a16z Podcast a16z Podcast: Making Culture, Making Influence -- Dapper Dan!
Sep 2, 2019
Dapper Dan, a Harlem-based fashion designer, is celebrated for pioneering high-end streetwear in the 1980s, dressing legends like Beyoncé and Jay-Z. He shares his journey from hustler to haute couture, discussing the cultural significance of his work and his partnership with Gucci. Dapper Dan highlights the importance of resilience, learning from struggles, and understanding customers authentically. His story is steeped in Harlem's evolving identity, showcasing how fashion transforms communities and influences culture.
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Harlem in the 50s
- Dapper Dan grew up in a Harlem that felt like a village, where everyone knew each other and attended church on Sundays.
- This sense of community and cultural diversity shaped his early life.
Dapper Dan's Father
- Dapper Dan's father arrived in Harlem at 12, during the Reconstruction era, having left the South to escape racial injustice.
- He instilled a strong work ethic in Dapper Dan, working for 15 years without absence, except during a blizzard.
The Power of Reading
- As a child, Dapper Dan's family couldn't afford new shoes, so he resorted to putting paper and linoleum in his worn-out ones.
- This experience, along with his father's emphasis on education after an incident at Ripley's department store, instilled a deep value for reading and self-improvement.
