Sean John/Diddy Adds New Lease of Life to Womenswear Range

While Sean John menswear has been a commerical success for Diddy, his womenswear range has never really managed to get off the ground with closing lines and delayed launches. Things look set to change now the company has found a new licensing partner in Icer Brands Inc. Did you really think Diddy was there sketching the looks himself?

One of the looks from Diddy's new line

The new line, designed by twin brothers Glenn and Bruce Proctor, is to include tops, dresses, trousers, leggings, blazers and denim and is targetted to the fashionable 18 - 25 year old.

Jeffrey Tweedy

Jeffrey Tweedy, Executive Vice President of Sean John, said the new line won't be 'urban' - so hopefully no more oversized velour tracksuits - and will start at around £25 for a t-shirt, so seems priced with its demographic in mind.

Diidy talked it up, saying: "I have always known there was tremendous desire for a women’s collection from Sean John, and now that we have this team of ambitious young talent in place, everything is in order."

We aren't massive fans of his music but certainly are in awe of his marketing nous. All TV, print and social networking for the new line will be handled by Blue Flame Marketing which is owned by Combs and they have their eye set on the lucrative international markets of the UK, Dubai, South Africa and current cash cow, Asia.

No wonder he made $30 million last year!

Hip Hop’s High Earners

Forbes magazine released their annual list of the 20 top earners in Hip Hop last year. With combined earnings of over $220 million in the top ten alone, it’s plain to see that the global economic meltdown and the changes in the way we purchase our music (why buy an album when you can download the few tracks you actually like) did little to stifle their ability to rake in the almighty dollar.

As we reported in this post on high earning supermodels, the key to longevity is simple. Diversify! Why do one thing when you can do 5?



1. Jay Z

Shawn Carter brought home $63 million last year thanks to his album The Blueprint 3 and subsequent tour, investment in nightclub 40/40 and his stake in the New Jersey Nets basketball team. He boasted in hit Oh My God ‘What you call money, I pay more in taxes’ – he wasn’t kidding! Only our number 2 earned more than his tax bill! Still, he can’t get too big for his boots – wifey Beyonce earned more than him with $87 million.
Their joint income is just more than the GDP of Kiribati, a small island in the Pacific.

2. Diddy (or Puffy or P Diddy or whichever moniker he’s using now)

Sean John made a respectable $30 million thanks to his clothing line, Bad Boy Records and album Last Train to Paris. Movie appearances mean that figure stands to rise in 2011.

3. Akon - $21M

Senegalese-American Aliuane Thiam pulled in $21m from Konvict Clothing, his Pepsi soccer ad campaign and record label Kon Live which is home to cash cow Lady Gaga. Touring was a money spinner as will be new album Stadium Music.

4. Lil Wayne

Not even prison could stop Dwayne Carter. Before being sentenced in March he released album Rebirth, toured and made various guest appearances. Will be able to spend his $20 million soon.

5. Dr Dre

Despite not putting out any new material in 2010, Andre Young still earned $17 million from rights to classics like The Chronic, his Beats by Dr Dre headphones and executive producing Eminem’s The Recovery.







Looks like hip hop is one area that brown skinned men are successfully monopolising. And monetising!

See the full list here.