He's High Fashion
By Mackeznie Glaubitz
Fashion and hip-hop are two of the biggest contributors to the youth culture we have today, so it’s no surprise the two have become intricately linked. Both are an expression of ideas, a break from the normal ebb and flow of society that attract people from all walks of life. We rounded up five of hip-hop and fashion’s key players and wanted to offer some praise.
A$AP Rocky
Who is he?
A$AP Rocky is a 30 year old rapper, actor, director, producer, and designer, in addition to the member of the famed hiphop collective A$AP Mob. He also is founder of AWGE, a new creative agency who has worked with people from Tyler, the Creator to A$AP Ferg to Playboi Carti.
How is he involved with fashion?
Rocky is one of the co-owners of the streetwear brand VLONE, made infamous by their “V” logo and orange and black designs. Additionally, Rocky collaborates with many bigger brands- most recently he released a sneaker with Under Armour and a jean jacket with Calvin Klein. He also serves as a creative consultant to fashion brands under AWGE, although he won’t reveal which. Rocky is also one of hip-hop’s best dressed- from a rocking Gosha Rubchinskiy x FILA t-shirt with Prada pants to mixing a Balenciaga sweatshirt with Old Skool Vans, Rocky is able to seamlessly intertwine high fashion and streetwear into a unique, recognizable personal style.
Tyler, the Creator
Who is he?
Tyler first came to fame with his involvement with the hip-hop collective Odd Future, which he co-founded in 2007. Since then, Tyler has turned into a rap mogul, releasing four albums and a slew of singles, collaborating with icons from Jaden Smith to A$AP Rocky to Kanye West.
How is he involved with fashion?
Tyler owns a streetwear brand, Golf Wang, which has become a key component of the “alternative” teenage scene (as in, kids who listen to BROCKHAMPTON and Frank Ocean and either do skate, or want to learn how). The brand was founded in 2011, with a Golf store opened in October 2017 on the streetwear-heavy Fairfax Avenue in LA (the Supreme store is right down the block). With Golf, Tyler ushered in a new style- while fashion brands were releasing neutral basics, Golf was releasing bright-blue flame patterned pants and t-shirts with colorful graphics. Said Tyler to The New Yorker, “the difference between me and these n****s is that I make what I like”.
Kanye West
Who is he?
There’s no concise way to answer this question. Kanye West: hip-hop icon, fashion designer, record label owner, director, and creator of controversy. Kanye has had one of the biggest influences on hip-hop out of a lot of the genre, and has had a career that spans decades and generations.
How is he involved with fashion?
Kanye had many fashion ventures early in his career, but perhaps his most famous is his Yeezy collaboration with Adidas, launched in 2015, consisting of clothing and sneakers. The brand mixes neutral tones and gender-neutral silhouettes, creating a clean, refined aesthetic. Yeezy has become one of the most recognizable and influential brands in the world, shaping a culture of simplicity in high fashion.
Pharrell Williams
Who is he?
Pharrell is a jack of all trades: rapper, singer, business owner, movie producer, fashion designer, visual artist, songwriter, and record producer. Pharrell got his start as half of the rap duo N*E*R*D in the early 2000s, and then went on to become one of the music industry’s most influential artists.
How is he involved with fashion?
Pharrell is the king of brand partnerships; he has designed for Louis Vuitton, Moncler, G-Star Raw, Adidas, Uniqlo, and Chanel (quite a roster!). Pharrell also founded the brands Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream footwear with Japanese fashion icon Nigo in 2005. The brands are still successful to this day, with BBc’s astronaut logo and Ice Cream’s bright colors becoming instantly iconic.
Virgil Abloh
Who is he?
Virgil Abloh is a designer mostly famously known for his streetwear brand Off-White, which was launched in 2013. In March 2018, Abloh was announced as the artistic director of Louis Vuitton menswear. In addition to fashion, Abloh is an established DJ, playing shows worldwide, including Tyler, the Creator’s music festival Camp Flog Gnaw.
How is he involved with hip-hop?
Abloh is different from the other people on this list because he is not a hiphop artist, but regardless, he has profoundly impacted the culture. Abloh has become the curator of “cool”, with artists from Travis Scott to Rihanna to Kanye West rocking Off-White’s street-sign-like graphics and recognizable sneakers Abloh designs. In his collection with Louis Vuitton, Abloh was able to seamlessly mix high fashion with streetwear, and with models like Playboi Carti and Steve Lacy and his modern designs, was able to attract the millennial, media-consuming population. Abloh is immersed in the hip-hop scene, with friends like Kanye West and Tyler, the Creator, and has altered the course of fashion significantly.