Ye defends bags display of Yeezy Gap collection: ‘I’m an innovator’

Ye is responding to criticism that the display for his latest fashion collection is not in vogue.

The rapper turned fashion designer – formerly known as Kanye West – partnered with retailer Gap on his Yeezy Gap Engineered By Balenciaga collection, which was made available at GAP’s Times Square store in July. Mobile retail experiences were also launched in cities such as Chicago, Miami and Los Angeles.

Recent images of Yeezy Gap clothes piled in large black bags have raised eyebrows on social media, with some pointing out the insensitivity of the bags’ resemblance to trash bags – and their possible allusion to homelessness.

“Instead of buying Yeezy’s, ‘homeless inspired’ clothing for $200… How about donatin’ the money to the people this man is mocking and makin’ bank on?” tweeted @Zombiegrrl21.

“Not sure if im offended,” wrote Twitter user @JusDana. “Growing up (in) the hood trash bags had multiple purposes: laundry bag, moving bag, when u got kicked out of the house bag, storage bag, suitcase. So to go pick through trash bags to actually buy clothes could be a trigger n traumatizing for some.”

“Rummaging around in bin bags to buy bland clothes because somebody famous thought it would be cool,” tweeted @ThatBeigeCouch.

During an interview with Fox News’ Eric Shawn on Thursday, Ye defended the presentation of his Yeezy Gap line.

“I’m an innovator, and I’m not here to sit up and apologize about my ideas,” Ye told Shawn. “That’s exactly what the media tries to do: make us apologize for any idea that doesn’t fall under, exactly, the way they want us to think.”

Shawn said Ye explained that the large bags are “construction bags” and were created with the purpose of making the shopping process less formal. Ye also told Shawn that people shouldn’t “clown the creators” because this ridicule can make designers and other innovators “less brave.”

“This is not a joke; this is not a game,” Ye said. “This is not just some celebrity collaboration. This is my life, you know? I’m fighting for a position to be able to change clothing and bring the best design to the people.”

USA TODAY has reached out to Gap for comment.

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