“He's going to walk down the runway with an alligator,” said one devoted Tyler, The Creator fan. “I heard it’s going to be a cheetah,” countered another. Hundreds of fans eagerly awaited Tyler, The Creator 's highly anticipated runway show last week.
Tyler is only 25 years old and is the epitome of a Renaissance man. To simply refer to him as a famous rapper greatly diminishes his talent and drive to create art in all mediums. Tyler is slowly but surely building an empire and his debut fashion show in Los Angeles is only the beginning. Revered for his crude wit, colorful style, and razor sharp lyrics, Tyler is beloved by countless teens who look to the musician for inspiration and a laugh along the way. His story is truly one of rags to riches, growing up in a poor neighborhood of Los Angeles with a single mother, Tyler was able to rise above his circumstance and soar.
Staying true to his West Coast roots, Tyler embraced his natural California style, born-in-the-90s, skate-kid aesthetic in his clothing, thereby proving his lack of pretension. There were light-wash denim shorts, dad hats, and loud,
Nickelodeon-esque prints. The set, which the rapper designed himself, was like a teenage boy's bedroom with a skate ramp in the
middle. The entire collection became available for pre-order on the Golf Wang website
immediately following the show.
Among Tyler's legions of loyal fans, many celebrities were seen showing their support as well, like Janelle Monáe, Dylan and Cole Sprouse, YG, Kendall Jenner and Kanye West. Odd Future collective members Taco Bennett, Jasper Dolphin also made an appearance not only in the audience but on the runway itself. They strutted, skateboarded, and drove mini motorized bikes down the runway wearing the new collection which included cheetah print polo shirts with hot pink trim, turquoise chinos emblazoned with yellow flame motifs, and fur coats with smiley faces painted across the back, acting out a few Loiter Squad–style comedy sketches to the delight of the crowd. Before closing the show, Tyler even performed his new synth-heavy track “My Ego." It is now streaming online for all to enjoy.
The epic runway show finally came to an end as Tyler took a bow and thanked his fans for their love and support saying, “I’ve always felt under-appreciated; growing up an inner city black kid I wasn’t very masculine or into sports and I liked the color pink. Well, I took that pink shit to that runway right here.” With the help of Kanye West, Tyler revealed his new shoe line called Golf le Fleur and a free pair for every ticket holder. Tyler's hunger and talent created a truly unforgettable event, and I am eager to see what he does next.
Watch the show below.