Farms: Karl Kani: There's No Loyalty in Fashion, Bootleggers, Brand Decline in 2000's
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Designer Karl Kani has made a name for himself when he started his clothing line which was a cross between Hip-Hop and modern day fashion. Once he was on top, the designer says he had major bootlegging issues which caused him to alter his logo and forcing him to find people making knockoffs. He tells DJ Vlad, that he and a close friend, who was able to confiscate the products and make arrests, agreed to find Asian distributors selling his brand. "We had a mission to search all theses Asian factories that were doing it and figure out what they were doing." He explained, "They were bringing the clothing from China with no label on it, attaching the metal plate and the labels here in the US so the clothing could pass customs...that's why we couldn't catch them." Once Kani figured out how his clothing brand was being smuggled in the US, he says the damage had already been done and other clothing lines such as Roc-A-Fella, Enyce, Phat Farm, etc, were on the rise and even seeking out some of his employees. "We had a lot of employees defect from the company and going to these peoples' companies. One in particular went to my competitors and took all my sales people with them and I ended up with no sales people and having to hire my security to be sales reps." Watch the full interview above.
Comments
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Well Trump will take care of Chyna.
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@DjVlad Nice Interview!!
OMAVI JEANS from the "Brick City" Newark NJ Use this Concept 1st in 2002- 2005 (THE FULL LINE WAS LIMITED) Per Order!!!
They Sold the OMAVI Jean Company it for $77 Million in 2005 -
dang now im confused again ..once a i friend told me enyce was spoken as nyc wich made lots of sence but now effin karl kani says it like italian/french eniche ..man he shoud know but nyc makes bso much sence aaahww sso confused lol
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Asians were stealing again?! smh
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I love my Karl Kani gear. Alot of these brands aren't around anymore...or you can't find them. PNB, Tribal, Triple 5 soul, Iceberg, Enyce, Girbaud, Mecca...then fucking k mart bought FUBU and shit. WTF?
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rappers push urban brands, so when those rappers fade out so do their brand
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I pulled out a fubu fitted the other day, I'm waiting for the 00's comeback. 😂
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Good perspective on why urban brands fizzle out. Always wondered why and now finally have a better understanding. Influx of similar styles during those times, hype fading due to it being in more retail stores, and lack of staying updated. Like others said in this comment section, these urban brands are connected to Hip Hop from the jump and we all know mainstream Hip Hop is constantly changing not only musically but fashion wise. I think too these rappers always want something new all the time so when they see regular joes on the street rocking the same shit it devalues their ego. That's why Gucci and Louis are still popular in the Hip Hop community because it's secluded towards the rich and more expensive that middle class-poor can't attain. As fucked up it might sound...
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Love the Kani Brand, but his stuff still Expensive $$$$...wish he would make it near possible to afford, love his stuff, it was like it was in 1993-1995 when it was arm and leg...
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The Chinese bootleg black brands because blacks and Spanish-speakers (ghetto) buy from Jamaica ave spots, flea markets and other off the record spots and will pay less than retail, but the bootleggers still make a very heft profit by getting near retail money - with no taxes to be paid. Plus, the Asians have the Chinese connection to import the cheapest raw goods where no one else can match it.
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i would wear his brand but only the vintage joints
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Carhart was made for construction workers but the kids discovered them. basically they are extremely warm. A jacket used to be $60. A overall I think $80. Then the price just went crazy high law supply and demand. Same thing with carpenters Jeans.
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crazy that Polo just doesn't get old
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This nigga looks so much like AZ, then I find out AZ and Karl Kani have never met and they both from Brooklyn!!! Two Brooklyn niggas haven't met? Yeah right!
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They still bootleg like That now a days, by sending in unbranded stuff from China
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Carhartt still going in Tokyo
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Karl Kani, FuBu, Iceberg, Lacoste, Sergio Valente, JORDACHE!! Classics!!
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@djvlad you forgot about Natuica
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"They weren't bootlegging Tommy and Polo but were bootlegging the hell out of me!" That comment is interesting - wouldn't be surprised if Hilfiger and Lauren weren't behind the bootlegging in order to keep getting that black dollar and run Karl out of business.
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b m m!! brothers making money!!! i love it!!!!!