Dapper Dan "Fashion Icon"

Harlem's Finest

Born Daniel Day August 8, 1944 in Harlem New York, NY not in a conventional hospital like most of the world, he came into the world at home with his grandmother acting as a mid wife, so Dan was destined to be different. Daniel was a skilled gambler by the age of 13. He used his winnings to fund his initial foray into fashion. in the 1960's, the fashion icon worked for a Harlem newspaper called forty acres and a mule. During this time he went through a life style change and in 1968-1974, he toured Africa as part of the Columbia University and the urban league academic program. Dapper Dan's boutique opened in 1982 on 125th street in harlem and was open 7 days a week 24 hours a day, he found a niche uptown with an underserved clientele who wanted access to luxury goods. "The father of logo mania", his designer pieces have been worn by artist, athletes, and street gangsters. ll cool J, Bobby Brown, Salt & Pepper, Big daddy Kane, Eric B. & Rakim, Mike Tyson, Krs-One, and many more were drawn to his unique and stylish designs. Everything was going phenomenal and business was prospering until 1992.

In 1992 due to lawsuits from high end fashion houses over copyright infringement over his unauthorized use of their logos his Harlem store was shut down, and he was shunned by the mainstream fashion world for decades. Dan continued to make clothes underground but life had certainly changed but he continued to persevere. He began outfitting undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather in 1999 and said, "Floyd Mayweather stayed loyal to

me". Although his public store was closed his eccentric style incorporating elegance with inner city became a pennant in popular style. 2017 Gucci's runway show Diane Dixon walked the runway and it was the fashion shot heard around the world. After the fashion show Gucci came calling for "Dapper Dan" and put Dan back in business on a mainstream level. The Fashion Icon launched a fashion line with Gucci, and in 2018 he opened his current store on 125th street between Madison and Fifth Avenues but you have to reserve an appointment to visit. Daniel "Dapper Dan" Day rose to the top of the fashion world and the got sued and was forced to alter his dream. He partnered with Gucci to survive in the fashion world. We at Preeminent 610 pay tribute to "Dapper Dan" the renowned American Fashion Designer We welcome him to our Blog HALL OF FAME!