Ice-T, Eminem Delve Into Clothing Market
Feb. 13 -- Rappers infamous for lyrics about killing cops and their own family members might not be the first thing coming to mind when you think of menswear.
But Eminem and Ice-T are both launching their own clothing lines this year to appeal to the ever-growing market for urban streetwear. The rappers join the mounting ranks of artists such as Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Nelly and Master P — just to name a few — who have jumped into the fashion business.
This melding of hip-hop music and fashion, while not a new trend, has been reaching a fevered pitch of late. Pioneers like hip-hop artist and music impresario Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, with his Sean John collection, and Def Jam Records founder Russell Simmons, with his Phat Farm label, have shown that youths are hungry for clothes inspired by their favorite musicians.
And many rappers, manufacturers and retailers are eager to tap into this multi-billion dollar market. At MAGIC, the international menswear trade show that gets underway in Las Vegas next week, around 300 exhibitors will be in the streetwear category, a dramatic increase from under 100 just six years ago.
"Every major music personality I can think of is considering or has already considered an apparel line," says Todd Slater, retail analyst with investment bank Lazard Freres in New York.
Rough and Tough Street Tension
Ice-T's line, called Icewear, is slated to hit stores in July and will include items like $40 T-shirts with graphic logos and a $125 velour jogging suit. The rapper and a star of television's Law and Order: Special Victims Unit series teamed up with New York-based manufacturer Americo to produce the line, which will be shown at MAGIC next week. The company is still in the process of choosing national retailers for distribution.
The idea for the collaboration came when Ice-T approached the company about doing a clothing line, says Americo's Vice President of Marketing Valerie Korzec. She adds the singer is actively involved in the design of the clothes.
