Saggy Jeans: The Designer's Influence

Jay-z released his first album in 1996 and had his breakthrough in 1998. His story is definitely the rags to riches dream. Growing up in the Marcy Projects of Brooklyn, NY, he has moved his status to elite executive of his very own record label, Roc-A-Fella records and Rocawear clothing.

Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, who launched Roc-A-Fella records wanted his business to spread into more than music, he wanted to incorporate fashion into his brand name. “Like Roc-A Fella Records, Rocawear quickly staked its claim in hip-hop history becoming the destination brand for street savvy consumers. Rocawear maintains a focus of providing clever innovation in fabrication, application and design to its customer. It has been the brand’s attention to detail that has pushed Rocawear’s appeal beyond its core urban customer. Ten years have passed since the genesis of The ROC and a dynasty now reigns” (Rocawear).
Jay-z has been in the public eye since his debut in 1996 and his hip-hop style has been duplicated and re-created ever since. The saggy jeans that are recognized from his early “Hard Knock Life” album have now been transferred into his own clothing line. Although it has been a decade since this trend was started, with the times changing and trends cycling loose fitting, saggy, baggy, or whatever you may call them jeans are still around. Kanye West and Pharrell Williams are great examples of the more modern fit of the saggy jean.

The hip hop mongul Russell Simmons owner of the record label Def Jam, started Phat Farm in 1992. The label first retail store opened in New York a year later on Prince Street. When starting the line he had in mind to change the stereotypical thoughts about hip hop clothing in the hip hop community. Since his styles were derived from the street his clothing consisted of Baggy jeans, Shirts with the logo big on the front, and hoodies. Russell Simmons changed the stereotypes of sagging jeans and changed it from being a negative thing to it being a fashionable symbol.
In 2000 after Russell Simmons created a whole new vision on street clothing his former supermodel wife, started a Phat Farm line for women. Where she transformed the baggy look, to a whole new style for women but she still keeping it urban. The line included the all popular baby tees which caused a huge sensation in the fashion world.



Symbolized by a Rhino, Ecko Unlimited is a brand for hip hop and urban clothing. Started in 1993 by Marc Ecko with a line of just 6 t-shirts, Ecko has grown into a lifestyle brand.
Marc Ecko began his artistic career as a graffiti artist in the New York area while still in college. Mark was beginning to get bored with the medium he used for his art, so he began to design handmade T-Shirts. Soon after the T-shirts became available Spike Lee and Chuck D began wearing Ecko’s designs. The fashion brand embodies sports, music, and video games. Ecko has partnerships with Playboy, the NFL, the NCAA, Alfred Hitchcock, Jimi Hendrix, and Marvel Comics. Ecko’s lines include jeans, shirts, jackets, backpacks and has expanded to footwear, leather goods, gloves, and outerwear. Most recently Ecko has developed a cosmetics line, a magazine, and a children’s collection.


Sean John Combs, also known as P.Diddy, Diddy, and Puff Daddy, is a successful rapper, record producer, fashion designer, and actor. He is a hip hop icon and one of the wealthiest celebrities in the United States. Sean Combs put his own mark in the fashion industry by introducing his clothing label, Sean John, in 1998. Sean John is a high-end urban fashion line that is targeted to trendy males ages 12-45.
The collection is separated into categories including Sean John, Bad Boy Sportswear, Sean John Tailored, and Sean John accessories. Each category in the collection reflects Combs own diverse and personal style. His various taste of style has been quite influential in the fashion industry and has been nominated for 5 years in a row for his designs by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) since 2000.
Since the early 1990’s, “saggy” or “baggy” jeans have become more fitted to an extent. The “old school” hip hop style has become “prep-hop” that features polo shirts, trucker hats, and fitted jeans. Sean John’s sportswear collection is an example of the prep-hop trend. Many of the jeans and sportswear could be considered somewhat saggy but it really depends on the person wearing the pants that decide how far down they want to sag and show their behind. Combs has been known for wearing saggy jeans in the past but over the years his own wardrobe has become more tailored and fitted.

Read more about:
History of Saggy Jeans
Laws
Stereotypes

Sources:
MarcEcko. About Us. 13 August 2008. http://www.shopecko.com/corp/index.jsp?clickid=about
Rocawear. About Us. 7 August 2008. http://www.rocawear.com/shop/aboutus.php
Phatfarm. 11 August 2008. http://nymag.com/fashion/fashionshows/designers/bios/phatfarm
http://www.hoovers.com/sean-john/--ID__109178--/free-co-profile.xhtml
http://www.diddy.com/
http://seanjohn.com/main.html