A History of Brands Kanye West Gave Early Co-Signs to on His Blog

Here's a breakdown of all the brands Kanye West co-signed and wrote about on Kanyeuniversecity.com before other rappers even knew about them.

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Image via Complex Original
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In August 2007, Kanye West launched his blog Kanyeuniversecity.com. In the three years that it existed, the site was a hub for the rapper's inspirations. It was updated almost daily with whatever it was Kanye was interested in at the time. His writings and musings covered everything from the Souls of Mischief's classic '93 Til Infinity to artists, gold plated toilets, and high-fashion labels.

It was incredible.

On the fashion front, Kanye flexed his knowledge in a way that no other rapper or celebrity was doing back then, and no public figure is doing today. He wrote about collections and shared photos from the fashion shows he attended. He broke down individual products that resonated with him. He even had a reoccurring franchise called "Designer of the Week," where he'd highlight both famous and lesser-known fashion designers he admired, such as Patrik Ervell. The blog reflected just how deeply absorbed he was in the fashion world.

But perhaps the biggest takeaway from the site was Kanye's knack of trend forecasting. He championed emerging designers, obscure Japanese brands, and high-fashion labels that, while successful and famous today, were seldom heard of back then—especially in hip-hop.

For example, on Sept. 30, 2007, Kanye wrote about a pair of visvim sneakers. visvim may be one of the most celebrated Japanese brands now, sure, but back then few, if any, rappers or celebs knew about designer Hiroshi Nakamura's genius. In the months and years that followed, he co-signed Neighborhood, Junya Watanabe Man, and Uniform Experiment, names that are familiar only to heads that are deeply passionate enough about the game to celebrate small, niche Japanese labels. 

On top of that, no other rapper was personally co-signing Public School, Thom Browne, Bottega Veneta, and Gareth Pugh—especially not in 2007 and 2008. A dig into the archives quickly proves that Kanye knew of labels and brands that would later become some of the most popular in hip-hop. Tom Ford. Yves Saint Laurent (now Saint Laurent Paris). Maison Martin Margiela. Givenchy. Balenciaga. Acne. Before these labels were household names in lyrics, Yeezy was geeking out over them all.

It doesn't take a fan to realize that Kanye was ahead of his time and his peers when it came to fashion. Everyone knows now that Ye is heavily into fashion, but to those who doubt his genuine commitment and ardor to this pursuit, one look through History of Brands Kanye Gave Early Co-Signs to on His Blog might change some minds.

Visvim

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visvim

First mentioned: Sept. 30, 2007

What Kanye wrote: "These are next level sk8 high's..." 

Goyard

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Goyard

First mentioned: Oct. 2, 2007

What Kanye wrote: "This Goyard x Alexis Mabille collab is available at Colette (one of my favorite stores out here)…"

Jeremy Scott

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Jeremy Scott

First mentioned: Oct. 4, 2007

YSL

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Yves Saint Laurent

First mentioned: Oct. 5, 2007

What Kanye wrote: "Tux with the Lanvin Hitops… sorry still no hard bottoms I’m sticking 2 that rule… I actually bought some dope Lanvin hard bottoms just in case I had 2 go all the way suited and booted but so far I’ve been able 2 stay w/ the rock star suit and sneaks look… I’ve been wanting 2 do a white bow tie for a minute now. my girl Had on the Dries Van Noten white sequence Jacket."

Common Projects

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Common Projects

First mentioned: Oct. 5, 2007

What Kanye wrote: "I know I’m in Paris but these Italian made kicks are ILL…"


Lanvin

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Lanvin

First mentioned: Oct. 6, 2007

What Kanye wrote: "Still on the Parisian tip, these are such a fresh High top sneaker. They work w/any fit…"

Givenchy

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Givenchy

First mentioned: Oct. 6, 2007

What Kanye wrote: "Mario is from Peru, and is one of the ILLEST and most sought after fashion photographers in the world…"

Alexander McQueen

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Alexander McQueen

First mentioned: Oct. 13, 2007

What Kanye wrote: "This is an exclusive pic from the Alexander Mcqueen show the lights were stupid! Stupid means really good…I swear its people who don’t know that."

Balenciaga

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Balenciaga

First mentioned: Oct. 16, 2007

What Kanye wrote: "And the illest shoe award goes to... The 'Closed Front Cage Sandals With Ankle Pads' by Balenciaga. This is from the Fall 07′ collection and they cost $4,175 a pair..."

