JAYFORCE

Opening a clothing store bearing his hood name on 125th Street in Harlem (New York), Dapper Dan found a way to become a Harlem legend while avoiding the street life’s perils in the 1980s. By designing streetwear in the early 1980s on par with luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and MCM, Dapper Dan began to secure his legendary status. A product of his environment, Dan’s first customers were people from his hood – Harlem’s hustlers and gangsters. Then, Dapper Dan’s grew – eventually outfitting rappers and other celebs of the time, who wanted to rock what the gangsters were wearing. With success came fame… and problems (particularly in the form of lawsuits from high-end competitors like MCM).

It has been a hell of a ride so far! Now, Dapper Dan, with childhood friend Pee Wee Kirkland, shares his Harlem World history in the video above.