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Dapper Dan has made a great name for himself in the fashion industry. Since the 1980s, the Harlem designer has catered to the celebrity circuit, primarily being involved in the ever evolving hip hop industry, which lead him to dress the likes of LL Cool J and Fat Joe. Though legal issues had caused him to disappear from the limelight in recent years, the designer has recently made a comeback with a successful partnership with Gucci and a resurgence of top name celebrities wearing his outfits. His custom-made luxury fabrics and designs also garnished him his very own memoir and movie, which is currently in production.
Here are ten interesting facts about Dapper Dan that you should know about.
Meager Beginnings
Dapper Dan was born as Daniel Day on August 8, 1944 in Harlem, and grew up with three brothers and two sisters. His father worked as a civil servant and his mother was a homemaker. While growing up, the designer remembers seeing horses and buggies riding down his street, which was common in post World War II New York.
How He Got His Name ‘Dapper Dan’
Daniel Day began being called Dapper Dan because of the impeccable fashion sense he had at even a young age. In grade school, he picked up the moniker because he would come to school wearing creased jeans and polo shirts, which were an emerging fashion trend at the time.
He Is a Skilled Gambler
One really interesting Dapper Dan fact is that he became a skilled gambler before even becoming a teenager. In fact, his success as a gambler helped him finance his first store. The future designer once won $50,000 playing dice, but it was not without it’s own perils. The story goes that the designer had to evade the gangsters he was playing soon thereafter, as they were planning to kill him and take back the money they lost.
Past Drug Problems
A not so enjoyable Dapper Dan fact is that started doing drugs at a young age as well. He began sniffing heroin in junior high school, eventually dropping out to sell drugs full time. After using heavily for years, he eventually wound up in prison, and then rehab. After all was said and done, he still chose to return back to the street life once out. Dapper Dan now looks to seem past all his previous drug problems.
His Rise In Fashion
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The Dapper Dan Boutique in New York was officially opened in 1982. Having failed as a clothing wholesaler, Dan began printing his own designs from scratch after learning textile printing. His store gained popularity because of the usage of bootleg logos from high-end luxury brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Fendi. Many of his styles were inspired by Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, and his clientele were influenced largely by gang culture, the crack cocaine epidemic, and the rise of hip hop.
Celebrity Clientele
Dan helped style many celebrities, his first being LL Cool J. Hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim even wore Dapper Dan’s designs on the cover of their successful and critically acclaimed albums Paid in Full and Follow The Leader. Dan created outfits for Salt-N-Pepa, Jam Master Jay, Big Daddy Kane, KRS-One, The Fat Boys,, and Bobby Brown, as well as athletes like Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather, and Diane Dixon.
Legal Issues
The illegal use of logos on his clothing led to counterfeiting raids and litigation. In 1988, Mike Tyson got into a brawl outside of Dapper Dan’s store, while wearing his “knock off” jacket with the Fendi logo written on the back. This put him in the national spotlight, and in 1992, legal action came forth from Fendi and the U.S. government, who eventually shut his store down for good.
Resurgence and Partnership with Gucci
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In 2017, Dapper Dan began a partnership with Gucci. The company offered him the ability to monetize on his fashion influence to the world, as many other labels were still using his designs without paying him. By becoming a partner, Dan received a percentage of the revenue, which increased his influence to a global scale. This happened to also be at the time of a Gucci boycott by the black community, for using blackface designs on one of their items. Dapper Dan explained that no effect would come from this boycott, and that the black community should focus their attention elsewhere to get the results they seek.
Influence Beyond Hip-Hop
Salma Hayek also partook in the Dapper Dan’s style and fashion. At the Vanity Fair Academy Awards party in 2018, Hayek came dressed in a Dapper Dan Gucci outfit, which featured his name strewn across the back. The outfit represented a statement by the designer, as he wanted to express his influence to countries and ghettos around the world. He wanted to say that anything in life is possible if you put your mind to it, and that if you work hard and intelligently, perhaps one day a celebrity could be wearing your outfit instead of his.
Dapper Dan Is a Father with Eight Children
Dan is a loving father, with eight children of his own, including William Day, Daniel Day Jr., Danique Day, Aisha Day, Danielle Day, Malik Day, Tiffany White and Jelani Day, who also serves as his brand manager.
He Has His Own Memoir
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Dapper Dan published a memoir by Random House in 2019 titled “Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem.” In the book, the designer explains his struggles to reach his current position, and uses the book to motivate readers about the possibilities in life. Sony Pictures has recently bought the rights to a film adaptation, with comedian Jerrod Carmichael attached as screenwriter and producer. Dapper Dan will serve as an executive producer of the movie.
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