In the world of fashion, there is always something happening behind the scenes. Recently, there has been a lot of buzz surrounding a legal battle between Dapper Dan and Gucci. If you’re not familiar with either of these names, let’s take a moment to dive into who they are.
Dapper Dan, whose real name is Daniel Day, is a fashion designer from Harlem who gained popularity in the 80s for his extravagant designs that incorporated luxury logos into his pieces. His designs were worn by the likes of LL Cool J and Salt-N-Pepa, but he eventually had to close down his shop due to lawsuits from various fashion houses.
Gucci, on the other hand, is an Italian luxury brand founded in 1921 that has become synonymous with high-end fashion and accessories. In recent years, Gucci has been making efforts to diversify their brand by collaborating with artists like Dapper Dan and incorporating more diverse models in their campaigns.
So what’s the fuss all about? Well, in 2017 Gucci released a jacket that looked strikingly similar to one that Dapper Dan had designed back in the 80s using their logo without permission. This didn’t sit well with Dapper Dan or his fans who saw this as cultural appropriation and an attempt to profit off of his designs without giving him proper credit or compensation.
After some public backlash and pressure from social media, Gucci reached out to Dapper Dan and they began collaborating on a new collection together which was unveiled during Gucci’s Resort 2018 show. This seemed like a positive step forward for both parties.
However, in late 2019 it was reported that Gucci had filed a lawsuit against Dapper Dan for allegedly infringing on their trademark by using their logo on clothing items without permission. This news came as a surprise to many who had seen this collaboration as a way for Gucci to make amends with Dapper Dan and the black community.
Dapper Dan responded to the lawsuit on social media stating that he was “devastated” by Gucci’s actions and that he had not been properly informed of their decision to file the lawsuit. He also clarified that he had not used the Gucci logo without permission and that any designs featuring the logo were done in collaboration with the brand.
Since then, it seems that both parties have come to an agreement and have dropped their respective lawsuits. In a joint statement, Gucci and Dapper Dan announced that they will be partnering together on a new program called “Gucci Changemakers” which aims to increase diversity and inclusivity in the fashion industry.
In conclusion, while there was some tension between Dapper Dan and Gucci over alleged trademark infringement, it seems like both parties were able to come to an agreement and move forward in a positive direction. It will be interesting to see what this new partnership will bring and how it will impact the fashion industry as a whole.