Rocawear History

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The Company Description of Its Time

Rocawear is an American clothing manufacturer based in New York, created in 1999 by Roc-A-Fella Records co-founders Damon Dash and Jay-Z. It was launched off the meteoric success of co-founder Shawn 'Jay-Z' Carter, with the record label serving as the initial launch pad: 'The ROC represents a borderless, global lifestyle. With Roc-A-Fella Records serving as the initial launch pad, The ROC realized its prowess in creating culture far beyond the realm of music. Hence, the birth of the apparel company, Rocawear.' Like Roc-A-Fella Records, the profile says, Rocawear quickly staked its claim in hip-hop history, becoming the destination brand for street-savvy consumers.

Iconix, and the Brand Coming Home

In 2007, the filing records, Iconix Brand Group purchased Rocawear. The reported terms, from the wider record, were $204 million in cash plus contingent stock, with Jay-Z retaining a stake and continuing to oversee marketing, licensing and product development, and the brand then carried annual sales put at over $700 million. The arrangement eventually produced litigation instead of harmony: Iconix sued over Roc Nation-branded products in 2017, and the disputes were settled in 2019, when Jay-Z repurchased the intellectual property rights to Rocawear for $15 million as part of the settlement. The brand the filing shows at its licensing height therefore sits today back with its co-founder - the outcome the snapshot above records - while the profile's licensing catalogue remains the fullest single description of what Rocawear became.

Fashion Company Names by Letter: Fashion Company Guide R

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