RZA (David Shankbone/Flickr)
RZA’s 36 Chambers menswear brand produced limited-edition motorcycle jackets to raise funds to promote youth education, the Wu-Tang Clan rapper revealed Wednesday, Nov. 30, along with 36 Chambers co-founder Mustafa Shaikh.
“When starting this line, it was very important for us to build a charitable aspect into our company starting with the first season,” RZA told AllHipHop of the clothing line, which is named after Wu-Tang’s debut album, “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).” “With it being the holiday season, we hope to encourage others to get involved by giving to a great cause, while at the same time purchasing a great jacket to wear.”
Twelve white quilted denim motorcycle jackets, part of The Golden Dragon Rises collection, will be sold to benefit the Children’s Literacy Society. According to the company’s website, the outerwear is available for $300 in sizes small to XXX-large. Should all 12 jackets sell out, $3,600 would be raised for the nonprofit. In addition, world-famous artist Mak Ming Chan wrote the original Chinese calligraphy poem on the back of the jackets. The prose tells the story of the golden dragon.
Limited-edition Quilted Denim Motorcycle Jacket (36 Chambers)
“We put a lot of attention into the execution of every piece of the line to ensure that each limited piece told a story,” Shaikh said. “Everything from the embroidery work to the liner to even the hang tag, was meticulously crafted in order to tell a cohesive narrative.”
All proceeds from the sale of the jackets will go toward CLS, which was founded in 2009 by RZA’s sister Sophia Diggs. The organization provides after-school resources for dance, art, reading, writing, sports and nutrition to children in need on New York’s Staten Island, according to its Facebook page.
“Our mission is to help those at risk by instilling in them confidence and motivation to become productive and successful individuals,” Diggs told AllHipHop.
Nas’ HSTRY Christmas sweater (HSTRY)
RZA’s announcement follows similar ones by rappers 2Chainz and Nas, who both also launched charitable clothing initiative. On Instagram on Nov. 11, 2Chainz announced plans to donate proceeds from his CEO Millionaires fashion brand to American veterans. The performer also began a story-sharing measure on 2chainzshop.com to give proceeds from his famous “Dabbin’ Santa” sweaters to people and families in need. Then, on Nov. 28, Nas revealed his Hstry Clothing line would sell “Kneeling Santa Christmas” sweaters to help the Center for Court Innovation, an organization that aims to lower incidences of crime and imprisonment.
