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Bespoke hip hop fashion: 5001 Flavor’s unique custom approach

At the heart of Harlem, inside Malcolm X’s old house, are the minds behind bespoke hip hop fashion. At Harlem Haberdashery, 5001 Flavor founder Guy and Sharene Wood creates customized clothes for A-list celebrities like the Notorious B.I.G.

Harlem Haberdashery family

5001 began as a better way for Guy to customize clothes to fit a larger frame. Eventually they would design clothes for names like P. Diddy and DJ Khaled. Today, they continue their legacy within the hip-hop entertainment industry by collaborating with contemporary artists.

As the 5001 Flavor grew, they made sure to grow in the right places. The label works with well-known names in hip-hop. This family-owned business stays right at home in Harlem.

Harlem Haberdashery is not just a retail space. 5001 Flavors turns it into a Bespoke lifestyle brand.

DJ Khaled Wearing 5001 Flavors
DJ Khaled Wearing 5001 Flavors Clothing Co. At The 2020 Grammy Awards.

Bespoke hip hop fashion evolving with the industry

Hip-hop is all about flavor.

These artists tell stories through lyrics, music videos, and album covers. Still, entertainers have a signature style that remains consistent with their personalities. For example, 5001 Flavor have to design clothes based on their client DJ Khaled’s elegant, yet loud personality.

Harlem Haberdashery’s in-house designers prioritize individualism over customization. They sets the tone for up-and-coming artists.

When you see unsigned hype rise to stardom and you know you helped create a persona, brand, and an image for a client that’s the cool part.

– Sharene Wood, Co-founder 5001 Flavor

One of 5001 Flavor’s first clients was Hip-Hop artist Heavy D and Uptown records. While on set, the Wood family became close with Sean Combs (P. Diddy).

After Combs established his label, he signed over Brooklyn’s finest, Notorious B.I.G. 5001 Flavor would create bespoke hip hop fashion for Biggie. 5001 Flavors dressed Biggie from his first music video to what he was buried in.

The Notorious B.I.G Wearing 5001 Flavors Clothing Co. in his first music video Hypnotize

A growing brand outside hip-hop fashion

It was really about merging our fashion and lifestyle

– Sharene Wood, Co-founder 5001 Flavor

Hip-hop fashion was only the beginning of Harlem Haberdashery. They began exploring different business ventures, and putting their style to them.

H.H Bespoke Spirits developed three distinctive liquor products with the same taste and style as the Harlem Renaissance. Their take on rum, vodka, and gin gives you a taste of extravagance.

H.H Bespoke Spirits Vodka, Gin, and Rum photographerd by @84harlem

If you look at our bottles, they’re almost fashionably dressed. Each of our bottles have a different personality. Have a different look. Have a different color. Have a different vibe.

– Sharene Wood, Co-founder 5001 Flavor

H.H Bespoke Spirits aren’t just for high-class events and cocktails. They collaborated with local Harlem food businesses to create flavorful products.

H.H Bespoke rum has been used in Sugarhill creamery desserts and chocolates from Harlem Chocolate Factory. H.H Bespoke Spirits’ collaboration with other friendly artists ensures that their products are unique as they are. 

What is Bespoke fashion?

To a lot of people, bespoke is tailored, but for me, it’s very customized, it’s individualized  

– Sharene Wood

What exactly is bespoke fashion? Harlem Haberdashery and 5001 Flavors, fashion is about making a statement hence their style. 5001 Flavors specializes in outfits that speak before they enter a room.

Customization and uniqueness are vital in creating their clothes. Each H.H and 5001’s clients are different individuals with very distinct vibes. Customization is about being respectful and creating something that stands out from the crowd. 

Nipsey Hussle Wearing 5001 Flavors Clothing Co. In The “Higher” Music Video.

What makes Harlem Haberdashery and 5001 Flavors unique are their approach to ensuring their clients are treated as individuals. Celebrity or not, the Harlem Haberdashery will have you on their A-list. They work with people who understand that the clothes speak to who they are. 

Any celebrity will tell you that they don’t want to stand on the stage and have two people in the audience have what they have on. The goal is to make a statement.

– Sharene Wood, Co-founder 5001 Flavor
Daddy Yankee Bespoke fashion
 Daddy Yankee wearing 5001 Flavors Clothing Co.

Styled By Rachel Johnson

#TakeCareOfHarlem

Harlem Haberdashery is family orientated. They bring it all back home by giving back to the community. The Harlem Haberdashery family puts their community first by centering their store around their philanthropic arms, The League and #TakeCareOfHarlem. 

Our goal really is to use Harlem Haberdashery as a community hub as well as a retail space

– Sharene Wood

The League, founded by Louis Johnson, Jr, beautifies Harlem with 5001 Flavors. Greener Lenox is their signature program working on sustainability and preservation. The League has adopted several trees on Lenox Avenue in Harlem as a beautification project. The goal is to help the community look good the same way they help people look good. 

#TakeCareOfHarlem is founded by Sharene’s brother Kells Barnette. The organization promotes youth preservation and community endeavors within Harlem. #TakeCareOfHarlem conducts several toy drives inside Harlem Haberdashery.

#TakeCareofHarlem
#TakeCareofHarlem’s 10th Annual HarlemRun Xmas Run & Toy Drive Mixer With Harlemrun At Harlem Habedasery

Unique and undefeated

5001 Flavors and Harlem Haberdashery expresses unique fashion curated for their Hip-Hop and red carpet clients like Daddy Yankee and Dj Khaled. They make sure to treat their community with respect as their clients. 5001 Flavors is all about growth.

Growth for their brand, clients, and community.