MANILA, Philippines – If there’s anyone who knows about aspiration, it’s Kanye West. Cocky, many have politely called this self-aggrandizing God’s gift to music (or so he insinuates), but you can be sure the man doesn’t waver when it comes to luxury. More specifically, the prime label it’s synonymous to — Louis Vuitton being West’s “favorite aspirational brand” from the day he bought his first LV wallet. “Actually, I used to dream of being able to buy their trunks and put them ‘round my house,” West says of the brand’s luggage staple.
The dream is pretty apt since the object of West’s affluent affection was partly what inspired his clasping creative hands with LV’s head designer, Marc Jacobs. “I already knew and looked up to (Jacobs). Then Louis Vuitton called me and said they had this idea to do shoes,” the hip-hop-head says about an opportunity that turned him into an unstoppable geyser of design ideas. “I did (worked on) 10 designs, but I would have done more — they had to narrow it down. Sneakers are great as an entry point for people who can’t afford the trunk, you know. And they’re great for displaying where you are mentally.”
What West had in mind were kicks for comfort — and hip versatility, of course. The product being three sneaker styles evoking the urban everyman-hood of the self-proclaimed “Louis Vuitton Don”: the Don’s (a classic lace-up with a padded heel flap); the Jasper’s (a J-pop-art-infused Velcro hi-top); and the Mr. Hudson (a city-slicking update on the boat shoe, day-glo outsole and all). With Kanye’s love locked down into these sneaks, Supreme asked LV’s au courant envoy (and college dropout) all about his graduation into the realm of high fashion.
What’s your best fashion memory?
Getting dressed up to play. Football, cops and robbers…I loved costumes. In kindergarten, I really thought about what I was going to put on every morning.
In his heyday, Michael Jackson. When he was wearing all those jackets covered in Swarovski crystals. And then all those leather jackets, Mickey Mouse t-shirts, tailored pants, and penny loafers. He was for real.
What inspired the sneaker collection?
A lot of it was the movie Dune. Remember those big, padded colors they wore? I did that padded look as a flap at the back of the shoe. The grey, brown, and fuchsia combination in the Tour model is very much a concept I have for clothing — that juxtaposition of soft and electric palettes is something I don’t see too often. The exception being Marc Jacobs has touched on that combo with bags.
What’s your style all about and have you got that down perfectly?
Actually, I’m constantly trying to learn what looks good on me. It takes a while to figure out your style. Most people I know who dress “A-plus” are 35 and older.
Favorite wardrobe item?
My vintage Levi’s jean jacket. It’s the perfect jacket. Someone told me it was really good ‘cause it’s got the big “E” on the label, which means it’s from a certain year.
And what are you wearing right now? No, we’re not being perverted.
A Schott jacket. It had silver zippers but I had them put plastic ones instead. An old jacket with plastic zippers…it’s a kind of Japanese toy vibe thing.
And apart from becoming sole mates with Marc Jacobs, what else are you working on now?
I’m in the middle of doing a video with Jared Leto and his band 30 Seconds to Mars. Doing a video with photographer Stephen Klein called Say You Will. I’m also shooting a vid with Spike Jonze. Oh, and this morning, I worked on the video for my song Robocop. My girlfriend got her whole body molded in prosthetics so she could play a Barbie doll in it. Exact shape of her breasts but no nipples, like Barbie.
How’s celebrity been treating you these days?
I’m at war with myself. I know I’m in danger of cannibalizing myself, of talking about myself to death. My whole life for the past five years has been all about me.
How are you evolving then?
If it’s the last thing I do, I want to drop all the bravado that most urban rap artists carry. I want to make new good stuff and not brag about it. Just to do it.
Noble. Last up, what’s your one item of luxury?
My Louis Vuitton sneaker boots, of course.