Bottega Veneta

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Bottega Veneta

First mentioned: Oct. 20, 2007

What Kanye wrote: "The Bottega Veneta High Top"

Tom Ford

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Tom Ford

First mentioned: Oct. 31, 2007


Comme des Garçons

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Comme des Garçons

First mentioned: Nov. 2, 2007

Margiela

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Maison Martin Margiela

First mentioned: Jan. 7, 2008

What Kanye wrote: "Martin stands at the forefront of a revolutionary fashion movement that has forever changed design. Click HERE for more pics & info…

Examples of Martin’s genius are a dress inspired by a dress-form, a photo print of a life size leather jacket on a t-shirt, or a women’s glove to be worn as a handbag. At a time when designers are their own best spokesperson, Martin Margiela has never been photographed nor given an interview to the press – again, challenging the conventional. Upon 10 years of designing his own collection, Martin was selected to design for Hermes, a Parisian fashion house known for high quality luxury goods and a timeless aesthetic. Now, with focus on his own label and the addition of several collections under his own name, the house of Martin Margiela continues to evolve and produce innovative designs that will forever be respected. Currently, he is based in Paris while all of his collections are produced in Italy."

Levi's x Porter

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Levi's x Porter

First mentioned: Jan. 8, 2008

What Kanye wrote: "Levi’s and Porter are set to release a new series of bags and accessories. Click HERE for more pics & info…

The collection features classic Porter styles such as the Boston bag, Tote Bag and Day Pack. Each bag is constructed of denim to keep in theme with the Levi’s collaboration. The products will release on January 8th at Levi’s Store."

The North Face

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The North Face Purple Label

First mentioned: Jan. 1, 2008

What Kanye wrote: "When you think of The North Face images of high-quality technical outerwear come to mind, and not faux croc bags and wallets. Click HERE for more pics & info…

The brand has done just that by releasing a selection of backpacks, messenger bags, and wallets to the Japanese market."

eYe COMME des GARCONS Junya Watanabe Man

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eYe COMME des GARCONS Junya Watanabe Man

First mentioned: Jan. 18, 2008

What Kanye wrote: "We in Japan… just came from the Isatan store … Raf Simons is crazy this season… Comme des Garcons went crazy also, they’ve got this over the top Pink corduroy blazer but I ain’t finna show it till I wear it… Dries kinda let me down last season (the stuff in the store now) but I saw a couple of really dope pieces today on the runway… you can go to www.thefashionspot.com 2 peep all the shows. Click HERE for more pics…"


Dries van Noten

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Dries van Noten

First mentioned: Jan. 18, 2008

Y-3

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Y-3

First mentioned: March 19, 2008

What Kanye wrote:  "The Y-3 2008 Spring/Summer Apparel Collection… Click HERE for more pics…"


Christopher Kane

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Christopher Kane

First mentioned: July 2, 2008

What Kanye wrote: "In 2005 Christopher Kane attracted the attention of Donatella Versace by winning the Lancome Colour Award. Click HERE for more pics and info…

In 2005 Kane attracted the attention of Donatella Versace by winning the Lancome Colour Award.

In 2006 he established his own label with his sister, Tammy Kane.

He held his first independent show in September 2006. It consisted of short bandage dresses in neon shades.

Kane said of his collection that he ” only used neon last year because it was his first collection and I wanted to go as bright as possible.”

The collection was a major contributor to summer 2007’s ‘fluoro’ trends. In April 2006, Kane was awarded the Young Designer of the Year at the Scottish Fashion Awards."

Acne

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Acne

First mentioned: July 6, 2008

What Kanye wrote: "Lanvin designer Alber Elbaz and Stockholm-based Acne Jeans as teamed up on a denim collaboration.  Click HERE for more pics and info…

This marks the first jeans line from the designer, he aims to bring a Lanvin feel and offer women a variety of options to the collection. Expect dresses, tuxedo jackets, belted trench, blouson and jeans. Accessories includes denim bags, stilettos, earrings and medallion necklaces! The jeans line ranges from $550 to $650, while coats will costs $1,200 to $1,500, jewelry and handbags are expected to be priced starting from $1,500. The capsule collection is slated to hit stores in late November and will be available at Barneys New York and Bergdorf Goodman."

Surface to Air

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Surface to Air

First mentioned: July 16, 2008

What Kanye wrote: "Parisian label Surface 2 Air and Justice collaborated on a small collection. Click HERE for more pics and info…

A limited edition series of 3 jackets (150 pieces), and 2 jeans, conceived and designed by Justice for Surface To Air. With a very exclusive distribution, the line will be available beginning June at the following locations: Surface To Air Paris, Surface To Air Brazil, Colette, Barneys, Lane Crawford, Isetan, Le Bon Marché, Paris Texas, Asylum, Le Shop, Incu."

