At Met Gala, Dapper Dan stands in front of Gucci and stands up to cancel his culture



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<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "From her"data-reactid =" 31 "> from ELLE

<p class = "canvas-atom-text-canvas Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "The Dapper Dan knows what you think. breakup with a black-faced balaclava you feel that he should really do not attend the Met Gala with Gucci. You probably think it's better to cancel them, leave the mark all together, maybe? Well, the 74-year-old designer does not see it this way. "Every morning I get up and have my brainstorming," Dap told me in turn. Harlem Workshop in front of the gala. "Today, I thought how much it was a miraculous thing between Gucci and I. People misunderstand it because of an error, and that threatens to make to happen something beautiful. " Data-reactid = "32"> After a recent debacle with a black-faced hood, you think that it should absolutely do not attend the Met Gala with Gucci. You probably think it's better to cancel them, leave the mark all together, maybe? Well, the 74-year-old designer does not see it this way. "Every morning I get up and have my brainstorming," Dap told me in his Harlem studio before the gala. "Today, I 've thought about how it' s a miraculous thing that happened between Gucci and myself. People ignore it because of it. An error, and it threatens something beautiful. "

<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "When I arrive at Dap, I am treated A little lesson about his role in the story.My guide guides me by showing pictures and asking them if I know who is inside.Salt & Peppa, CoolL J, Jay Z, Dap in his old store in Harlem – all the images that say so few words, this is not my first time at the rodeo Ask Dap and it is clear that he considers his impact as much more important than the clothes. "I have a higher mission and it's my schedule. j & # 39; I my book go out. To say problems that concern my community. I can not leave it that way. I have to fix that, "he says, referring to the current state of dark life. People in the community are like, 'Man, leave them! Leave Gucci and all that. They do not understand. As long as I do not make them understand the beauty, the meaning and the importance of this, I can not go anywhere. "Coming up, Dap explains in more detail what this monumental opportunity means for the black community.
"data-reactid =" 33 "> When I arrive at Dap's workshop, I get a mini-lesson about his role in the story.My guide guides me by showing pictures and in asking if I know who is in. Salt & Peppa, Cool LL J, Jay Z, Dap in his old store in Harlem – all the images that say in so few words, it's not the first time I go to rodeo .. Ask Dap and it is clear that he sees his impact as much bigger than clothes. "I have a higher mission and this is my platform. I have my book coming out. To say problems that concern my community. I can not leave it that way. I have to fix that, "he says, referring to the current state of dark life. People in the community are like, 'Man, leave them! Leave Gucci and all that. They do not understand. As long as I do not make them understand the beauty, the meaning and the importance of this, I can not go anywhere. "Coming up, Dap explains in more detail what this monumental opportunity means for the black community.

Photo credit: Dia Dipasupil – Getty Images

How do you react to people who will see you walking on the red carpet as a member of the Gucci brand and say, "Oh, it sells well."

You only see me walking, but you know who's walking behind me? Nelson Mendela walks behind me, Jackie Robinson behind me, Martin Luther King, all these people are behind me. All those people who have suffered fronds and arrows of oppression in these difficult times. But do you know what they all have in common and what people do not understand? I am here for a purpose. Nelson Mendela, you call them all, they all had to have the same thing that's an education, an information, you know? Being a partner of Gucci opens a whole world. A whole world of education. I'm here, I navigate like this here, I let them know: "This is important for us, it can not be done." I do not know this generation, these roots. They are easy to navigate because they do not read.

Photo credit: Dapper Dan of Harlem

The Afro-American brands that appeared all collapsed due to lack of knowledge. Gucci has given me the opportunity to work at this level for the first time. I know how to sell to blacks, I know how to be black, I know how to be part of the black community. Gucci has allowed me to go black in the world. It's an overall darkness. You have to relate this to something that is bigger than what is happening now. This is an opportunity for us to make ourselves known on the international scene, to be present. Not only here in America, but an international presence. This thing with Gucci is so big. Gucci offered us a platform to say "Come in!"

And it's not just clothes.

You know, it's very, very important. This challenge is very, very important. And I do not shrink from this challenge.

What do you think it means for kids to see you down the red carpet with Gucci?

You know what? Children are the most beautiful part of this fight. It reminds me how important it is because the spirit of children is open. I stand at the corner of the street, I go to these schools and I speak, they are excited. The children reach out. It's the adults who are the problem. A certain segment of adults and a certain segment of adults posing a problem eventually create a problem for those who read. Those who read are threatened by those who do not read. They know it's the right thing, and they come to see me and I'm here. They sit down and say, "Please, correct that, dude, so I can wear my Gucci, we know what it is." They know what it is, but their career is structured on the back of non-readers.

Photo credit: Dimitrios Kambouris – Getty Images

<h2 class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "What does this experience mean for you not just as a designer, but as a black man in Harlem?
"data-reactid =" 103 "> What does this experience mean to you – not just as a designer, but as a black man in Harlem?

It's probably something that I've been preparing all my life. This is probably the easy part. For me, it's the easy part because rejection. Rejection. As I read my memoirs you will see that most of my battle is with people who are like me.

Interesting. Why do you think that was the biggest part?

This is the most important part because what I have learned is that people are locked in what they already believe. That's as I said earlier, people want to be angry rather than looking at the roots of their anger, you know?

<h2 class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "When you were a child, did you ever think that you would be at Met Gala?
"data-reactid =" 107 "> When you were a kid, did you ever think you would be at Met Gala?

Never. Met Gala? I would be like, do they play baseball there? I did not have that kind of exposure. "Gala?" Yeah. "Oh, I know, you talk about the Mets baseball team!" Like, "They have a gala?" No, no, no, it was very far from me. Far from my understanding.

Photo Credit: Mike Coppola / MG19 – Getty Images

Tell me a little about the table: Bevy Smith, Bethanne Hardison, Omari Hardwick. How is that done?

The birth of the idea comes from Gucci. But Anna Wintour, she is the queen and the queen must approve. They thought that should happen. And I took completely by surprise, and I'm excited. I'm excited. I think it's an incredible thing. I can not wait to talk to people.

<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "("You might also like")"data-reactid =" 131 ">("You might also like")

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