Plush velour suits, low rise denim and monogram bubble coats with the infamous cat insignia made Baby Phat a wardrobe staple in its prime. Launched in 1999 by the fabulous Kimora Lee Simmons, under then-husband Russell Simmons’ Phat Fashions LLC label, the lifestyle brand delighted in the kind of luxurious takes on streetwear now seen on major runways around the world. Hip-hop’s adoration for monograms, opulence and excess were key formulaic elements that made Baby Phat thrive in the early-2000s.
After teasing Baby Phat’s relaunch earlier this year on International Women’s Day, Kimora Lee (now Leissner) lived up to her promise and delivered a surprise collaboration with retail giant Forever 21. The affordable, 18-piece collection inspired by the legendary lifestyle brand notably features an inclusive size range that goes up to 4X.
The relaunch’s colorful campaign features Simmons and her daughters, Ming Lee and Aoki Lee, alongside Diddy and the late Kim Porter’s twins D’Lila and Jessie Combs, and serves as Baby Phat’s reintroduction to fans who have been waiting patiently for the slinky cat to return and for new consumers interested in joining in on the resurgence of nostalgic brands making a comeback.
During announcement in March — made at the Global Innovation Coalition for Change hosted by the UN — Leissner noted that teaming up with Forever 21 provided an opportunity to connect with a younger demographic. “Our strategy is tied to embracing all the exciting things that have happened in the market so that Ming Lee and Aoki Lee can tell their story to a new generation young women, some of whom may not have even been born during our first go around,” she said.
And now it turns out that the iconic brand has one very famous fan — Rihanna. That’s right, turns out Rihanna herself is the proud owner of Baby Phat’s “entire archive.” Per the publication, legendary NYC vintage collector, historian, and stylist Gabriel Held sold his whole collection to her last year — a tidbit confirmed by Held to Page Six. Held — who has worked with Rihanna in the past — says that once she found out he had an extensive array of original Baby Phat pieces, that they asked to buy the entire kit and kaboodle.
RiRi is probably positively giddy at the thought of getting her hands on some brand new Baby Phat pieces. Good thing she won’t have to wait long.
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