Did Akoo clothing line go to far with it’s recent ad campaign? Looking at past jean companies this falls in line with ad strategy. Controversy sales in the fashion world and sometimes risque ads work out well for the clothing line (Calvin Klein).

We personally feel this ad can be taken either way, but what are your thoughts? We will add one tidbit the model is not responsible for picture selection she or he is there to give the client what they are looking for.

So in your comments or thoughts keep in mind don’t attack the model, perhaps the direction of the clothing line.

Excerpt and video below are from WABC

NEWARK, NJ (WABC) — A sexy billboard for jeans in Newark is drawing criticism from the Mayor and citizens.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, some people say two words come into mind when they view a new billboard ad in Newark.

The racy billboard is for Akoo Jeans, a clothing line by rapper T.I. It’s perched at the corner market and Washington Streets in Newark. It’s a busy intersection for the state of New Jersey’s largest city.

The Ad shows a woman knelt in front of a man.His jeans are unbuckled, his underwear is exposed, and her hand is wrapped underneath him.

People on the street said they never noticed the billboard before, but once Eyewitness News pointed it out, they had plenty of opinions.Many felt it was not right in their community.

Mayor Cory Booker says he’s fed up.

In a statement to Eyewitness News, Booker said, “So often when I am out in the community I see kids wearing their pants too low and others using inappropriate language in public.” He added while there are lots of fronts to fight, “I will work with my city council to see if we can address it so we don’t see these types of advertisements displayed in our city in the near future.”

To see more of Akoo clothing : Akoo

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Financially, what is the real support system for urban modeling?  In the other Fashion Industry, when a new model enters the scene, she’s scooped up by an agency,(real agency meaning,  with a real company structure, operating in a real office building, with multiple employees working to book models)  Sex and or dating the models is not allowed. He/She is  given  the opportunity to work real national or international ad campaigns, real paying jobs, real contracts with real clothing companies, runway shows, and magazine spreads. This is the  support system of the other Fashion Industry, but not the urban modeling industry.

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Since Vogue was started in the late 1800’s, magazines have consistently celebrated “thin” as the model figure. Well, thin use to be “in,” but now? It is on the way out. Finally, there is a slow shift from sizes 0 to 6 as being the standard of beauty to sizes 8 and up being the norm. American women, on average, are a size 10 and up. So it’s about time for our magazine culture to represent what we see everyday. Please post your thoughts on this in the comments section. Congrats V Magazine! Even though your concept preceded ours, we admire your efforts, so we can’t hate.

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1. Never shoot for free.

Take a moment, sit back and ponder  on  how much of society hinges on what we do and create. It can easily be the most simple rule in what we do, and yet the most overlooked by new talent pool.  Your ability and growth as an artist is what creative ad agencies and marketing departments and art museums are hinging their entire careers upon… so you should always require people to pay SOMETHING for your work. I’m not saying that being as a new photographer that you should expect to be charging people 250.00 an hour, I am saying that its not unreasonable to require some form of compensation (even trading for services/goods IF the trade is mutually beneficial) every single time that you pick up your camera. Photographers do not need models, makeup stylists, hair stylists or wardrobe stylists to be successful, but those people DO need photographers for their development and growth. That is not to say that photographers cannot be replaced by other photographers (because if you fuck around, you surely will be) but moreso to say that photographers can easily photograph still life or city scenes and go about their careers with much success.

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