It was 2003 when the music video for Pharrell’s chart-topping hit, Frontin’, started to make its way around the world. The video was a certified hit, but it wasn’t just the funky guitar riff played over Pharrell’s signature sound that left a mark in the hearts of hip-hop and streetwear enthusiasts. Printed on a black shirt seen throughout the length of the video is a bold, white outline of what is now known as the iconic Spaceman logo. In a calculated marketing move, Pharrell introduced the Billionaire Boys Club to the world.
There aren’t a lot of streetwear brands with a history as rich and as well-documented as the Billionaire Boys Club. Billionaire Boys Club (BBC) was officially founded in 2005 by two of streetwear’s most influential icons. In the early 2000’s Pharrell was making waves in the music industry, producing many of hip-hop’s most memorable sounds. But conquering music charts wasn’t enough to sustain Pharrell’s creativity. During this time, he was also considered a style icon. His affinity for trucker hats and skateboard shirts set him apart from his peers. His penchant for design came naturally, so it didn’t come as a surprise that producing high quality streetwear was always a part of the long term plan. The goal with Billionaire Boys Club was to produce clothes he wanted to wear and see in the marketplace. He had the ideas, he had the celebrity – all he needed was a partner.
Photographer — Ed Enclona, Stylist — Mikhaela Tabimina
Production Assistant — Sophiya Misha Salud, Model — JV Durian
On the other side of the globe, streetwear was taking on a life of its own. And in Japan, Bathing Ape’s Nigo was considered one of the figureheads driving the culture forward. The two met during one of Pharrell’s trips to Japan when word went around that Pharrell needed a studio space in the city. Pharrell and Nigo clicked over dinner and the rest is Billionaire Boys Club history.
The brand developed a unique aesthetic, producing graphic-driven collections – jeans with a dog printed on the crotch, sweatpants with patterns, and even an all-over print suit. With Nigo’s eye for curation and Pharrell’s celebrity style icon status, partnered with the genius of graphic designer Sk8thing (who eventually founded Cav Empt), BBC was destined to make a dent in the fashion industry. In just a couple of years, Billionaire Boys Club would be seen on the streets of fashion week, on fashion insiders and editors, and worn even by the late Karl Lagerfeld himself.
Since its launch in 2005, the brand quickly expanded their line beyond all-over print hoodies and graphic tees to eventually include childrenswear, and a womenswear line under Billionaire Girls’ Club. BBC left no market untapped. In its early years the brand launched Bee Line, an upscale sub-label focused on menswear in collaboration with notable American designer, Mark McNairy. BBC’s popularity continued to skyrocket through collaborations with artists and musicians and quickly spread across the globe, establishing flagship territories in the United States, Europe, and Japan.
Today, the brand continues to release seasonal collections – always elevating quality and design, but staying true to their graphic roots with every drop. And while it’s no secret that the brand has had its fair share of setbacks and complications on the business end, the impact the Club has had on culture and the industry is a testament to the power of partnership and the relentless pursuit of creativity.
Billionaire Boys Club is one of the brands added to the ever-growing repertoire of AKIMBO. Other brands you can now see in store include Kappa Kontroll, Paterson, and Oakley by Samuel Ross. AKIMBO is located in GF Uptown Mall, Bonifacio Global City
