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Black Fashion Fair x DeeDee

New American Dream T-shirt (Re-Edition) (Limited)

This release celebrates the enduring power of a single garment and the creative partnership that made it iconic. In 2008, André Leon Talley wore a custom Baby Phat jacket hand-painted by artist DeeDee, adorned with the words “The New American Dream.” It was both a personal statement and a cultural moment — a declaration of style, agency, and reimagined possibilities for Black creatives in America.

Now, nearly two decades later, Black Fashion Fair reintroduces this vision in a new form: a limited-edition T-shirt bearing the same quote, made in collaboration with the artist. 

The New American Dream T-shirt is a wearable archive, linking past and present, honoring André’s legacy, and inviting a new generation to embody the dream in their own way.

Proceeds support Black Fashion Fair’s work in archiving Black fashion history, presenting public programs, cultural conversations and grants. 

$60.00
$60.00
Sale Sold out
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Color
Size

Details & Care

Oversized fit with dropped shoulder
Material: 100% preshrunk 300gsm cotton
Wash in-side out on gentle cycle
Air Dry
Designed in New York
Curated by Black Fashion Fair
Imported

Discover

This collaboration between Black Fashion Fair and artist DeeDee revives a pivotal moment in American fashion history. In the early 2000s, André Leon Talley — in partnership with Baby Phat — wore a custom jacket hand-painted by DeeDee bearing the words “The New American Dream.” It was an unmistakable statement: bold, unapologetic, and visionary.

Editor's Notes

The American Dream has always been a contested idea — often defined by access, opportunity, and the myth of equality. But for Black artists and designers, the path to that dream has been marked by exclusion, resistance, and the need to create space where none existed.

When André Leon Talley stepped out in a jacket declaring “The New American Dream,” he was reframing the narrative. His dream was not about assimilation; it was about authorship. It was about claiming a seat at the table while wearing garments that told the story of who you are, not who the industry expects you to be.

In 2025, The New American Dream is still about that same radical reimagining — but it’s also about legacy. It’s about the artists, designers, and visionaries who are building institutions, archiving our histories, and making space for the next generation. This collaboration exists as a bridge between eras: from the singular vision of André and DeeDee to the community-led future that Black Fashion Fair is shaping today.