Urban Clothing Company Fashions Unity and Empowerment
Montclair, NJ (BlackNews.com) - It is no secret that urban clothing has become a major fashion staple among young people today. However, one new urban outfitter envisions tailoring a contrasting fashion future that combines black pride and universal brotherhood. This is a lofty goal for a company selling hip hop clothes, but African American Ican (http://www.africanamericanican.com/) is investing in this elusive challenge.
Billions of dollars are being spent by young consumers in the urban clothing market, so Bob Foglia, President of African American Icon, asks: “What if some of that money could be redirected to help inner city and poorer young people who need it?” This is the goal of the African American Ican fashion brand. Brandished with positive adages and statements for the Black community, this clothing e-tailer and wholesaler is poised to take on the Gaps, Sean Jeans, and Phat Farms of the world.
“We envision building a brand and clothing company that not only creates inspiring and quality fashion, but also helps create jobs and income for marginalized African Americans like young men leaving the prison system or single mothers” adds Foglia. Bob sees African American Ican (AAI) as more than a fashion statement. He proclaims “AAI is a movement.” These groups and other young people outside the mainstream can take part in this movement from a business perspective as online web sales affiliates. As we get more successful, we will look to share in more benevolent activities.
What makes AAI different than its fashion predecessors? Other urban clothing companies in the past have tried to imply positive statements and project general goodwill to the urban marketplace. Companies like Cross Colors, Karl Kani, Phat Farm, Sean Jean, and FUBU have put a positive marketing spin on urban fashions with uplifting lifestyle brands and messages. Furthermore, many hip hop moguls in music and related fashion brands contribute to positive causes and charities (although this is under reported by the media). However, African American Ican clothing aims to be less contradictory in its approach. “We’re not going to call black women out of their name one minute and talk about being positive the next,” says Kenron Bell, AAI’s marketing director. The “N word won’t be a mantra or elevated and celebrated with our clothing brand” insists Wright. We want to produce positive clothing to reflect the best in the Black community.
Nelson Barry, a follower of urban and hip hop culture questions whether a pure play positive clothing company can survive today. “Much of urban hip hop culture thrives on turning social norms on their proverbial head” opines Smith. “In much of hip hop and urban culture, bad becomes good and vice versa,” he notes.
Nevertheless, Black author and multimedia publisher Kamau Austin believes African American Ican has a realistic shot at becoming a successful clothing company. Austin feels “despite the distorted images projected of many young black people, the majority is decent and law abiding. They may very well want to relate to a fashion company with a positive and progressive brand and reward that brand with proactive company goodwill.” Kamau feels, “if African American Ican can also get young blacks involved in their business mix, it could be a win-win for everyone involved.”
Whether African American Ican can become a major player in the urban fashion landscape dominated by major billion dollar brands and music superstars is yet to be seen. However, a clothier looking to fashion more unity and empowerment in the Black community is a company we can all look to embrace and wish the best.
http://www.africanamericanican.com/
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