Dapper Dan was met with a lot of criticism due to his continued connection to Gucci. While many are calling for a boycott following the release of racially offensive designs, he has instead decided to help the brand create diversity initiatives. Dan, whose real name is Daniel Day, explained why he decided to keep collaborating with Gucci's President and CEO Marco Bizzarri.
"We have to learn to earn," he said in a statement on Instagram. "What happened to all the Black fashion brands that failed since the '80s? Was it because they didn't get Black support, or was it because they didn't know the business? Do you expect our young Black designers to spend 30+ years mastering fashion by teaching themselves as I did? How do you expect them to compete with big brands if they don't really know the business? They need jobs and internships within these big brands so that they can learn and they branch out on their own."
"Many young people think a t-shirt design with a logo is a fashion business when in reality the business of fashion is so much broader and more complex than that," he added. "I studied my a** off to master this business. Live your dream. Don't let other people's feelings stop you. Take advantage of the chance to learn. All you haters get out the way for young people. Embrace change. For those that want to continue to hate Gucci and boycott, you are entitled to do as you please. But if anyone should be boycotted it's the brands that won't give our young people an opportunity to learn."