A.K.O.O Clothing
Encyclopedia
A.K.O.O. is a clothing line started in late 2008 and founded by T.I.
and Jason Geter, both co-founders of Atlanta-based recording label Grand Hustle Records
. A.K.O.O. is an acronym that stands for "A King Of Oneself."
and hip-hop star Big Boi
. Some prominent fans have even taken it a step further by aligning themselves and their projects with A.K.O.O such as Hosea Chanchez
B.o.B
, Curtis Granderson
, Carl Crawford
, Travis Porter, Tristan Wilds
, Meek Mill and Mickey Factz
.
In the summer of 2011 B.o.B was announced the new face of T.I.
's clothing line A.K.O.O. He will be featured in AKOO Clothing’s upcoming fall 2011 national advertising campaign alongside Curtis Granderson
of the New York Yankees
, Carl Crawford
of the Boston Red Sox
, and star of the BET hit sitcom, The Game, Hosea Chanchez
. He will be appearing in a graphic novel
for A.K.O.O titled Hide In Plain Sight – Saving the World From Fashion Conspiracy.
In March of 2010 numerous calls were made to the CBS Outdoor office complaining that the A.K.O.O billboard in Newark, New Jersey was to sexually suggestive. The billboard depicted a man having his jeans pulled down by a woman who was squatting in front of him. Due to the excessive amount of complaints the billboard was later removed from its prominent position in Newark.
T.I.
Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. , better known by his stage name T.I., is an American rap artist, film and music producer, actor and author. He is also the founder and co-chief executive officer of Grand Hustle Records....
and Jason Geter, both co-founders of Atlanta-based recording label Grand Hustle Records
Grand Hustle Records
Grand Hustle Records is an Atlanta, Georgia-based record label formed in 2003 by Clifford "T.I." Harris and Jason Geter. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, and is distributed by Atlantic Records.-Artists:*P$C...
. A.K.O.O. is an acronym that stands for "A King Of Oneself."
Distribution
A.K.O.O Clothing is produced and distributed by the RP55 Group based out of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Products are sold in numerous stores across the Continental United States and Hawaii. AKOO Clothing items are also distributed nationally and internationally through many different online vendors.Products and brand direction
A.K.O.O Clothing is a new Americana fashion brand that manufactures a large variety of upscale urban apparel for men. A.K.O.O produces a wide array of styles for all seasons that include premium lightweight T-Shirts, cardigans, sweaters, embroidered wovens, leather jackets and quality denim among a variety of other clothing. In 2010, T.I. discussed his vision about the brand with MTV. "The direction of the clothing line, in my eyes, is upscale urban apparel," he stated. T.I. also mentioned in the same MTV interview that A.K.O.O will develop denim that is made from high quality fabrics. The line also sells wovens, crew-necks, and V-neck tee shirts. A diverse range of people have worn A.K.O.O apparel including media heavyweight Larry KingLarry King
Lawrence Harvey "Larry" King is an American television and radio host whose work has been recognized with awards including two Peabodys and ten Cable ACE Awards....
and hip-hop star Big Boi
Big Boi
Antwan André Patton , better known by his stage name Big Boi, is an American rapper, song-writer, record producer and actor, best known for being a member of American hip hop duo OutKast alongside André 3000. His work in the duo has produced six studio albums. During the duo's hiatus, he and André...
. Some prominent fans have even taken it a step further by aligning themselves and their projects with A.K.O.O such as Hosea Chanchez
Hosea Chanchez
Hosea Chanchez , also credited as Hosea, is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as professional football player Malik Wright on the CW/BET comedy-drama TV series The Game.-Early life and career:...
B.o.B
B.o.B
Bobby Ray Simmons, Jr. , better known by his stage name B.o.B, is an American rapper, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is currently signed under the labels of Grand Hustle Records, Rebel Rock Entertainment, and Atlantic Records. His debut single "Nothin' on You" reached number one in both...
, Curtis Granderson
Curtis Granderson
Curtis Granderson is an American Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees. Before joining the Yankees in 2010, he played with the Detroit Tigers . A center fielder, Granderson is known for being a five-tool player...
, Carl Crawford
Carl Crawford
Carl Demonte Crawford is an American professional baseball outfielder who plays for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. He bats and throws left-handed...
, Travis Porter, Tristan Wilds
Tristan Wilds
Tristan Paul Mack Wilds is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Michael Lee on the HBO original drama series The Wire and as Dixon Wilson on the CW drama series 90210.-Life and career:...
, Meek Mill and Mickey Factz
Mickey Factz
Mickey Williams , also known by his stage name Mickey Factz, is an American hip hop artist from The Bronx, NY.-Early life:Mickey Factz attended Adlai E...
.
In the summer of 2011 B.o.B was announced the new face of T.I.
T.I.
Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. , better known by his stage name T.I., is an American rap artist, film and music producer, actor and author. He is also the founder and co-chief executive officer of Grand Hustle Records....
's clothing line A.K.O.O. He will be featured in AKOO Clothing’s upcoming fall 2011 national advertising campaign alongside Curtis Granderson
Curtis Granderson
Curtis Granderson is an American Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees. Before joining the Yankees in 2010, he played with the Detroit Tigers . A center fielder, Granderson is known for being a five-tool player...
of the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, Carl Crawford
Carl Crawford
Carl Demonte Crawford is an American professional baseball outfielder who plays for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. He bats and throws left-handed...
of the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, and star of the BET hit sitcom, The Game, Hosea Chanchez
Hosea Chanchez
Hosea Chanchez , also credited as Hosea, is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as professional football player Malik Wright on the CW/BET comedy-drama TV series The Game.-Early life and career:...
. He will be appearing in a graphic novel
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
for A.K.O.O titled Hide In Plain Sight – Saving the World From Fashion Conspiracy.
Lawsuit and controversy
After the launch of the clothing line, A.K.O.O faced a lawsuit from Akoo International, a social Music TV Network established years before the clothing line, for copyright infringement. The world’s largest online social music television site had been using the trademarked name since 2004 and thought the infringement would mislead, confuse and deceive potential customers and clients.In March of 2010 numerous calls were made to the CBS Outdoor office complaining that the A.K.O.O billboard in Newark, New Jersey was to sexually suggestive. The billboard depicted a man having his jeans pulled down by a woman who was squatting in front of him. Due to the excessive amount of complaints the billboard was later removed from its prominent position in Newark.