Black Apple 2011 Spring/Summer Collection featuring Machine Gun Kelly

New York’s Black Apple 2011 spring/summer collection pops things off with the help of up-and-coming rapper Machine Gun Kelly. The 20-year-old Cleveland, Ohio native is the star of the brand’s lookbook as he has earned accolades as one of hip-hop’s people to watch. The collection for this season is inspired by “finding solace within chaos and transforming public space into private worlds.” To cap things off, we spoke with one-half of the founding Black Apple team, Dao-Yi Chow for some quick words.

We met Machine Gun Kelly…
In NY at our showroom. His manager who’s a good friend of ours brought him by to see our collection.

Machine Gun Kelly is a good rep for Black Apple because…
He doesn’t care. Nothing about him is forced, it all feels true to who he is.

The difference between Black Apple and our other label Public School is…
Black Apple is the morning after, no shower, same slept in clothes. PS is quick shower and shave.

The different mindset required when designing Black Apple vs. Public School is…
Black Apple is irreverent and laid back. Public School is a bit heady with an overachiever chip on the shoulder.

The relationship between fashion and music such as hip-hop is now…
So many comparisons but for us it’s about creating something to help change or reinforce a mood and attitude. Both help to clearly define who you are. When done right they both perfectly capture a moment in time. Especially with hip-hop being such a ever self-conscious state of mind, style permeates everything we do. No matter how showy or how laid back, there’s an element of standing out from the crowd.