The Garment District: Where Are They Now? Vol. Sir Benni Miles
Published: Saturday - September 15, 2007
Words by Arnold T. Pants
Blog by Arnold T. Pants (Photo: Ballerstatus)
Very occasionally I think back on the brands of my youth and wonder. Sometimes I even say to myself, "Where are they now?" And, if I am at all motivated I will do some detective work and find out. Most of the time, it seems, they are in Germany. Odd? Not really. Germany is one of the world's biggest hip-hop markets, perhaps due to US military presence, and we all know that hip-hop style sells. A few new shirts and a pair of pants, and suddenly some kids are hip-hop.
Please allow me a brief digression: To me, there is no real "hip-hop fashion," but there are trends that certainly owe their life to hip-hop culture. However, denying the actual existence of brands catering to and marketed at a perceived "urban" demographic, and people who wish to adopt the perceived cool of said group, is foolish. In thinking about "Where are they now?" we can also think about how associations with America, and also with hip-hop, are sold to foreign audiences.
Now, let me return to my story. So, I was wondering "where are they now?" and thought back to the brief period before "Tommy Gear" eclipsed the originator of branded stocking caps, Sir Benni Miles. I remember Sir Benni Miles caps and leathers well from the late 90s via ads in The SOURCE. Ultimately, branding a stocking cap was a great idea, but sadly a little too easy for bootleggers to swipe. [Note, I never rocked one of these, I am not Ali G.] Take a look at the new Sir Benni Miles website.
Flipping through the look book, there is nothing startling, except, of course, that none of the products shown point to the Sir Benni Miles of my memory. Denim, hoodies, leathers, are the typical norms of a full line. The brief history section (luckily in English) notes the company's inception in 1996, yet the spirit of that year is not invoked in the design. In fact, I am lost as to why the name was even rehashed. Does Sir Benni Miles really ooze a New York swagger? What is the true appeal?
We learn, via the site, that Sir Benni Miles has a streetball team. Again, no surprise, Germany has a vibrant large streetball scene. In fact, one of my favorite sneakers of the last few years is Germany's own K1X chief glider. I will digress here again; the chief glider low white on white is by far the best monochrome shoe. Mixing patent and tumbled leather and adding a terry cloth liner, the chief glider knocks the rather lame white on white AF1 for six. K1X also produced a rather entertaining DVD in the And1 vein. Some of you probably know that K1X is worn by Mr. Ron Artest, and one of my sneaker heroes, Bobbito, did a chief glider honoring Bounce Magizine. Straight out of Munich, I got to give my respect to the K1X crew for pushing through with something new in a market that is over saturated with clones.
Back to the website -- I found it interesting that among the artists listed, none were really "hip-hop." They are sound clash DJ's and highly respect jungle MCs. Can't say I am really bothered by this, if they are draws they are good names in the promotion stakes. But again, I am left wondering where the spirit of '96 is in the current incarnation of the brand. It's selling hip-hop without utilizing the core elements of the culture.
In this current climate of heritage brands and nostalgia will 1996 ever become cool again? Will Sir Benni Miles caps return to the streets? Will the names of the first big wave of mass marketed hip-hop brands once again have their day in the sun? Or, will nostalgia die out completely, leaving space for much needed innovation? When all is said and done, I hope for a little of both, as I would love to own a pair of Maurice Malone jeans with the branded ribbon cuff once more.
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