Instead of sitting around doing nothing, he used his new freedom to learn the tricks of the trade of one of his other favorite industries.
Kanye West announced that he would not be doing any more interviews because the media likes to twist his words or take what he has to say out of context. Unfortunately for his fans, this would mean that they could only hear from him by attending his shows or following him on the social network twitter which he updates from time to time with pics of models in Givenchy Couture as well as a few random thoughts.
Last night, however, he logged on to twitter and posted a mouthful. Yeezy shared his thoughts on his dedication to his new fashion line as well as his struggle to make it in the Fashion world as he interned with Fendi and Giuseppe Zanotti while designing for Nike and Louis Vuitton. He also discussed how his mother influenced his outlook on fashion early on. He ended his thoughts by revealing he had developed a design company called ‘Donda’ which would be dedicated to hiring creative professionals in visionaries that would create products and experiences that people can afford.
Kanye on breaking into the fashion world, his experience interning with different design houses and opening a design studio in Paris.
I love being back at my fashion office learning and creating. It’s so challenging and fun and I’m surrounded by amazing people. They so you only live once but every time I come to work I feel like I’m starting a second life. [I know] you guys might think I have some type of backing for my [fashion] line but I don’t. I did the first fashion show out of my own pocket and used the money I made touring to follow my passion. I’ve been working at this for 8 years now …from the first offers to do urban clothing lines that I turned down…
To begging Bape to do my line and never making any real headway… To having an office in LA that was shut down after the “MTV” moment along with my tour with GAGA. I moved to Japan for one month after that and designed every night in my room… I had this opportunity to intern at Fendi and was also offered a position to at Versace which I could not take due to my contract with LV which was for 2 years. I moved to Rome after I left Japan and worked at Fendi for 4 months under cover … I was there to give ideas for the men’s collection. I snuck to Giuseppe Zanotti Factory still under contract and learned to design woman’s shoes for 2 years before my first show in Paris. After doing the first LV collection I was sure I would get a second shot to create but was never given the opportunity.
I designed a sneaker called the YEEZY with Nike. I’m “allowed” to design 1 pair of sneakers every 2 years. I have more ideas…. Early 2011 … I moved to Paris and opened a small design studio… the language barrier was quite difficult.. I still don’t have a Paris VAT number to this day… I don’t know what a VAT but every time I asked why we didn’t have fabrics they said it was because of the VAT.
In Paris I met many great people in design including the master Azzedine Alaia… Azzedine even came by my studio one day : ))) This was the greatest feeling to stand in his presence in my embarrassingly small Paris studio in a courtyard opposite Collate.
On how he was influenced by his mother’s style at an early age
I remember being 5 years old picking and my mother taking me with her shopping at the discount fur spots. She said I would always point to the most expensive furs even as a child LOL
It’s something about making clothing that always brings me back to that point. For the first 16 or 17 years of my life the only thing I knew about my woman’s clothing was what my Mom would wear. I guess some critics would joke that I still don’t know anything LOL
My Mom would wear blue jeans with a fur and an embellished “Cosby Show” sweater: to pick me up from school, the teachers said I couldn’t focus… I used to get kicked out of class for bringing dirty mags and drawing Nikeys in 4th grade.
Being a celebrity has afforded me many opportunities but has also boxed me in creatively. I was just discussing becoming the creative director for the Jetson movie and someone on the call yelled out.. you should do a Jetsons tour! This just happened a few hours ago. I was very insulted of course because for anyone that’s seen the Watch the Throne Tour or Coachella or Glow in the Dark or Runaway.. you know I have real ideas.
On The Grammys
I appreciate having the most nominations at the Grammies but I feel so conflicted by the fact that award shows sometimes are completely. Illogical. Good logic tells me smile Kanye… the world likes you again… red or blue pill? … aaaaand Swallow lol I wouldn’t have the prestige I have if it wasn’t partially for the Grammies validation and I honor that… hmmmmm what to wear… here I go again… Yeezy the trend setter or complete f*cking fashion victim … the verdict is still out
On his new company DONDA
I have started a new company and I’m so excited about the name…. it’s got the best name ever of all companies of all time!!!….The name of the company is DONDA. DONDA is a design company which will galvanize amazing thinkers and put them in a creative space to bounce there dreams and ideas.
I am assembling a team of architects, graphic designers, directors musicians, producers, AnRs, writers, publicist, social media experts…app guys, [etc etc etc]. DONDA will be comprised of over 22 divisions with a goal to make products and experiences that people want and can afford…I want to put creatives in a room together with like minds that are all waaaay doper than me
We want to help simplify and aesthetically improve everything we see hear, touch, taste and feel. ..To dream of, create, advertise and produce products driven equally by emotional want and utilitarian need.. To marry our wants and needs. This will all take time but I wanted everyones to know what I really care about… I care about people. I care about my fans..I care about people who have never heard of me… There are over 7 billion people on the planet now.
The Watch the Throne tour was a small example of what a Donda Experience can be. This one of our projects to be released this year called 2016 OLYMPIC’s … It’s a semi sic-fi since 2016 is only 4 years away. We would also like’ to design the MTV awards. We’re taking everything 10 steps at a time LOL
We need as many amazing powerful smart talented wealthy people to be involved… Come get on board… don’t just sit there… reach out. We can collectively effect the world trough design. We need to pick up where steve jobs left off
I know this is not a very rapper thing to say but I haven’t bought a new car or piece of jewelry in about 2 years…I invest every dime back into creativity… hiring amazing creatives paying for flights, offices … etc…My area of expertise is in music, my passion is in music design film and products… my strength is connectivity…
There are so many broken systems from the economy to school systems jail systems… we need experts for this…We need scientist and top world designers to directly affect governments.
