Brands
BBC
In 2005 Pharrell Williams, one half of the Grammy winning production team The Neptunes, along with his manager Robert Walker, partnered with Japanese fashion icon Nigo (founder of the highly successful A Bathing Ape / BAPE brand) to launch two lines of luxury clothing, Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream.
Pharrell is one of the most successful and prolific music producers of his time, producing and appearing as a vocalist on hits for artists such as: Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, Jay Z, Usher, Nelly and Snoop Dogg. Pharrell has also become a fashion icon in his own right- he was named Best Dressed Man of 2005 by Esquire magazine, was the face of a 2006 advertising campaign for Louis Vuitton, and is considered to be a highly influential part of A Bathing Ape’s huge success in the United States.
The Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream brands are focused on high-end luxury sportswear. The lines consist of T- shirts, polos, sweatshirts, knits, denim, suits and shirts; outerwear in leather, down, cotton, and technical fabrics; hats, sneakers, underwear, socks and accessories. The items are produced in very limited quantities, using only the highest quality materials and are manufactured in Japan. The brands are known for their bright colors, innovative patterns, and are credited for the introduction of the “all over print” sweatshirts.
BBC and Ice Cream’s customer base is largely male, between 16-30. The clientele is very diverse, from college students to corporate executives, professional athletes, actors and musicians, the unique style of the lines draws people from all walks of life.
BBC opened its first Flagship store in Tokyo, Japan in 2005 and will be opening stores in New York and Hong Kong in the fall of 2007. The brands are very exclusive and are only available in approximately forty stores worldwide including Barney’s New York flagship sores and Co-Op stores, Fred Segal in Santa Monica, Colette in Paris, and other high end boutiques around the world.