Yeezy x Gap
Image: @kanyewest Twitter
Kanye West can be thought of as controversial at times but one thing is for sure: anything Yeezy related gets everyones head turning. Yeezy sneakHER releases always get our attention and apparel collections by the brand are usually centered around the cozy yet stylish vibe that we’ve all come to see from the Kardashian-West family. By now, you may have heard of the partnership between Gap and Yeezy. However, a partnership that caused Gap’s stock to rise by 42% deserves some examination. Here, we’re breaking down the details and taking a closer look into the Design Director for the collection, Mowalola Ogunlesi.
Admittedly, there isn’t a whole lot of information surrounding the partnership. What we do know is that Kanye West took to Twitter to announce June 16th as #WESTDAYEVER followed by the subsequent announcement of the partnership between his brand, Yeezy, and Gap. The partnership is set for 10 years with an option for renewal after 5 years. The hope is that after the 5th year, the partnership will produce $1 billion in annual sales revenue. Upon announcement, Gap’s stock skyrocketed and social media began booming with opinions on the partnership. Kanye West has proclaimed his desire to work with Gap for a minute and now, it seems that his desire is becoming a reality.
With the announcement of the partnership also came the revelation of who was to be named Design Director for the collection and her name is Mowalola Ogunlesi. Ogunlesi was born in Nigeria and moved to London to pursue her career in fashion. For her, fashion runs in deep in the family. Her grandmother started a womenswear brand in the 80’s and her father designs traditional Nigerian menswear. She began pursuing her career at Central Saint Martins with a focus on textiles that eventually evolved into fashion textiles. After starting her MA in 2017 at Central Saint Martins and feeling unhappy, she decided to move onto Fashion East, a non-profit initiative cultivating London emerging talent. Since then, she has worked with Kelela, Steve Lacy, Solange, and collaborated with rapper Skepta on his Pure Water music video. Her most recent collection featured an abundance of suggestive leather pieces, tall boots, cutout tops, and an eccentric color palette that would be perfect for the 80s electronic music scene. Ogunlesi’s most recent designs also include custom pieces that were worn by members of the Kardashian-West family for Father’s Day, seen below.
As mentioned before, there isn’t a whole lot of information that is known. However, we can expect a drop from the Yeezy x Gap partnership in early 2021 that will include pieces for men, women, and children at affordable price points. Check back with us and we’ll be sure to keep you posted once more information is released.