Jay Z's Barneys collection officially launched online after racial profiling controversy

By Nicole Oran nicole.oran@gmail.com | Nov 22, 2013 01:17 PM EST

After controversy swarmed around Jay Z and his new clothing line for Barneys, "The Shawn Carter Collection" has officially launched now online. When the store was criticized for racial profiling when police detained to young black customers after they made an expensive purchase, it wasn't clear how Jay Z would handle the situation.

On his Life + Times website, the rapper commented on the backlash about the incident and his involvement with the store. "I move and speak based on facts and not emotion. I haven't made any comments because I am waiting on facts and the outcome of a meeting between community leaders and Barneys. Why am I being demonized, denounced and thrown on the cover of a newspaper for not speaking immediately?"

Barneys was already going to give 25 percent of the collections proceeds to the Shawn Carter Foundation, but now they have reached an agreement for 100 percent of the proceeds to go to the foundation during the period between Nov. 20 and Jan. 3 of next year.

In an open letter, Jay Z touched on about his approach with the racial profiling issue. "I am in a unique position to use my voice to affect change to this disturbing issue," he wrote. "The easy position would have been to walk away and leave policy making to others hoping that someone addresses the problem. I will not leave the outcome to others. I will take this into my own hands with full power to recommend, review and revise policies and guidelines moving forward. I am choosing to take this head on."

The collection for Barneys runs a tad on the expensive side...just a tad. You can purchase boxing shorts for $2,590 or a $3,100 leather and suede windbreaker. If really want to get that special someone a unique gift this holiday season, maybe choose the $58,000 Mollino crocodile jacket designed by Rick Owens.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

DON'T MISS

MOST SHARED