Sacré Bleu Jean? Denim Legend François Girbaud N’est Pas Pumped About His Company’s Hip-Hop Image
MORE
The Transom
On Monday, July 23, the French designer François Girbaud hosted a party celebrating his new line of denim clothing, called Le Jean, in the Marithé and François Girbaud Showroom, which occupies the 9th floor of a building on 10th Avenue and 36th Street. The crowd, overwhelmingly comprised of fashionably dressed African-Americans in their mid-20’s, seemed blissfully unaware that their host has apparently been less than thrilled about their devotion to the brand.
“Somewhere, the company was running too much in some direction, too much in hip-hop stuff,” Mr. Girbaud, 62, told the Transom (perhaps taking a page from the playbook of a compatriot who last year expressed disdainful befuddlement toward rappers’ loyalty to the Champagne label Cristal). He was wearing a black-collared shirt over baggy black jeans, which were adorned with a single drooping silver chain that smacked against his knee as he strode through the streamlined space. “To be just connected in the hip-hop stuff is other brand; there is people like Russell Simmons or Damon Dash or Puff Daddy or all this kind. I’m not the rap people. Sure, we introduced the baggy jeans, we introduced stonewashed and all this stuff in the 60’s or 70’s, I never target just to be ethnic. It’s stupid.”
Mr. Girbaud’s label, which he started with his wife, Marithé, in 1964, was a true pioneer in the designer jean movement, but—eschewing traditional advertising techniques—has been long eclipsed by brands like Lucky and Diesel. “It’s really boring, non?” he said of the current denim market. “It’s just the same. I walk through projects today, and it’s the same five-pocket jeans. It’s not giving so much possibility to young generation to express themselves.”
When it comes to his own self-expression, Mr. Girbaud seems to think that the exigencies of marketing are cramping his style. “I have to talk like that”—he flashed a gang hand-sign—“and speak like that”—he flashed another gang hand-sign—“and move like that”—he grabbed his crotch—“and it’s ridiculous!” Now he was shouting. “What we bring into the market was always innovative, and I feel now I am trapped and I have to just talk the same way, like I have to have skulls and some kind of snakes. It’s boring, it’s really boring!”
But he seemed confident that his company’s fortunes are on the upswing. “We are back in track,” Mr. Girbaud assured the Transom over the beats of DJ Lindsey, stroking his wispy, graying Fu Manchu beard. “We want to position the brand like whatever in the American market and worldwide … to relate, [be] comfortable, to be practical, all this kind of bullshit.”
Damn, Dawg-diggity,
Next thing you know the buffalo wing companies and watermellon farmers will be rebelling too.
Damn, Dawg-diggity,
Next thing you know the buffalo wing companies and watermellon farmers will be rebelling too.
It just goes to show you guys invent your own shit and fools like that will wounder what happen to the sales(money). Then they'll see how popular they really are!
Your idiots. The man is simply saying that he does not make or market his clothing to hip-hop artist. His clothes are for those who like and wish to buy them. I agree with him. Hip-Hop (or Hip-Not) has become so predictable and bland it's laughable at best. Everyone looks like a carbon copy clone (with the exception of Kanye West, who will actually wear real clothes).
well all that means is the boycotting has begun!! just don't wear his shit anymore and less money for him!
he doesn't make close for hip-hop if you make close you make them for whoever like it it does have something to do wit who wears the and trust me i want be anymore we always have stuff like rockawear and phatfarm lets see if the say they don't make cose for hiphop i hope he goes bankrupt
Thats all fine and well that he doesn't market it for hip hop But there the ones wearing it and keepin you stacked. To mock the people that are putting money in this pocket is wrong.
no,knye west wears faggot clothes, he look like a damn foo talkin bout he aint neva changed but then u cum on tv lookin like a preppy bitch dats rediculous, and Mr. Girbaud can kiss my ass Yea he wants 2 market his stuff 2 other people besides hip hop but we are the only ones dat like his shit, i aint neva seen a white boy,mexican boy or girl, asian, chinease, or any other race except blacks and puerto ricans wearin his shit, WE PUT HIS SHIT ON THE MAP now he wanna dis us!!!!!!!, FUCK YOU MR.GIRBAUD
As a woman of colour, I find nothing at all offensive with what the man is saying. he's talking about not wanting to market to these thugged-out, speaking like idiots hip hop artists who he feels cheapens his label. Same with the whole "Cristal" debate. Let's face it, there is scarcely any class in hip-hop. It is, if anything a farce these days and these designers are as ashamed to have certain individuals wear their creations as much as I am ashamed to see their shananigans on BET/MTV/Where ever.
