Is Brooklyn in the House?

3 cool cats from Brooklyn are able to flip the script from basic fashion to thought provoking style—changing the indie fashion game one thread at a time.

Company: coup d’etat Brooklyn

Names/Founders: Coup d’etat consists of 3 members – Daoud Abeid (co-founder), Rasu Jilani (co-founder), Suhail Smith (Designer)

Crème Magazine: What was the inspiration for coup d’etat Brooklyn?

Rasu: Well, coup d'etat means "a sudden blow or change of state" in French, and more commonly known as a military overthrow of the government.  Daoud initially came up with the name, because at the time we were tired of the state of fashion choices out there. 

We decided to create an alternative, while staging a takeover that better represents our style and aesthetic. Coup d'etat seemed to fit perfectly. Brooklyn was added, because it is where the concept was born, and as a brand we are inspired by life.

Daoud: The art you see in our designs are fueled by our collective perception on life. We are not trying to force anything down people’s throats, so we use the art to speak for us. A soapbox is not needed, nor will we allow ourselves to remain silent while all types of things are going on in the world (both positive and negative).

Crème Magazine: What has been your biggest challenge with having a fashion line?

Daoud: Organization, marrying creativity and business.  My art comes from inspiration. It’s driven by what I’m feeling at a particular point in time, and the frequency of these moments is sporadic. Sometimes I’m flooded with ideas, other times all my creativity is focused on my film making endeavors. And time doesn't stop for my inspired moments; we have the pressure of coming up with fresh designs each season and months ahead of time. So, yeah making my art a business is my biggest challenge.

Rasu: For me, the challenge is just being an entrepreneur. The business side is something I dealt with everyday working the 9 to 5. Things are different when you are working on your own business, and you do not have to answer to anyone other than the deadlines, milestones, and goals you’ve set for yourself. It can really show and prove one’s discipline and work ethic. As for the fashion industry, the challenge is staying away from fads and trends. Adhering to trends can easily kill your brand. You can be seen to the public as trend rider, rather than being fashion forward.

Crème Magazine: What will be the most popular items this spring?

Daoud: I can’t call it. I love them all. There’s a balance in the designs that I think they will equally be favorites to different people...My personal favorite is the “bust your gun” shirt. It speaks to what I’m feeling about the misguided gun culture of urban America. 

Rasu: My personal favorite is “The Way” (The Art of Peace) design. It’s a collage of the word “Peace” in different languages. It will probably be the most universal (message wise) shirt we’ve ever done. No matter who you are, and where you’re from, you understand the word Peace!

Crème Magazine: Where can we purchase some of your pieces?

Rasu: Some of the locations you can find our products are Pieces of Harlem (Harlem), Brooklyn Circus (Brooklyn), Union (Soho), Addy & Ferro (Brooklyn), Goliath (East Harlem), Bodega (Boston) and Leaders (Chicago) to name a few. To get a total list of all retailers that carry CDTBK please visit our website (www.cdtbk.com) or myspace page: www.myspace.com/cdtbk

Crème Magazine: Where do you see coup d’etat Brooklyn in the next 3-5 years?

Daoud: In the next 3-5 yrs I see us established as a complete brand. We will have everything from t-shirts to denim to cardigan sweaters. We will definitely be more high-end, while merging premium casual wear and the more classic quality Men’s fashion. A Brooklyn meets Ralph Lauren.