Announced in September, the official collaboration between Gucci and Harlem style and fashion icon Dapper Dan ne Daniel Day is preparing to open for business with an atelier in Harlem.
“Everyone paid homage to Dapper Dan, but no one ever paid him,” Day stated in a press release. “The people have spoken and Gucci has listened. Nothing has been more significant in the Harlem cultural scene than Alessandro [Michele] and Gucci coming to Harlem and partnering with Dapper Dan.”
The joining of Day and Gucci was the happy ending to a story that began with a Dapper Dan-inspired silhouette the label showed on its resort 2018 runway leading to a fashion uproar of epic proportions. Gucci conceded the jacket was a Dapper Dan homage and rather than leave it at that, took it a step further inviting the famed Harlemite to collaborate with the label.
Housed within a 4, 700 square-foot space Lenox Avenue brownstone (his original store was at 43 East 125th Street), the atelier includes an appointment parlor plus a production studio. Decor includes vintage furniture as well as photographs of Dapper Dan’s original store in action.
Dapper Dan will provide bespoke services incorporating Gucci fabrics, prints, patches and raw materials. The location will open in January 2018 with custom services available by appointment only. Additionally, Gucci will show a Dapper Dan capsule collection on its upcoming, fall 2018 runway that will be sold at Gucci boutiques worldwide.
In a nutshell, 2018 will be an awesome year for Daniel Day aka Dapper Dan and we are here for it.
Enjoy a look at the interior along with a recent panel discussion between Daniel Day, Leila Fataar and Tim Blanks on cultural appropriation as hosted by Business of Fashion below.
Business of Fashion panel discussion featuring Dapper Dan
