HIP-HOP Tyler, The Creator Debuts His Golf Wang Collection, Discusses 'Actual Fashion'

"I'm really fucking hyped for my fashion show. I know there hasn’t been anything like this before!" exclaims Tyler, the Creator, Odd Future rapper, media figure and freshly-minted fashion mogul via phone from a recording studio in Los Angeles. "A lot of runway shows that I watch are the same thing. It’s literally really tall white dudes walking around in outfits on the runway, and no one is smiling. Everyone looks like they have to take a shit really bad."

This weekend, on June 10 and 11, top fashion designers, in conjunction with events presenter AEG and representation agency WME/IMG, is launching Made Los Angeles, a two-day extravaganza at L.A. Live’s Event Deck space downtown. The Moschino show by Jeremy Scott will be held on Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. and will showcase both men’s and women’s attire.

Tyler’s unisex pieces from his 2016 Golf Wang collection will follow on Saturday at 9 p.m. (after Hood by Air's presentation at 5 p.m.) and tickets are still available for each night of the event. Although he started the line in 2011, this will be Tyler’s very first fashion show. Impressively, he designed and manufactured the entire collection in less than three months.

The clothes are easy-to-wear pieces -- shorts, hats, T-shirts, overalls -- with zany prints and bright colors all based on sketches Tyler draws himself. He sells his merchandise direct through his website golfwang.com. The prices are fairly reasonable, ranging from $12 socks to $20-$30 T-shirts up to $100+ outerwear.



JUNE 11TH. GOLFWANG.COM A photo posted by Tyler The Creator (@feliciathegoat) on May 31, 2016 at 8:22am PDT

Everything in the new collection on Saturday is being shown for the first time. Sadly, the staple Donald Trump T-shirt with Hitler mustache (put online in April) will not be part of the collection. However, Tyler says that it will still be a great show, because his clothes have personal meaning. He doesn’t go out of his way to make controversial designs; he just makes clothes that he stands behind and that he would wear. "I want to give a runway show how I want it and how I think," he declares.

A few years ago, Tyler met Jeremy Scott at a record store. He had always been a fan of Scott’s sartorial work since he was young. "I used to look up his stuff, because it was so bright and crazy. When we met, he didn’t know who the fuck I was. But I took a picture with him and told him that he influenced the way I made clothes. It’s so crazy because, a couple of years later, we are sharing a space to show off both our ideas. It’s so sick."

In addition to the fashion shows, Made LA will have a setup called The Stores, which will feature work from over 30 designers for sale. Guests will be able to purchase some of Tyler’s collection at the event, as well. He also has a special surprise for his fans who attend, just to make things more exciting.

"You never know what you are going to get with me," he says. "But for whoever is coming, I want them to dress how they want and not how they are supposed to. I got some comment from a kid on my Instagram about how, since it’s a fashion show, that person has to dress high fashion. I was like, 'Oh my God. Don’t do that!' I don’t give a fuck."

Tyler believes that people who go out and try to impress others have low self-esteem. Showing off doesn’t impress him at all. "Just dress comfortable and come how you are. That’s actual fashion."



GOLF 2016 WILL BE PREMIERING AT MY FIRST RUNWAY SHOW. COME, TRYING TO GET AN ACTUAL CHEETAH THERE. I HAVE SOMETHING VERY VERY SPECIAL FOR EVERYONE THAT ATTENDS. LINK IN BIO. TYPE IN TYLER FOR CODE A photo posted by Tyler The Creator (@feliciathegoat) on May 13, 2016 at 10:11am PDT

This article originally appeared on The Hollywood Reporter.