CELEBRATING 80 YEARS OF SHAPING THE MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS MY SPEAKER LIST () 646.227.4900

Dapper Dan

  • Legendary Fashion Innovator
  • NYT Bestselling Author, 'Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem'
  • Awarded CFDA's Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award
  • One of TIME's "100 Most Influential People"

A New York Times bestselling author and global fashion icon with a remarkable rags to riches story, Dapper Dan pioneered streetwear in the early 1980s with his eponymous store on 125th Street. Co-opting luxury branding to design original garments with high-end detail, Dapper Dan first drew powerful New York City hustlers as clientele, who flocked to him thanks to his strong street reputation as a legendary professional gambler and dandy. He then went on to outfit the world’s top entertainers and celebrities, all leading to his notoriety. 

Dapper Dan’s incredible personal journey from a hungry boy with holes in his shoes, to a teen who gambled drug dealers out of their money, to a beloved legend in the worlds of Harlem, fashion, and hip hop, is chronicled in his New York Times bestseller, Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem. It’s a story that inspires and resonates with audiences worldwide, and is now being developed into a premium drama series and a documentary series. In his empowering and riveting remarks, Dapper Dan highlights the importance of tenacity, curiosity, and determination to make ones wildest dreams a reality.

 
Dapper Dan headshot
Past Hosts Include:
  • Generation Media Group
  • eBay
  • National Black MBA Association
  • UnitedMasters
  • Enoch Pratt Free Library
  • The Museum of Modern Art
  • The Museum at FIT
  • Business of Fashion
  • Saint Louis Fashion Fund
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to you and your team for your exceptional support in bringing Fawn Weaver and Dapper Dan to THINK BOLD Festival & Conference. Their fireside chats were not only amazing and inspiring but also deeply resonant with all our attendees. The kindness they showed by engaging with individuals, taking pictures before and after the talks, truly elevated the experience.
More rave reviews

"Dapper Dan [was] EXCELLENT...! There were comments about the event being a master class. [The event] could have gone on for hours..."

-Enoch Pratt Free Library
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Dapper Dan: Superfine for The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Dapper Dan
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Diversity & Inclusion in the Fashion Industry

Legendary haberdasher DAPPER DAN has led the way for representation in the fashion industry, breaking barriers with his bold design and celebrating cultural fusion. In this bold discussion, Dapper Dan provides the roadmap to furthering his legacy of progress in fashion.

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Fashion Design & Fashion Technology

A pioneer of high-end streetwear, DAPPER DAN’s innovative use of fashion design and technology reshaped the industry. By redefining streetwear as luxury, Dapper Dan inspired a new generation of designers. In this enlightening conversation, Dapper Dan shares how it feels to have shaped contemporary fashion and where he sees the industry going from here.

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Hip Hop Culture

The man who connected luxury fashion with hip-hop culture, DAPPER DAN, shares the creative inflection point between two distinct subcultures. With influence felt worldwide, Dapper Dan leads the conversation on shaping trends and challenging conventions while providing a brief overview of hip-hop’s deep, rich history.

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African-American Culture & History

Through his iconic designs and entrepreneurial acumen, DAPPER DAN honors the richness and resilience of African-American culture and history. This brilliant reinventor of haute couture introduces audiences to the flourishing creativity, exceptionality, and tenacity of African American communities.

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Harlem History & Culture

A beloved son of Harlem, global fashion icon DAPPER DAN represents the rich culture of New York’s historic neighborhood. With his legacy intertwined with the area’s vibrant history and visual culture, Dapper Dan shares the inspiration he’s found while representing Harlem’s creativity and entrepreneurial spirit.

Books by Dapper Dan
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Biography
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