Kimora Lee Simmons announces Baby Phat is coming back
In light of International Women’s Day, Kimora Lee Simmons Leissner announced that she is bringing back her formerly famous fashion line, Baby Phat, reports Page Six.
The 43-year-old retired model turned mommy and mogul made the announcement via her Instagram. Along with a caption that read “Guess who’s bizaak,” Simmons-Leissner posted the famous cat-silhouette logo for Baby Phat, and wished her women followers a “Happy International Women’s Day,” as well.
The former go-to line for many Black women which was launched close to 20 years ago, served as the “sister brand” to Kimora’s ex-husband, Russell Simmons‘, Phat Farm men’s fashion line. In 2000, Simmons-Leissner was named the director of Baby Phat. During the line’s lifetime, it grossed more than a billion dollars in sales. In 2004, Phat Farms was acquired by Kellwood Co. for $140 million.
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However, in a recent interview with Bloomberg TV, Kimora told Bloomberg TV that she recently bought the company back, but did not disclose the details of the acquisition. Her daughters, Ming Lee Simmons, 19, and Aoki Lee Simmons, 16, who once served as the face for Baby Phat Kids, will now help her run the label.
“It’s very important that you have women on both sides: women as the end user, women as the creator,” she told Bloomberg TV. “We need to take more of that responsibility and own it.”
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The announcement of Simmons-Leissner return to the fashion industry couldn’t come at a better time, as Black entertainers and activists alike, have rallied together to call out a list of major designer brands.
After years of racist fashion faux paus from brands such as Gucci, Prada, Moncler and most recently, Burberry for their “Noose” hoodies, Everyone from T.I. to Spike Lee and Reverend Al Sharpton, have all called for the Black community to cease their support of such brands, and instead, invest in more Black-owned fashion houses.
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Guess who’s bizaack… ?#DontMakeMeHaveToRelapseOnThese…. #HappyInternatinationalWomensDay❤️❤️
