Nelly Expanding Apple Bottom Brand

Rapper and entrepreneur Nelly is expanding his Apple Bottom clothing brand to include lingerie, shoes, handbags, plus size clothing, and childrensware. Apple Bottom, which launched in July 2003, is gearing up for a children’s print ad campaign featuring celebrity rappers, including Nelly, Ali from the St. Lunactics, Big Gipp from Goodie Mobb and Jermaine Dupri, […]

Rapper and entrepreneur

Nelly is expanding his Apple Bottom clothing brand to include lingerie, shoes,

handbags, plus size clothing, and childrensware.

Apple Bottom, which launched in July 2003, is gearing up for a children’s print

ad campaign featuring celebrity rappers, including Nelly, Ali from the St. Lunactics,

Big Gipp from Goodie Mobb and Jermaine Dupri, paired with their daughters.

"We got the campaign going just [to show] we are fathers as well [as rappers],"

Nelly said about the ads for the children’s line, which is set to launch in

nine months. "Apple Bottoms is more of a family-oriented line, and I want

to make sure we put that out there as well."

Nelly made the announcement during a press conference held during the 2006 MAGIC Convention in Las Vegas.

The company announce plans to expand into other areas of women’s fashion as

well, such as the under-served urban plus-size market. Nelly said inspiration

for the line came from his love for fashion.

"As a man you kinda know what you are attracted to when you see a young

lady walking. You kinda know what turns your head, if she’s looking right or

styled right, so you try to lend those influences to the designer," he

said. "Hopefully they can come up with something that’s original that will

benefit our [Apple Bottom] line."