It's official: The New York Times confirms that Gucci and Dapper Dan are coming together for a collaborative capsule collection, but it doesn't stop there. The fashion label is even helping the legendary Harlem tailor, whose shop was shut down in 1992 for multiple copyright infringement violations, reopen his uptown atelier. And it's going to furnish him with upscale fabrics with which to do as he pleases.

The partnership comes shortly after the Italian fashion house was accused of copying one of Dapper Dan's designs for Olympian Diane Dixon—a puffy-shouldered fur bomber originally emblazoned with Louis Vuitton monograms. In response, Creative Director Alessandro Michele clarified that it wasn't a copy, but rather an homage to the tailor's work.

Dapper Dan—born Daniel Day—took the jacket as homage initially, telling the NYT: “I was just excited about it being there. The part about appropriation, Alessandro and I are part of two parallel universes. The magic that took place as a result of what he did was bringing these two parallel universes together. That opened a dialogue between us when we finally got in touch with each other. I found out how similar our experiences were, the way he grew up and the way I grew up, and how he was influenced by me. I was never apprehensive about what took place. The public was more up in arms than me.”

The new Dapper Dan tailor shop—which will be powered by Gucci—is set to open at the end of this year. His collaborative capsule collection with the house, including a campaign shot in Harlem and featuring him prominently, will debut next spring.

Now read about Gucci's latest artist collaborator, Coco Capitan.