Mr.Girbuad fuck u ur wife and ur company and i throw all of my girbuad's away and guess what i didnt pay the bullshit price for them bitches anyway but i hope evisu and red monkey dont complain like ur bitch as did and anyway u make all the money and now u goin to put ur num 1 consumer down and now ur stock is goin to fall all because u are a racis french white boy, america should not allow u alliens to sell ur product in are counrty make money of the black men and women
Mr.Girbuad fuck u ur wife and ur company and i throw all of my girbuad's away and guess what i didnt pay the bullshit price for them bitches anyway but i hope evisu and red monkey dont complain like ur bitch as did and anyway u make all the money and now u goin to put ur num 1 consumer down and now ur stock is goin to fall all because u are a racis french white boy, america should not allow u alliens to sell ur product in are counrty make money of the black men and women
Mr.Girbuad fuck u ur wife and ur company and i throw all of my girbuad's away and guess what i didnt pay the bullshit price for them bitches anyway but i hope evisu and red monkey dont complain like ur bitch as did and anyway u make all the money and now u goin to put ur num 1 consumer down and now ur stock is goin to fall all because u are a racis french white boy, america should not allow u alliens to sell ur product in are counrty make money of the black men and women
Mr.Girbuad fuck u ur wife and ur company and i throw all of my girbuad's away and guess what i didnt pay the bullshit price for them bitches anyway but i hope evisu and red monkey dont complain like ur bitch as did and anyway u make all the money and now u goin to put ur num 1 consumer down and now ur stock is goin to fall all because u are a racis french white boy, america should not allow u alliens to sell ur product in are counrty make money of the black men and women
I am an a man of colour and like Ms. Josephine I don't find his remarks racist. Could he have taken another approach? Maybe. But he was being honest about what he feels. He didn't say that he doesn't want us buying his clothing. He said he does not want to be boxed in buy a particular genre of music or culture. He wants his brand to be universal.
Let's be real. I love what BET has done for our people but you must admit that a great deal of the images portrayed show us as thugs who are only concerned about women,cash,cars and clothes. Would you want to be represented by a group of rappers (some not all) who degrade women and only talk about how big their rims are?
I'm a 30 year old Medical Professional who is married to a successful attorney and all of my jeans are Girbaud. Not because some rapper talks about them in his song but because of the quality of the denim.
Mr. Girbaud is entitled to feel the way he does, just as Liz Claiborne and Tommy Hilfiger. However, the same people who state they are not designing for Ethnic people have not declined any payments remitted for all the sales. If they were to investigate where 99.9% of their revenue comes from, they would cringe and STILL head to the bank. I say wear whatever you want to wear. It does not signify that you are a rapper in Girbaud clothes any more than you are a priest if you wear a cross. Either way, white people have always hated people of color because they are jealous but it is their children who constantly emmulate our race. It is their women who run to the doctor for injections in their lips. It is their people who run to the TANNING salons to darken the pale skin..So decide for yourself unless you are an idiot and let others dictate your style of dress. Most of their culture don't own IRONs anyway so it never looks the same on them. Actually Girbaud should be grateful instead of distasteful.
Why are The King Trey, Barbara and Mr. Fresh reacting negatively? There is nothing offensive to African Americans in general in the article. Before you burn your MFG jeans and whatnot in anger, try to understand what Mr Girbaud is really saying. All he says is that he doesn't wanna be exclusive to the hip hop culture and in essence, his clothes are for anyone who can afford them.
I also object to The King Trey comments about Blacks putting Girbaud on the map, as well as his use of foul language. I am from the Philippines and the brand has stores all over our country as well as other Asian countries. Don't make this a racism issue because it just ISN'T.
First I would like to say that I like some of the things that Kanye West wears.
