(PRESS RELEASE) ALEXANDRIA, VA — The organizers of Vision Expo, The Vision Council and RX, announce that fashion innovator and author Dapper Dan will headline Vision Expo’s EYE2EYE educational Series. The series, which launched at Vision Expo East in 2019, features a line-up of modern luminaries, creatives and industry trail-blazers providing exclusive insights on topics to inform, empower and challenge attendees. Dapper Dan will share his incredible story at The Bridge with moderator Lilliana Vazquez, host of “E! News” and “Pop of the Morning,” on Saturday, April 2 from 4 p.m.–5 p.m. with a Q&A to follow.
“Dapper Dan is a living legend, not only in the fashion world, but as an artist and creative,” said Fran Pennella, Vice President, Vision Expo, at RX. “As we look forward to Vision Expo’s return to New York City, we are honored to provide a platform for Dapper Dan to share his story and know that attendees will be inspired by Dapper Dan’s ups and downs, ultimate successes, and palpable creative energy.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Dapper Dan to Vision Expo East 2022,” said Mitch Barkley, Vice President of Trade Shows and Events at The Vision Council. “His incredible legacy and energy embodies the caliber of creatives, visionaries and industry icons we are bringing to Vision Expo East this spring. We are looking forward to sharing the full line-up of speakers and events planned for The Bridge in the coming weeks.”
With his eponymous store on 125th Street in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood, Dapper Dan pioneered luxury streetwear in the early 1980s, co-opting luxury branding to design original garments with high-end detail and luxurious materials like leathers and furs. Attracting a high-profile clientele, Dapper Dan’s career took off and he was soon outfitting entertainers and celebrities including Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Ashley Graham, LL Cool J, Salt-N-Pepa, Mike Tyson, Missy Elliot, P. Diddy, Aaliyah, and many more. In 2017, Dapper Dan’s Boutique reopened in partnership with Gucci, reviving the legacy Dapper Dan established in the Harlem community.
Dapper Dan’s striking fashion creations have been honored with displays and exhibitions at The Smithsonian, The Museum at FIT, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and The Museum of Modern Art, while his story has been featured on platforms including The New York Times, Elle, Vogue, W, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, CNN, and Netflix. Dapper Dan’s memoir, Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem, which details his journey to success from an impoverished childhood and his struggles against crime and drugs, is a New York Times Bestseller.
During his interview at Vision Expo East, Dapper Dan will share the experiences that have been most influential in informing his style and fashion designs. He will detail how he stayed motivated to pursue his dreams as an independent designer, how he has stayed inspired through challenging periods in his life, and also shed light on how he continues to fuel his creativity today.
Vision Expo East 2022 will take place at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City from March 31–April 3, 2022. The Show’s educational program, together with OptiCon@Vision Expo, will open Thursday, March 31 and the Exhibit Hall will open Friday, April 1. To register, click here.
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