Kanye West unveiled our first look at his upcoming GAP partnership at the end of last week. While the collection isn't expected land on shelves for some time, it seems the wheels are already in motion for setting up YEEZY GAP in physical stores.
Over the weekend, the following (extremely Kanye) message appeared on the covering of a GAP store in Chicago:
Thank God Hi Chicago it’s me This is [the] Gap store I used to shop at when I would drive my Nissan from the southside so blessed I thank god and I am so humbled at the opportunity to serve I put my heart into the color palette and every detail I love Tron the original Do you like stuff I don’t know what to do with my hands Love YEEZY
Take a look below:
Original post: Kanye West just shared our first look at his upcoming YEEZY Gap partnership. Information regarding the new collection is relatively scarce, but the teaser shot below indicates it'll be built around classic everyday staples including hoodies, cargo pants, quilted jackets, and accessories in a range of bold colorways.
Although little is known about the team that West has put together, it has been announced that London-based designer Mowalola will be Design Director of Yeezy Gap.
Per Business of Fashion, the YEEZY Gap deal was inked on Thursday, June 25. It is a multi-year deal that will hit the market in 2021. The drops will comprise apparel for men, women, and children, and will be available via Gap's online and physical stores.
Kanye captioned the post with an excited "WESTDAYEVER" — assumedly thrilled about moving closer towards his goal of becoming the "Steve Jobs of Gap," as he revealed to Style back in 2015.
Kanye's relationship with Gap dates back longer than that, though. After working a customer services job for the brand as a teen in Chicago, which he references on the track "Spaceship" ("Let's go back, back to the Gap, look at my check, wasn't no scratch), he moved on to a gig shadowing the brand's then-creative director Patrick Robinson in 2009. Around that time, rumors regarding the artist designing specifically for the brand started to circulate, but a collection never came into fruition.
In 2013, Kanye referenced those conversations in an interview with 99.6 NOW! “I went to the Gap and I said ‘Lemme try to do something’ and I couldn’t get past the politics," he explained. "And I’m like ‘I’m telling you, I got it. I know it. I can do it. Gimme a shot.’ Our first night [on the Yeezus Tour] we sold $83,000 in tour merch. Imagine if you take these thoughts and connect it with a corporation like the Gap.”
Watch the interview below.
