Music
fashion mogul Damon Dash plans to launch a new clothing line called CEO, which
will reflect a cleaner and mature look. "I’m
an old school dude, not very trendy. So, if people are not dressed the way I’m
dressed, I’m going to make clothes that reflect that," Dash told AllHipHop.com.
"I’ve always been an oak, and I say that to say that the same thing that
I’m wearing now, I could have been wearing in ’85 and ’95." Dash,
who is the former co-owner of Roc-A-Fella Records, explained that the CEO line
will lean towards a higher-end price point. "I
thought it would be interesting to have someone from the urban marketplace to
attack fashion from that aspect – not regular fashion, but couture. I’ve learned
a lot about fashion, not just urban fashion," Dash said. "It’s a different
work ethic." Dash
and his wife, designer Rachel Roy, share a plush office space in Manhattan, and
the 35-year-old Harlem native said that he’s learned much from his better half."She
works hard. [I’ve learned a lot] just by seeing how she does what she does,"
he continued. "So [those] ideals from real fashion come into everything that
I do." In
addition to his CEO clothing line, Dash stated that he will also launch a clothing
component to his successful PRO-Keds sneaker line. The
colors of the line will coordinate with the hue of the kicks. "If I don’t
set the trend…I’m just not a follower. Its just not me," Dash said. One
trend Dash does see worth following is the online craze of social networking.
BlockSavvy.com is a new initiative Dash has undertaken with Kwame DeCuir and Kareem
"Biggs" Burke."This
is our version of a Myspace, but I don’t want to say urban Myspace, but its like
a social networking system," Dash revealed. "It’s got a lot of interactive
components and the technology is off the hook," he said of the site, which
even offers a "virtual economy." The
invite-only social site allows users with a fashion acumen and stylistic point
of view to customize their virtual room with name brands and customized items.
Each
user is given a profile and the ability to live in a certain "block,"
consisting of The Ave, The Fashion District and Main Street. These
profiles are already user friendly to other sites like Myspace and blogs. Celebrity
profiles include Paul Wall, Naomi Campbell, boxer Winky Wright, Jim Jones and
even Biggs, who is known to shun the limelight. For
more information, go to BlockSavvy.com.
