Claw Money
Encyclopedia
Claw Money is a New York-based graffiti writer turned fashion designer and author.
Claw Money, whose first name is Claudia, was born into a Jewish family in Fresh Meadows, Queens
and Roslyn, New York
and attended the Fashion Institute of Technology
until she dropped out in 1986.
Through the late 1980s and early 1990s her icon, a fat paw with three claws, could be seen all over the New York graffiti landscape, as she bombed walls and trains with the graffiti crews TC5 and FC at a time when the scene was dominated by men. Claw became her nickname due to her spunky and steadfast personality during childhood. She came up with the Claw throw up because it was the W in her name. She has been influenced by numerous other graffiti artists such as Zephyr, Dondi, Revolt, Sharp, Dontay, Devo and MQ. Zephyr especially had an influence because they were friends and he showed her some of New York's most illusive outlaw artists. From there she went on to become the fashion editor and director at Swindle Magazine
. She got her job at Swindle Magazine because Roger Gastman and Shepard were former street artists as well and heard good word of mouth about her work.
She moved to Los Angeles
in 1995 and started styling, which led her to become a vintage dealer. She then moved back to New York in 1997 and started making clothes. She made two collections in 1997, but they were not successful and it was not until 2002 that she started designing again
Today she runs the eponymous clothing line, Claw Money, which has a celebrity following that includes M.I.A. (artist)
, Kanye West
and Santogold. She has been part of collaborations with major brands including Calvin Klein
, Mark Ecko and Nike
, with whom she designed two styles of Claw Money custom sneakers. Her graphic designs are influenced by influences that mostly come from her childhood: Peter Max, the Smurfs, Strawberry Shortcake, Bugs Bunny, comic books, Hello Kitty, video games, and pop culture in general. While designing she likes to listen to mostly to oldies, lots of ’50s girl groups, Bill Withers, hip-hop pre-’95, disco, and punk rock. In 2007, Bombshell, The Life and Crimes of Claw Money was published by powerHouse Books
. She is also working on a second book titled Shady Lady that is going to be about eye wear
Claw Money, whose first name is Claudia, was born into a Jewish family in Fresh Meadows, Queens
Fresh Meadows, Queens
Fresh Meadows is a residential neighborhood in northeastern section of the New York City borough of Queens.-Location:Fresh Meadows is located on the northeast side of Hillcrest, bordered to the east by Cunningham Park, to the south by Union Turnpike and St. John's University, and to the west by...
and Roslyn, New York
Roslyn, New York
Roslyn is a village in Nassau County, New York, on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the village population was 2,770...
and attended the Fashion Institute of Technology
Fashion Institute of Technology
The Fashion Institute of Technology, generally known as FIT, is a State University of New York college of art, business, design, and technology connected to the fashion industry, with an urban campus located on West 27th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues in the Chelsea neighborhood of...
until she dropped out in 1986.
Through the late 1980s and early 1990s her icon, a fat paw with three claws, could be seen all over the New York graffiti landscape, as she bombed walls and trains with the graffiti crews TC5 and FC at a time when the scene was dominated by men. Claw became her nickname due to her spunky and steadfast personality during childhood. She came up with the Claw throw up because it was the W in her name. She has been influenced by numerous other graffiti artists such as Zephyr, Dondi, Revolt, Sharp, Dontay, Devo and MQ. Zephyr especially had an influence because they were friends and he showed her some of New York's most illusive outlaw artists. From there she went on to become the fashion editor and director at Swindle Magazine
Swindle Magazine
Swindle was a bi-monthly arts and culture publication founded in 2004 by artist Shepard Fairey. Swindle has not been published since 2009 and is, in effect, folded....
. She got her job at Swindle Magazine because Roger Gastman and Shepard were former street artists as well and heard good word of mouth about her work.
She moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1995 and started styling, which led her to become a vintage dealer. She then moved back to New York in 1997 and started making clothes. She made two collections in 1997, but they were not successful and it was not until 2002 that she started designing again
Today she runs the eponymous clothing line, Claw Money, which has a celebrity following that includes M.I.A. (artist)
M.I.A. (artist)
Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam , better known by her stage name M.I.A. , is an English singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, painter and director of Sri Lankan Tamil descent. Her compositions combine elements of hip hop, electronica, dance, alternative and world music. M.I.A...
, Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
and Santogold. She has been part of collaborations with major brands including Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein
Calvin Richard Klein is an American fashion designer who launched the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc. in 1968. In addition to clothing, Klein has also given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, and jewelry....
, Mark Ecko and Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
, with whom she designed two styles of Claw Money custom sneakers. Her graphic designs are influenced by influences that mostly come from her childhood: Peter Max, the Smurfs, Strawberry Shortcake, Bugs Bunny, comic books, Hello Kitty, video games, and pop culture in general. While designing she likes to listen to mostly to oldies, lots of ’50s girl groups, Bill Withers, hip-hop pre-’95, disco, and punk rock. In 2007, Bombshell, The Life and Crimes of Claw Money was published by powerHouse Books
PowerHouse books
powerHouse Books is an independent publisher of art and photography books founded in 1995 by Daniel Power, and is located near the Brooklyn waterfront of DUMBO in The powerHouse Arena...
. She is also working on a second book titled Shady Lady that is going to be about eye wear