Are We Surprised That Dre 3000′s Clothing Line Isn’t Selling?
After gaining worldwide fame as the effeminate half of funk rap group Outkast, Rapper Andre 3000 transitioned smoothly from the streets of East Point, Georgia to a 5th Avenue boardroom.
Along the way, Dre alienated his core rap fan base by reinventing himself as a contemporary Bohemian alter ego with an off the wall fashion sense.
After taking a hiatus from recording, Dre sat down with investors and came up with a new clothing line to showcase his quirky side.
In true egocentric form, he called the new line Benjamin Bixby after a character he didn’t bother building up pre-branding for.
“Benjamin Bixby is a character who’s kind of like your uncle,” he said when his line first launched in upper crust stores such as Harrod’s and Barney’s.
Unfortunately for Dre, his target market didn’t shop at Harrods or Barneys, and they weren’t much interested in dressing like their uncles either.
According to Woooha.com, Harrods and Barneys have been forced to slash prices over 50% to move the stagnant Benjamin Bixby merchandise off the shelves:
The problem is no one is buying the clothing line because of the high price point and no brand equity. As a result, the Benjamin Bixby clothing line has had to dramaticly drop prices in order to move inventory and prevent retailers from shipping it all back to Mr. Benjamin.
As of last week, you can now find Benjamin Bixby clothing at Barneys for over 50% off the original price. That $275 sweater vest is now $109. The $1,495 leather jacket is now $639. (LINK)
Related posts:
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- Fashion Cent$: Dallas Austin strikes gold with new clothing line
- LL Cool J offers us another clothing line that we don’t need
- Another celebrity clothing line bites the dust (this time it’s J-Lo)
15 Responses to “Are We Surprised That Dre 3000′s Clothing Line Isn’t Selling?”
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I think the main problem is he isn’t as visible as he used to be. As a matter of fact he seems to have fallen off the face of the earth. A current bomb album might have helped his clothing line sales. At least then people would at least see him in the clothes and maybe want to mimick him.
My son is Feening for a Varsity “Letter” sweater … he really likes the way Terrance of 106 and park dresses .. and I can’t find one ANYWHERE .. and for 109.00 he won’t be gettin that mess either …
those prices are ridiculous for those clothes. that doesnt even make sense to me…. i mean do people not realize the country is BROKE?!
People are tired of rappers and their tacky clothing lines. If you go to the stores you will notice House of D, Rockawear and all those celeb lines are like 50% off, while the real designers clothes aren’t
:boohoo:
cosign @ 4…. House of Derion is dang near worse that Eve’s Fetish line its like 70% off at lady blue in philly
im a coogi girl have been since highschool and thats hardly on sale, and noone even talks about coogi anymore
Pharell line, billionare club is overly expensive too
Surprisingly, Puffy’s line, is doing very well
One reason that I think Sean Jean sells is because the clothes are not too over the top. Some of the things that these rappers come up with are atrocious (sp?). I wouldn’t buy any male in my life some of that mess. And I love Bey and would be probably be considered a stan, but she has some of the most awful looking clothes that I have ever seen. Her jeans are nice (I have small waist and big hips so they fit well) but errthang else is just pure D AWFUL!
Another reason that Puff’s clothes sell are because they are not too expensive. Of course there are some pieces that are too pricey but for the most part they are reasonable. They are about the same as Ralph Lauren.
Another reason that I think that Sean Jean sells is because his clothes are more accessible. I live in Augusta, Georgia and Sean Jean is in all the dept. stores here. There is no Pharell, Andre, Eve, and House of D has a few pieces here and there.
They gotta make this stuff for the everyday people because we are the majority and will be the ones to make or break their success.
:newhere:
Those clothes are BOO-BOO. Point blank! No if, ands or buts about it!
are these the clothes that made nuccs look like runaway slaves? where is that post auntie. post that link. the one where they looked like “kunta goes to the city”.
His fashions are along the lines of some Abercrombie & Fitch shiz. Maybe he should’ve aligned with that company and pushed his ‘designs’ in that direction.
and the prices are still to much..Andre may want to go the kmart/sears way like Master P and LL..I’m sure they would love to have him..naw maybe Walmart
Kymystry Says:
My son is Feening for a Varsity “Letter” sweater … he really likes the way Terrance of 106 and park dresses .. and I can’t find one ANYWHERE .. and for 109.00 he won’t be gettin that mess either …
==========================================
he can find one cheaper than 109.. go on line and u can find them for about 30-40.
his clothes are ugly and expensive thats is why nobody is buying them…..
I just think no one is jumping to dress like a paper boy from the 30s. Maybe he should open up a store, so it can be made to order.
In reference to other celebs, you have to know your market Sean John & Rocawear have always done well because of what they sell and its mass marketed. You find their clothes in Burlington Coat Factory.
In my opinion, House of Dereon & Fetish resemble lower priced range clothes. So why spend $80 when you can get the look for $20.
BBC/Ice Cream has a cult following. Pharrell is a smart business man especially hooking with Nigo from A Bathing Ape. Limited supply, high demand. Its ecomomics. That’s how you sell $200 hoodies, $80 t-shirts, and $20 socks. Most of the people I know wear it are young with disposable income. People get on planes to buy this stuff, its ridiculous, but it sells and its great business model.
He should have had a stronger marketing campaign, and NOT been photo’s with hsi clothing on, initially. We all know the reason it isn’t selling is because there’s a black face in those varsity sweaters.
I’d love to help him if he will call me