Kris Van Assche

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Kris Van Assche

First mentioned: July 28, 2008

What Kanye wrote: "Click HERE for more pics and info… Cost: $600"

Patrik Ervell

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Patrik Ervell

First mentioned: July 29, 2008

What Kanye wrote: "Patrik Ervell was born in 1978 in San Francisco, California.  He studied Political Science and Art history at UC-Berkeley, before moving to New York in 2001. Click HERE for more pics and info…

Ervell worked for three years as an editor at V Magazine. He started his line in 2005. Ervell was the winner of the Ecco Domani Award for best menswear designer for 2006, and he was named by Wallpaper Magazine as the best new menswear designer that same year. He was nominated for the CFDA Swarovski menswear award for 2007. Ervell’s Fall/Winter 2008 collection was his third runway show.

His new AW 2008 collection includes an impressive variety of pieces ranging from coats to stadium jackets to hand-made suits. Again emphasis on simplicity, classic tailoring, sensible colors and attention to detail makes this one of the best (or most wearable) collection of the year."

UNDRCRWN

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UNDRCRWN

First mentioned: Aug. 2, 2008

What Kanyewrote: "Clothing brand, UNDCRWN, has collaborated with Mos Def on Watermelon Syndicate t-shirts.  Click HERE for more pics and info…

One of the tees was debuted for the first time when Mos Def performed at Carnegie Hall on June 28th, both of the tees from the Watermelon Syndicate collaboration between UNDRCRWN and Mos Def will be exclusively sold on Karmaloop."

Uniform Experiment

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Uniform Experiment

First mentioned: Aug. 4, 2008

What Kanye wrote: "The Japanese brand by Hiroshi Fujiwara and the creative director of SOPHNET. and F.C.R.B. Hirofumi Kiyonaga has launched a uniform experiement. Click HERE for more pics and info…

After a successful 2008 Spring/Summer collection debut, uniform experiment continues with pieces for folks looking for more mature items like suits, ties and dress shirts. A multi-color square pattern has been used throughout this season’s collection."

Jil Sander

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Jil Sander

First mentioned: Aug. 16, 2008

What Kanye wrote: "Jil Sander large calf leather bag with a fabric interior, internal zip pocket and a magnetic fastening.

Click HERE for more pics…"

Gareth Pugh

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Gareth Pugh

First mentioned: Sept. 1, 2008

What Kanye wrote: "Gareth Pugh is an English fashion designer.

Click HERE for more pics and info…

At 14, Pugh began working as a costume designer for the English National Youth Theatre. He started his fashion education at City of Sunderland College and finished his degree in Fashion Design at Central Saint Martins in 2003. His final collection at St. Martins, which used balloons to accentuate models’ joints and limbs (a technique that would become one of his trademarks), attracted that attention of the senior fashion editor of Dazed & Confused magazine, who placed one of his designs on the magazine’s cover shortly thereafter. Pugh was selected to participate in British reality show The Fashion House two months after his graduation, which he would later call “horrible” and his “only other option [to being on] the dole.” The rise of !WOWOW!, a feature in Dazed & Confused, and a debut show at London club Kashpoint’s Alternative Fashion Week brought Pugh to the attention of Fashion East “London’s breeding ground for cutting-edge new talent,” leading them to invite Pugh to participate in its Autumn 2005 group show. Pugh had only four weeks, with no studio, no assistants, and little money, to create the collection. His collection ended up a critical success and attracted significant attention to his designs.

Pugh’s solo premiere was in London’s Fall 2006 fashion week; he has since showed his Spring 2007 and Autumn 2007 collections there. Pugh’s shows have continued to draw critical praise. British Vogue, for instance, called his Spring 2007 collection “an incredible, unmissable show” and said that “his genius is undeniable.” Anna Wintour is a notable supporter of Pugh’s designs.

Kylie Minogue has used many of Pugh’s designs over the recent years, most famously in her Showgirl – The Greatest Hits Tour and Showgirl – The Homecoming Tour and Róisín Murphy recently appeared flamboyantly sporting one of Pugh’s distinctive outfits in the videoclip promoting her 2007 album Overpowered and on the cover of her single Let Me Know. Minogue has been seen wearing the same dress in her 2008 video for her single In My Arms."


Maharishi

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Maharishi

First mentioned: Sept. 9, 2008

What Kanye wrote: 

MHI will be releasing a couple of Spring/Summer 2009 items in Japan in the near future.

