[VIDEO] Fashion Designer, Harlem Haberdasher Dapper Dan Visits NCCU

Durham, NC – North Carolina Central University hosted its first spring 2020 installment of the Rock The Lyceum series featuring Dapper Dan, fashion designer and haberdasher from Harlem, New York.

Dapper Dan, born Daniel Day, hails from 129th and Lexington Avenue in New York City, he is from one of America’s most famous neighborhoods (Harlem) known for elegance and swagger. Decade after decade, Dapper Dan discovered creative ways to flourish in a country designed to show privilege to certain Americans over others. He witnessed, profited from, and despised the rise of two drug epidemics.

He invented stunningly bold designs that took him around the world. He paid neighborhood kids to jog with him in an effort to keep them out of the drug game.  Dan later turned his attention to fashion with the curiosity as he always approaches all things: learning how to treat himself when no one would sell finished fur coats to a Black man; finding the best-dressed hustler in the neighborhood and converting him into a customer; staying open twenty-four hours a day for nine years straight to meet demand; and, finally, emerging as a world-famous designer whose looks went on to define an era, dressing cultural icons including Eric B. and Rakim, Salt-N-Pepa, Big Daddy Kane, Mike Tyson, Alpo Martinez, LL Cool J, Jam Master Jay, Diddy, Naomi Campbell, and Jay-Z.

In his visit to NCCU, he talked with students about his experiences as a designer and his current collaboration with Gucci for the Gucci Fall/Winter 2018–2019 women’s collection.

When asked how he feels now about the uneven playing field on which the game of cultural appropriation is played, now that he has a deal with Gucci, he said he told Gucci this is a sensitive situation here. “I’m a black man before I’m a brand. People expect me to have an explanation for what happened. You have to come to Harlem, meet with us, explain what happened, and what you plan to do about it. We discussed it and came up with ideas, how best to remedy the situation, and started implementing.”

Dan believes we have all the standards, intellect, and background to create our own.  He has an exclusive deal with Gucci and currently not working with any other design houses at this time. 

Dan also discussed and gave inspiration to the students as the main point was if wanna learn, you teach yourself.

“We have to understand how culture works,” says Dapper Dan.

For more information on Dapper Dan, visit www.dapperdanofharlem.com

Videographer: Marika Daniel; Video Editor: Alexius Simrel