After what seems like years of waiting (though it turned out to be months), Harlem legend Dapper Dan has finally opened his Gucci-backed atelier.
On Wednesday, Dapper Dan—born Daniel Day—posted on Twitter: “A sign of the times. For the 1st time in history, a major luxury brand store has opened in #Harlem: @Gucci by @DapperDanHarlem. With made-to-order garments for your taste & in your specific measurements, I will create your design from your mind, or come up with a design for you.”
As previously reported by The Glow Up, Dapper Dan connected with Gucci designer Alessandro Michele after folks became up in arms after seeing Gucci’s Resort 2018 collection—which used retro looks like those created by Dapper Dan in the ghetto-fabulous and label-whoring ’80s and ’90s.
Glow Up Managing Editor Maiysha Kai wrote: “After being called out [Michele] made it right, not only crediting Dapper Dan as his inspiration but also putting the Gucci name, pedigree and funding behind him in a full collaboration so that Dapper Dan may continue to inspire for years to come.”
In December, Dan opened his four-story Harlem brownstone atelier to the press, which Hypebeast described as a “4,700-square-foot space [...] set to feature Gucci fabrics, prints, embroidered patches and hardware, allowing Dapper Dan to use the label’s materials for his own designs. The space comprises of a parlor floor, a production area, vintage furniture, red wall panels, studded velvet screens, and photographs from Dapper Dan’s past.”
Gucci also has plans to put out a Fall-Winter 2018 collaboration between the two, and making Dan the face of the fashion house’s Fall-Winter 2017 Men’s Tailoring Campaign (also seen in the same space as the new billboard—Harlem’s ground zero—the intersection of 125th Street and Lenox Avenue).
For those who may not have one-of-a-kind coins, Dan also tweeted that there will be limited edition ready-to-wear items and accessories available for purchase.
But before you just head uptown to drop on by, know that Dapper Dan is by appointment only.