among the affluent crowd who could afford prep school tuition and family summer homes in Cape Cod, Nantucket and the Hamptons, it was not until hip hop embraced the Americana brand that it shot to newfound levels of popularity.

“It was actually Russell Simmons, who really is one of the godfathers of hip hop, who said to me that young street kids and rappers wanted to wear the clothes because they wanted to look rich,” Hilfiger said in a feature for hilfiger-interview-fashion-brand-history” data-ylk=”slk:The Guardian;elm:context_link;itc:0″ class=”link “The Guardian, which was published on Feb. 20 but has become a social talking point this weekend.

Simmons had already cornered his share of the streetwear apparel market when he launched Phat Farm in 1992. His then-wife, Kimora Lee Simmons, expanded the line to women with Baby Phat in 1999.

Hilfiger stated that the success he achieved following photoshoots with Aaliyah and Snoop Dogg established him as hip hop’s designer of choice, dethroning Ralph Lauren for a time and even dictating his approach to apparel. He said that the significance of sports inspired him to make large logos as demand for Tommy Hilfiger garments grew.

“They wanted everything way, way oversized because they were buying sizes that were way too large. And so I started just making oversized, and it was a perfect storm. I was dressing Puff Daddy for

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FASHION

How Karl Kani And Magic Las Vegas Pioneered Brooklyn Streetwear Into Global Fashion Trends

by Monica C. Smith

When you think of streetwear, you likely think of oversized hoodies and baggy jeans, clothing you see worn today. Contemporary streetwear trends have come full circle and replicated in high fashion among familiar labels. For these trends to become what they are and were, someone had to infiltrate and break the norms of the fashion industry.

Today, the MAGIC and PROJECT bi-annual trade show helps streetwear fashion brands find their place. The display of styles is free from the rigid designs of past trends. The show features upcoming styles from brands like Doctrine Denim, Awet, Primitive, Pro Standard, and Honor The Gift have all had impacts on streetwear culture stemming from the urban aesthetic of inner-city street kids.

This year at MAGIC Las Vegas, which took place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Project Now Forum stage held the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop at MAGIC Happy Hour panel, hosted by long-time Editor-in-chief Datwon Thomas now at VIBE magazine. Panel guests James Ferrel, Chief Operation Officer, Head of Marketing of Sprayground, Jason Geter, CEO of Grand Hustle, and Tony Shellman, founder of the Mecca and Enyce labels and Brand Marketing Executive Consultant,

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FASHION

Tommy Hilfiger still doesn’t know where those racism rumors started

by Monica C. Smith

The founder of the American legacy brand reflects on the impact of those rumors and his brand’s rise as a staple of streetwear.

If you’re of a certain age, you may recall a rumor that began in the late ‘90s about Tommy Hilfiger — specfically, that the designer appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and claimed he didn’t make his clothes for Black, Jewish, or Asian people.

This rumor has repeatedly been hilfiger-fashion-not-intended-minorities” data-ylk=”slk:proved;elm:context_link;itc:0″ class=”link rapid-noclick-resp”proved to be absolutely false, but what is true is how much Hilfiger appreciates that his brand has come to represent the intersection between aspirational luxury and streetwear in American culture.

As he launches his new Classics Reborn line, the legendary American designer reflects on the legacy of his brand, including the impact of that racist urban legend, in a recent interview with tommy-hilfiger-interview-fashion-brand-history” data-ylk=”slk:The Guardian;elm:context_link;itc:0″ class=”link rapid-noclick-resp”The Guardian. Hilfiger discusses his brand’s start in the late ‘80s and how times may have changed in the decades since, but what his brand represents has not.

Tommy Hilfiger, racism, American fashion, racism rumors, theGrio.com

Tommy Hilfiger attends the 2022 WWD Honors on Oct. 25, 2022 at Cipriani South Street in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

As a brand, Tommy Hilfiger simultaneously evokes youthful American preppydom and hip-hop culture. The brand began in earnest competition with fellow legacy brand Ralph Lauren, synonymous with American luxury, until it blossomed into streetwear. Hilfiger credits his brand’s rise to the most popular American brand of the ‘90s with its ability to hold space between those two seemingly disparate aesthetics that buzzy campaigns starring the late singer Aaliyah and other hip-hop and R&B icons of the era best exemplify.

“It was a perfect storm. I was dressing Puff Daddy for his tours. I was dressing Biggie Smalls. I was dressing

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FASHION

The Nike X NOCTA Drake Collab Just Launched New Gear & It’s the Best Drop Yet

by Monica C. Smith
Scouted/The Daily Beast/Nike

Scouted/The Daily Beast/Nike

Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission.

For streetwear fans and hip hop fans alike, the Nike X Drake collaboration has led to some incredible drops. Through NOCTA (Drake’s Nike label) a brand-new line of basketball gear has been released and it’s equipped with modern designs and high-performance materials. These new additions to the collection include a basketball jersey, basketball shorts, a basketball-top-sWNPsC%2FDM1724-010″ data-ylk=”slk:basketball top” class=”link “basketball top, and a basketball cap, among many other items. The items are built to handle intense training for athletes, however, perhaps the biggest draw to them is the unique designs that Drake had a hand in creating. With the hip-hop artists’ clear personal style infused into the items, it is easy to see why the previous NOCTA apparel was as popular as it was. With basketball apparel finally joining the collection, it wouldn’t be surprising to see items like the basketball hoodie and fleece pants gain significant popularity both on and off the court. If you love basketball or are just looking to up your fashion game, make sure to check out the Nike X NOCTA basketball gear while everything is still in stock.

Buy on Nike, $45

nike.com%2Ft%2Fnocta-mens-fleece-basketball-pants-hvzD09%2FDV3912-010″ data-ylk=”slk:Buy on Nike, $110″ class=”link “Buy on Nike, $110

Buy on Nike, $90

Don’t forget to check out our coupon site to find deals from Sephora, CVS, and more.

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FASHION

A meeting of minds: How streetwear and luxury met in the middle to appeal to the young sartorial male and female fashionista

by Monica C. Smith

Once upon a time, streetwear was a type of fashion attire that was seen as far removed from luxury, but today, that couldn’t be further from the truth. As some of the world’s leading fashion houses – from Gucci to Prada – look to appeal to a younger generation of shoppers with more disposable income to spend, embracing this popular style and concept has perhaps been inevitable.

Starting life as a decidedly urban trend alluded to by a pair of stylish trainers or a chunky chain necklace, streetwear has come a long way since its early days, when the term itself had yet to be coined. By definition, it refers to ‘casual clothing of a style worn especially by members of various urban youth subcultures’ – but gone are the days when that meant tracksuit bottoms and beanie hats, and today, it can just as easily apply to an expensive designer handbag.

Vicky Cheung on the street during the Paris Fashion Week
The streetwear model has, by all accounts, subverted the traditional fashion system and today, it’s associated with exclusivity above all else. Image credit: maurodelsignore/Bigstock.com

The streetwear model has, by all accounts, subverted the traditional fashion system and today, it’s associated with exclusivity above all else. While not all streetwear is considered to be ‘luxury’, the trend is continuing to gather momentum amongst a high-end market, as increasingly being seen as a cultural status symbol that Generations Y and Z just can’t seem to get enough of.

While exclusivity is usually something associated with expensive items that not everyone can afford, streetwear has gone about this in a different way. In its early days, few people knew how or where to find the coolest threads, and it was this that sparked the initial demand. For those for whom style is intrinsic and dressing well is important, laying their hands

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