The rapper-turned-designer took to Twitter between 4:00 and 6:00 am today to issue 91 wide-ranging tweets about his fashion label, priorities and vision for a more creative world.
He also expounded on his and Spike Jonze’s shared vision for a revamped educational system and his memories of shopping for fur coats with his mother (like we said, the operative word here is wide-ranging). Oh, and he’s launching a 22-division creative agency called DONDA—it involves uniting ‘minds that are all waaaay doper than me’ to make tech and design magic.
The live-screed resulted in a 1,719 final word count, roughly equivalent to ELLEuk.com’s daily news output.
He started what shall heretofore be known as The Kanye West Twitter Meltdown with the relatively even-keeled, ‘I appreciate everyone's support for my clothing line but I wanted to clarify a few things...’
Then the tweets hit the fan. Here’s a chronological excerpt of some of our favourites:
- I love being back at my fashion office learning and creating. It's so challenging and fun and I'm surrounded by amazing people.
- They so you only live once but every time I come to work I feel like I'm starting a second life.
- You guys might think I have some type of backing for my line but I don't.
- I did the first fashion show out of my own pocket and used the money I made touring to follow my passion.
- I've been working at this for years now ...from the first offers to do urban clothing lines that I turned down...
- To begging Bape to do my line and never making any real headway...
- To having an office in LA that was shut down after the "MTV" moment along with my tour with GAGA
- I moved to Japan for one month after that and designed every night in my room... I had this opportunity to intern at Fendi and was also..
- ...offered a position to at Versace wich I could not take due to my contract with LV which was for 2 years...
- I moved to Rome after I left Japan and worked at Fendi for 4 months under cover ... I was there to give ideas for the men's collection
- I snuck to Giuseppe Zanotti Factory still under contract and learned to design woman's shoes for 2 years before my first show in Paris
- After doing the first LV collection I was sure I would get a second shot to create but was never given the opportunity
- I designed a sneaker called the YEEZY with Nike. I'm "allowed" to design 1 pair of sneakers every 2 years. I have more ideas...
- Early 20 ... I moved to Paris and opened a small design studio... the language barrier was quite difficult...
- I still don't have a Paris VAT number to this day... I don't know what a VAT but every time I asked why we didn't have fabrics they said...
- ... it was because of the VAT.
- In Paris I met many great people in design including the master Azzedine Alaia... Azzedine even came by my studio one day : )))
- This was the greatest feeling to stand in his presence in my embarrassingly small Paris studio in a courtyard opposite Collate
And, skipping ahead:
- Being a celebrity has afforded me many opportunities but has also boxed me in creatively.
- …
- I appreciate having the most nominations at the Grammies but I feel so conflicted by the fact that award shows sometimes are completely...
- ...illogical
- Good logic tells me smile Kanye... the world likes you again... red or blue pill? ... aaaaand Swallow lol
- I wouldn't have the prestige I have if it wasn't partially for the Grammies validation and I honor that
- ....hmmmmm what to wear... here I go again... Yeezy the trend setter or complete fucking fashion victim ... the verdict is still out
- This is just a train of thought .. but figure it's better to read than trained thoughts
At the least, it was certainly very entertaining. The Twitter jag also demonstrated how keenly West wants to be viewed as a fashion mover, an urge we can't help but admire. Your 5.86 million Twitter followers salute you, Kanye. Or something.
Don't miss the next Twitterburst. Follow @kanyewest and @ELLEUK on Twitter.
Check out our guide to the best London Fashion Week tweeters
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