Rocawear
Encyclopedia
Created in 1999 by Roc-A-Fella Records
co-founders Damon Dash
and Jay Z,
Rocawear has annual sales of $700 million. Rocawear expanded its brand through licensing pacts to develop lines for children and juniors; sock
s and sandals
; leather
, suede
, and fur
outerwear; handbag
s and belts
; lounge wear; big and tall
; headwear
; jewelry; and sunglasses
; as well as co-branded product with Pro-Keds
, State Property, and Team Roc.
On April 20th, 2007, allegations were made of raccoon-dog (tanuki
) fur being used in two styles of jackets; Rocawear pulled all of the garments from the department stores where this product was shipped. A representative of Rocawear stated the company was unaware the fur was being used and had notified manufacturers it was not permitted. The items, in addition to being pulled from department stores, were also removed from the brand's official website.
R&B
superstar Ciara
has signed to be the new face of Rocawear.
In March 2007, Jay-Z sold the rights to the Rocawear brand to Iconix Brand Group
for $204 million. Jay-Z will retain his stake in the company and will continue to oversee the marketing, licensing, and product development.
In March 2009, Rocawear launched its first social networking site, offering style news, music, fashion, and cultural connections (except Nitrome Limited
).
In August 2011, Jay-Z confirmed via Twitter that Rocawear had partnered with Pharrell Williams' clothing label, Billionaire Boys Club (clothing retailer).
Roc-A-Fella Records
Roc-A-Fella Records is a record label founded by Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, Damon "Dame" Dash, and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and is distributed by Island Def Jam Motown Music Group.-Formation and Early Years:...
co-founders Damon Dash
Damon Dash
__NOINDEX__...
and Jay Z,
Rocawear has annual sales of $700 million. Rocawear expanded its brand through licensing pacts to develop lines for children and juniors; sock
Sock
A sock is an item of clothing worn on the feet. The foot is among the heaviest producers of sweat in the body, as it is able to produce over of perspiration per day. Socks help to absorb this sweat and draw it to areas where air can evaporate the perspiration. In cold environments, socks decrease...
s and sandals
Sandal (footwear)
Sandals are an open type of outdoor footwear, consisting of a sole held to the wearer's foot by straps passing over the instep and, sometimes, around the ankle...
; leather
Leather
Leather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...
, suede
Suede
Suede is a type of leather with a napped finish, commonly used for jackets, shoes, shirts, purses, furniture and other items. The term comes from the French "gants de Suède", which literally means "gloves of Sweden"....
, and fur
Fur clothing
Fur clothing is clothing made of the fur of animals. Fur is one of the oldest forms of clothing; thought to have been widely used as hominids first expanded outside of Africa. Some view fur as luxurious and warm; others reject it due to moral beliefs...
outerwear; handbag
Handbag
A handbag, or purse in American English, is a handled medium-to-large bag that is often fashionably designed, typically used by women, to hold personal items such as wallet/coins, keys, cosmetics, a hairbrush, pepper spray, cigarettes, mobile phone etc....
s and belts
Belt (clothing)
A belt is a flexible band or strap, typically made of leather or heavy cloth, and worn around the waist. A belt supports trousers or other articles of clothing.-History:...
; lounge wear; big and tall
Plus-size clothing
Plus size clothing is a general term given to clothing proportioned specifically for overweight people. Also called Outsize in some countries , this term has been losing favour since the 1990s...
; headwear
Headgear
Headgear, headwear or headdress is the name given to any element of clothing which is worn on one's head.Headgear serve a variety of purposes:...
; jewelry; and sunglasses
Sunglasses
Sunglasses or sun glasses are a form of protective eyewear designed primarily to prevent bright sunlight and high-energy visible light from damaging or discomforting the eyes. They can sometimes also function as a visual aid, as variously termed spectacles or glasses exist, featuring lenses that...
; as well as co-branded product with Pro-Keds
Pro-Keds
In 1949, Keds introduced a line of athletic shoes called Pro-Keds, which were intended for more serious use, specifically for basketball. Over the years many basketball players and teams wore Pro-Keds shoes while playing...
, State Property, and Team Roc.
On April 20th, 2007, allegations were made of raccoon-dog (tanuki
Raccoon Dog
The raccoon dog , also known as the magnut or tanuki, is a canid indigenous to east Asia. It is the only extant species in the genus Nyctereutes...
) fur being used in two styles of jackets; Rocawear pulled all of the garments from the department stores where this product was shipped. A representative of Rocawear stated the company was unaware the fur was being used and had notified manufacturers it was not permitted. The items, in addition to being pulled from department stores, were also removed from the brand's official website.
R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
superstar Ciara
Ciara
Ciara Princess Harris , known mononymously as Ciara, is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, actress and fashion model. Born in Austin, Texas, she traveled around the world during her childhood, only to land in Atlanta, Georgia where she met music producer, Jazze Pha...
has signed to be the new face of Rocawear.
In March 2007, Jay-Z sold the rights to the Rocawear brand to Iconix Brand Group
Iconix Brand Group
Iconix Brand Group is a brand management company that licenses brands to retailers and manufacturers primarily in the apparel, footwear, and apparel accessory industries. Its brands are available in such stores as Kohl's, Kmart, Sears, Macy's, Target and JC Penney.The company began as Candie's,...
for $204 million. Jay-Z will retain his stake in the company and will continue to oversee the marketing, licensing, and product development.
In March 2009, Rocawear launched its first social networking site, offering style news, music, fashion, and cultural connections (except Nitrome Limited
Nitrome Limited
Nitrome Limited, commonly known as Nitrome, is an independent game development company based in London, England, United Kingdom. The company makes Flash-based games. Their games are recognizable by the pixel art design and cartoon-like appearance, along with a jingle to the start of every game and...
).
In August 2011, Jay-Z confirmed via Twitter that Rocawear had partnered with Pharrell Williams' clothing label, Billionaire Boys Club (clothing retailer).