Daniel Day aka Dapper Dan, is an African American fashion designer and haberdasher from Harlem, New York. The 79 years old fashion icon, Harlem couturier known as the “king of knock-offs.” He made his name in the late ’80s and ’90s as the tailor who provided rap culture with its signature gangster-inspired style, reworking traditional luxury-house products to outfit a slew of emerging hip-hop stars, athletes. He returned to prominence in 2018 after a cultural appropriation scandal led Gucci to finance the rebirth of his business and include him in its diversity council.

Tribe and Elan caught up with his during his last visit to Nigeria . In this exclusive , he spoke passionately about the fashion culture  with our Head editor – Moriam Musa on his rise in the fashion industry , on how Powerful the Culture is In Africa & How International Fashion Brands are Cashing Out on It as well as the Huge potential in the Industry for Africa .

T & E – You mentioned music and fashion . You started with the hip hop guys and today in Nigeria we have Burna Boy for Burberry and Tiwa Savage for Fedachi. How do we get our stars to represent more home grown brands ? Or should we not bother at all?

DD- Listen, the reason Versace has them is because the culture is so powerful.The reason that they are able to do what they did, so we have to remind them( the stars )  of where they come from and what their obligations are. Do you understand? Because if Burna Boy, Whiz Kid and Davido they have to be conscious of – We got to lift the culture. You cannot isolate one segment of the culture and allow the other segment to suffer. You have to look at how they’re using us.Do you understand? That’s more important, because if every time we get an artist and they take them, they take away half of the culture, you understand? The most important half. We will never be able to lift up fashion if they constantly take our influencers. So who makes them influencers?

Let me tell you what happened in Harlem in the United States, right? Social media, which is the common people who put Burna Boy? Who put Whiz Kick, who put Davido where he is today? The common people. When the common people tell them, look, don’t you forget what your obligations are. That’s when it’s a difference.So when Gucci made that mistake, the first one to pay attention was the rappers because the rappers know that if the populations get mad at them, they cut off. Do you understand? The source of their power are the common people. You have to use your voices.

That’s why I stay in the street, on the bus, in the train with the common people because they know I’m part of them. You understand what I’m saying? This has to be done.Over here is the big brands, right? To generate the activity for the big brands, right? You have to have an influencer. To get to be an influencer, you have to make your way. And to make your way, you make your way off the back of the people you come from. You have to pay attention.

T &  E – So you are sure they will work with our home brands ?

DD- Yes. They have to have to find a way. What you must get them to do look, you know the only reason why I’m with the GAP and I’m with Puma- Jay Z came to me, I said, okay, I’ll do this, JayZ , I’ll do this with you. Now, when the GAP came to me, I said, yes, you can come to me.  and i told Puma that – Everybody who works with me has to put a store in Harlem . Gucci had to have atelier in Harlem .The Gap has to have something in Harlem . Puma has to have something in Harlem . Davido makes them. You find that place. Have the big corporations.Put something where we can see it, so we can grow. Do you understand what I’m saying?  We have to use that power. the influences. You understand?

            …’I never forget where I’m from – The village…’

T & E – You seem quite humble by nature 

DD – Thank you.

T & E – Does it have anything to do with your background ?

DD – Well, you know what? Let me tell you something- I never forget where I am from – the village. You know, you don’t see me or ever see me with gold. I don’t want no gold. I want to look like the people in the village. I have to dress because I sell Gold( ow that ‘s a difference ) , then I walk the streets.You ask anybody who’s been in Harlem , they tell me they see me on the corner because I stay with the village. Do you understand? I’m never losing that. That’s where my energy comes. That’s where I learned to be humble.

This is also because , the people made me who I am. You know, the people put me where I am. We have to remind them ( your stars) who put them where they are. As for me , I know. You don’t have to remind me of who I am – hence, we need we need to come together.

T & E – Any plans of you working with any of our celebrities with your brand as well ? 

DD- So you know what , I’m going to tell you.  Davido  is promoting for Puma , right? We did a show together, you know what he told me walking down? He said, Dapper Dan, we have to do something together.So you see, it’s already here. Nobody told him to say that. You know what that know what the black scholars told me? This is how I learned right over here in Africa.- the vibration is going up in African American,the vibration is going up as well  and then all of a sudden,  you see it all  coming together. Watch the rappers and apple pop.Watch them come together. We just got to let them know what we need to do. They’re going to come together. Do you understand?

But it’s you.(the media )You are the missing part. You’re the messengers.

You got to tell the people. We got to talk to them( our stars) .