We have the scoop from marketing & sales executive who has represented and presented notable brands such as Roc-A-Wear, Bigg Snoop Dogg, Ruff Ryders Dirty Denim, Da Link Went Wear from the Las Vegas M.A.G.I.C. show to midwest show rooms and the Chicago Niles show.

 

So if you want to work in hip hop fashion here are...

 

 

1. Exclusive Fun & Parties - 3 words... off the chains! The parties are exclusive, starstudded, open bar, invite only (you can't pay your way in) and basically in two more words they are "like that" and if you are in the upper ranks of a notable Hip Hop line's design or sales team you easily find yourself on the V.I.P. list for them.

2. Close team - clothing lines are often close knit teams working together, their staff is not as large as many other brands that have the same notoriety. Working together can feel a lot like being in a small family.

3. Realism with longevity - setting the goal of working in high level or business to business sales for a Hip Hop clothing line is a more realistic or more attainable goal than being a rapper your career can also last a lot longer than the career of most artists

4. Variety - the fashion industry is fast paced & constantly changing which leaves very little opportunity for anything like boredom.

5. Business - unlike promoting parties, tours, or many other music related venues to make money; the nature of hip hop fashion is not as heavily dependent on hard to manage artist appearances which is a great up in entertaiment

 

5 Downs:

1. Continuity - the hip hop line only lasts as long as the artists that it represents, you always have to have your eye on your next gig, and the cut throat nature of some reps & staff members can also mean that others are constantly eyeing YOUR current position

2. Smaller team, smaller resources - you might have to be your own support staff. There is no room for a "that's not my job" mentality. 

3. Hip Hop's work really is your LIFE - work days can start 4:30 a.m. and end at 2:30 a.m. so you really need to be ready to give up all your chill time to work, especially when their are fashion shows, trade shows, or artist appearances that you need to work - practice your being able to give up chillin' for your grind now, turn off the t.v. & hit those books!

4. All that glitters - no matter what your title you may need to do serious grunt work on a very regular basis. Setting up & getting ready for events starts early in the morning and requires all hands on deck to get clothes hung, boxes broken down, clothes steamed, ironed, floors swept after unpacking, etc. on time. (More proof of even less room for a "that's not my job mentality")

5. C.O.D. - if you work in sales everything is paid on delivery and the business cycle can be seasonal so even if you write a lot of orders hiccups in shipping can mean that you don't get paid for your efforts the seasonal nature of fashion can also keep your paper in a bit of flux

 

Things to keep in mind from Hip HopTruth...