Secondly, for you to say Mr. Girbaud can kiss your ass is just ignorant. You can't assume everytime some says they don't cater to hip hop artist, that they're talking about BLACK people. Of course hip hop was invented by black people, but hip hop now is a genre of lifestyles. Quite frankly, if anyone should be denying hip hop, it should be black people themselves. Black hip hop artists have down graded their own race. It's disappointing. Hip hop today doesn't really represent anything good. So I can't blame a designer saying that he or she doesn't want hip hop artists representing their clothing line. Remember Mr. Girbaud didn't say that he doesn't want BLACK PEOPLE wearing his clothes, he said that he didn't and does not intend to only cater to the hip hop genre. Meaning, he wants to sell to a broader audience.
To THE KING TREY:
You're ignorant. Read the article over and see what Mr. Girbaud is really saying. He's not putting down blacks, he's not saying he does not want blacks wearing his products. All he's saying is that he doesn't want to be boxed in one genre of clothing or culture. If anyone you should be mad it's BET for the way that it has just gone down in how it represent blacks. And if you consider hip hop to be black then you don't know what being black is, because I'm black and I damn sure don't look, dress, or act like some of those fools in the hip hop industry. Don't let hip hop represent blackness.
damn homie what is the world cumin to? 1st tommy hill,then cristal, now yo punk ass. homie if you would take da tyme and look at the world around you u would see who is buying all of yo shit.most ppl i know who listen to hip hop (including whites and hispanics) wears mfg. along with some of the black owned clothing brands. if we 95% of your profits come from hip hop (i have yet to see a doctor, lawyer judge, etc. wearing girbaud) why would u make a statement like that?its 2007 stop atin likes we still in theearly 1900's. good bye Mfg hello lrg, rw, akademiks.
I can understand your comment but on the other what does he have to say about these rock stars wearing his clothing and grabbing their crotch? They do the same as the hip hop generation. Since when does designer clothes have to be design for certain cultures or ethnic groups. You should be happy people are wearing your clothes and you and your entire family is living rich off the deeds. The statement he made makes u think the hip hop nation which is all colors need to continue building our clothing to put people like him out of business
Oh,didnt nobody say nothing when the mayor of Florida[Trick Daddy]was sportin nuthin but polo clothes.shhhh,that boy talkin bout Kanye West must be young as hell.Far as preppy goes,if being dress proper goes,anybody in their right mind would wanna look good enough to go anywhere in the U.S. and wouldnt be judged by anyone!thats why Kanye stays fly.And Girbaud,you have lived your life like the guys that assasinnated Dr.King,you waited til you lived a pleasurbale life shatterd everbody love of your invention CRACKER !
man jabos is some beast man they the best disigner jeans in the whole str8 up!
First of all, black people did not put Girbaud on the map. I was wearing Girbaud back in the late 80's and all of the 90's and thats when probably 90 percent of his customer base was white people. Also, he has had stores worldwide even since before hip hop was born. He only recently started catering to the hip hop audience, and I saw the jeans that I loved (which were baggy enough to still look good) become twice as baggy and thats how the new school hip hop generation caught on. I'm from the old school of hip hop when the clothes used to fit you. But now, you know if the clothes are like 3 times to big for the body, then hip hoppers will be wearing it. So naturally, when he made his jeans more baggy to cash in on the growing hip hop movement(just as all the black labels did), then voila! Now mostly hip hop people are now wearing his brand. To address the race card being played toward his statements, he is not saying anything bad about blacks or the multi racial hip hop community, he just wants to cater to all not just hip hoppers. Also, I wanted to address the racism, its actually racist of some black hip hoppers to play the race card, when that is not what its about. Racism is not good, not even coming from blacks. So don't be racist and stop calling him racist words and turning it around on whites, when its YOU are being racist, black man. By the way I'm Spanish. But anyway, don't become angry and hate, love thy neighbor. ERACISM.
ALL YALL ON HIS COMMENT SOME HATERS LET THE MAN DO HIM CAUSE IF YOULL MADE SOMETHING YALL WILL WANT SOME MONEY SO LET GIRBAUD DO HIM AND YALL DO YALL STOP BEING A DICK RYDER JUMP OFF IM STILL WEARIN YA SHYT CAUSE HOW I LOOK IN IT