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The spicy world of fashion gets a dash of
PEPA
P8
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file photo
By Nikki Roberts
Staff Writer
It could have been called a high-priced
sauna.
The febrile heat of cameralights, reporter
anxiety and security-monitored celebrities
ignited the recent unveiling of Sandra
“Pepa” Denton's “Hollyhood,” adjacent
to Lenox Square Mall in Buckhead.
In addition to the swelter, the impressive
and spangled event showcased the
congenial efforts of Treach and Vinny
[Naughty by Nature], Cheryl“Salt” James,
Deidra “Spindarella” Roper, Evander
Holyfield, Mayor Bill Campbell and an
array of black designers including fashion-
mogul, Karl Kani.
Hollyhood, an entertainment themed
retail store, will offer lines of clothing
fromPelle Pelle, Helly Hansen, Phat Farm
and Naughty GEAR, to name a few. Most
of these trendy, street-gear articles can
only be found in cities like Los Angeles
and New York.
Catching up to the heavily-pressed Pepa,
the platinum rap artist explained why she
chose Atlanta as the first site of the “trend
setting” store.
“Personally, I have a love for Atlanta.
Atlanta is a great place. It has really
warranted a lot of the designers I’m
carrying. This is something different for
Atlanta that they couldn’t get before. They
couldn't get it, so I’m bringing it to them,"
says the glowing artist, sans makeup.
But what made the “Push-it” rapper go
from the studios to the stores?
“Basically P ve always been into fashion.
I’ve been a trend-setter for such a long
time with Salt-n-Pepa and since I was
‘yay-high’ I’ve always been a clothes-
type- person.”
She continued, “Atlanta is the up-coming
mecca of the South. I’m just happy and
blessed to be a part of this great
‘Funkdafied’ city,” she smiles, tossing her
micro-braids and still turning to flashing
cameras.
And why is the great Salt-n-Pepa
branching into solo projects?
“It’s all about making moves on your
horizons. The group will still be doing
some things together in the future, but
right now we’re just doing our solo thang.”
Salt-n-Pepa have since branched out
into feature films and television. Having
signed a development deal with “Disney
Television,” the group are exploring the
possibilities of starring in their own
television sitcom.
ICAR.LICANI: Brooklyn's baggy-pants millionaire
By Nikki Roberts
Staff Writer
At first glance Carl Williams is an
average Generation Xer in the crowd:
baggy jeans, over-sized sports coat and,
although it is nighttime, French-cut shades
positioned fashionably on the crown of
his head.
But with a closer look, one will notice
the founder and CEO of the Manhattan-
based sportswear company, dubbed Karl
Kani, which reaps annual sales of $60
million.
It is the private unveiling of Sandi
“Pepa” Denton’s “Hollyhood” in
Buckhead. Karl Kani is a man who
believes that “stars are somewhere in the
clouds, not on God’s green earth.”
From his early days growing up in East
New York, Kani said he knew he
possessed an innate talent for style.
“With my crew, you had to make a
fashion statement to be recognized. I
used to get my clothing tailor-made to
make sure no one had the same thing I
did. It was a place on Delancey Street in
New York and I’d get a ton of fabric and
have a tailor make my clothes,” said the
26-year-old entrepreneur.
Often compared to European
powerhouses like Ralph Lauren and Calvin
Klein, one might assume he’s the
“homeboy” version of these designers.
“I’ve never even been to Europe, so I
don’t even know about the kind of things
they do,” he laughed, exposing three gold-
crowned teeth. “I guess it’s a compliment
to be compared to European designers, but
my whole vibe comes from the streets of
Brooklyn, that’s all I know.”
Indeed that is a true statement. The self-
taught designer readily admits that many
of his 25 core managers are young African
Americans much like himself: bright,
enthusiastic, but lacking in formal training.
“I like to keep it real. I need a youthful
perspective in my business. I didn’t travel
around the world or go to some fancy
designer school. I just like wearing trendy
clothes, so I decided to extend my creativity
to the mass crowd. But, anyone working
for me is going to enjoy what they do. I
know what its like to get hyped over the
business success and forget the real
meaning behind it,” said Kani.
According to “Crain’s New York
Business,” in 1992 Kani went into
partnership with Los-Angeles based Cross
Colours, at the time, a rapidly expanding
manufacturer of ultra-trendy, hip-hop
c'othing. The deal gave Kani, who designed
under his own brand name for Cross
Colours, national attention. The upsurge
proved overwhelming.
As sales soared to more than $97 million
in less than two years, costs swelled and
inventory prices rose. At one point, the
company boasted about 300 employees,
yet made expensive forays into company-
owned manufacturing.
By the end of 1993, Cross Colours’
spark of success dwindled to a mere flash
of yesterday’s fashion. Kani bought the
rights to his name and ventured out on his
own.
Today, the young designer remains a
coveted mainstay in hip-hop culture,
extending well beyond inner-city limits to
include style-conscious consumers of
myriad ages and monetary backgrounds.
The Kani-clothing line is wildly popular
among department stores such as Macy’s,
which carries one of the largest assortments
of Karl Kani merchandise.
In the recently opened ‘Hollyhood,’
consumers can expect to find exclusive
Kani gear.
“We have some new soccer jerseys in
[Hollyhood], which is the first store I
shipped them to. We’re doing a lot of
exclusive pieces for all of the Hollyhood
stores.”
You wonder how he feels about the
Atlantaentertainment circuit and will there
be any local Karl Kani projects?
“I think Atlanta is great. It’s definitely
an up-coming city. We plan on doing
some outdoor fashion shows around the
4th of July weekend to show people our
new styles and let them know that we’re
always down with the streets and things
like that,” he said, pushing his hands into
his coat pockets, pulling the shades over
his eyes and sauntering away: unbounded
and unnoticed.