From: www.highsnobiety.com

Click HERE for more pics…"

Oak

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Oak

First mentioned: Sept. 30, 2008

What Kanye wrote: "From Jeff Madalena and Louis Terline.

From: www.hypebeast.com

Click HERE for more pics and info…

Their own visions are realized through their in-store label which includes a number of staple pieces such as pea coats, cardigans and t-shirts."


Neighborhood

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Neighborhood

First mentioned: Oct. 8, 2008

What Kanye wrote: "Japanese label Neighborhood continue their 2008 fall/winter efforts with the second part of their “Dirty Harry” collection.

From: www.hypebeast.com

Click HERE for more pics…"

 

Phenomenon

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Phenomenon

First mentioned: Oct. 11, 2008

What Kanye wrote: "The jacket contains elements of both a traditional M-65 jacket and blended it into a MA-1."

he high-end SWAGGER spinoff from Japanese rappers Big-O and Iggy

The label is extremely popular among young Japanese men who are into streetwear. The clothes have a strong urban and American hip-hop influence with a Tokyo street sensibility and a Japanese attitude toward high quality manufacturing.

Bedwin

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Bedwin

First mentioned: Oct. 21, 2008

What Kanye wrote: "Bedwin 2008 Fall/Winter Newest Releases.

From: hypebeast

Click HERE for more pics and info…

Japanese label Bedwin known for their high end street style is creatively directed by Masafumi.

Here are some new pieces from their 2008 Fall/Winter collection which includes items such as the Marlon Pea Coat, Dickies Tripster Coveralls."


Thom Browne

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Thom Browne

First mentioned: Nov. 24, 2008

What Kanye wrote: "GQ Designer of the Year | Thom Browne

From: Selectism

Click HERE for more pics and info…

GQ has named Thom Browne “Designer of the Year” in their December 2008 issue. As Alex Pappademas writes, “Thom Browne’s world: Most of us don’t live in it, but he’s convinced we’d be better off if we did. We’d all have less stuff, for one thing. Every day, we’d leave bright, spotless, almost comically underfurnished homes and go to work in bright, spotless, almost comically underfurnished places of business. Browne’s Manhattan showroom is like that. You could drive a parade float through the space between the door and the table where he’s sitting now, talking to some people about the tennis-club-inspired set he wants to build for his next runway show..."

Public School

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Public School

First mentioned: Nov. 26, 2008

What Kanye wrote: "I’m gonna start releasing some of the pieces online starting in January. The jacket from the AMA’s, the Warrior hood that I wore at the Dior show and this one here. I actually designed this one and the jacket from the AMA’s less than 3 weeks ago! I’m really happy with them!   Sidebar: The Louis Sneakers are coming out REEEEETARDED and the Yeezy’s drop in march.  Sorry for the wait.  I swear to you guys all I do is work on design when I get off stage.  I want to and will be the real thing.  I will not just be a “celebrity designer.”  Shit has to be good!!!  Another shout out to the Kids from the lines Public School and Sandinista, my personal 2 favorites this month , you got busy!   Today is a great day, I’m in Amsterdam at a really dope hotel overlooking the river.  I got some sleep on the plane so I should have my voice back a bit better.  Whoever saw the promo I was doing this week could tell I was beat and my voice was dead but I still had to get up there and do my job.  All the controversy aside, life is great.  I’ve already started conceptualizing a tour idea for next summer.  I want to do it in the round (perform in the middle of the arena).  Ok, gotta bounce, more press to do."

Christopher Raeburn

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Christopher Raeburn

First mentioned: Dec. 26, 2008

What Kanye wrote: "Christopher Raeburn is a new fashion designer who constructs street wear from re-deployed parachutes and military fabrics.

Via: coolhunting

Click HERE for more pics of his collections…

Sourced from uniforms of specific countries and vintages, Raeburn creates pieces of clothing in stark contrast to the combat-ready materials from which they were made.

Using mainly recycled materials, these ethically-correct garments are produced in England. The outerwear features fresh patterns influenced by bad weather conditions and survival techniques. An extreme attention to detail and quality have won Raeburn much praise and he was recently listed in the new book, “100 New Fashion Designers."

Undercover

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Undercover

First mentioned: Dec. 28, 2008

What Kanye wrote: "Via: highsnobiety

Click HERE for more pics and info…

Jun Takashi’s Undercover has some newl items coming up."

Trussardi

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Trussardi

First mentioned: Jan. 22, 2010

What Kanye wrote: "Part of the 2010 S/S COLLECTION."

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