A History of Advertisements

"Inspiration. I Design." Was a 1998 double-page spread advertisement by Maurice Malone, in which the designer shot a selfie of himself, as shown on the right page, and one of his Fall 1998 designs of a leather motorcycle jacket on the left page.

Discover the rich history behind the advertisements of Maurice Malone, a trailblazer in fashion, denim, streetwear, and hip-hop culture. Spanning from the 1980s to the 2000s, Malone's advertising campaigns masterfully weave narratives that showcase his profound impact on the industry. His approach to marketing merges a deep passion for design with a sharp artistic vision, bringing his creations to life and securing a lasting legacy in fashion.

Browse our extensive archive of Malone's advertisements, which stand as a testament to his creative genius in fashion design and advertising. With decades of iconic campaigns still being curated for display, we invite you to visit this page weekly. Each visit offers new stories and artwork, highlighting the innovative spirit of one of fashion's most influential figures.

In 1987, Jerome Mongo, a male model, and female model Jennifer Packula, both wearing knit tank tops and pants by Detroit African-American fashion designer Maurice Malone, appeared in The Metrotimes newspaper.

1987 - Local News Paper Ads

Early print advertisements like this example started locally in Detroit's MetroTimes newspaper.

Read

Advertisement from December 1987 issue of Interview magazine showcasing Hardwear by Maurice Malone, featuring 1980s styles like high-waisted knit pants, leather overalls, and coats paired with oversized turtlenecks.

1987 - The First National Advertisement

The first national ad for the first brand, Hardwear by Maurice Malone, in the December 1987 Interview magazine.

Read

Maurice Malone, an African American denim designer, may be the first notable black denim designer. This is the text from the January 1988 issue of Interview Magazine - For those of us who are already bored with the trendy acid-washed look, Hardwear by Maurice Malone would like to take you back to the basics. The Basics of Design. Introducing Maurice Malone, America's New Generation Designer.

1988 - Introducing Maurice Malone

Introducing Maurice Malone, America's New Generation Designer, was the second national ad.

Read

A 90s advertisement from famous Detroit hometown fashion designer Maurice Malone, shot inside the Hip-Hop Shop, titled: Rip Shit!

1993 - I Just Rip Sh*t

One of Maurice Malone's most iconic advertisements and images. Read the "Blue Jeans for Your Ass," origin story.

Read

A 1995 black-and-white advertisement by Maurice Malone captures a model unfastening his baggy jeans, revealing patented black underwear with a distinctive condom pocket and waistband text: Drizzaws for Your Bizzaws.

1993 - Drizzaws For Your Bizzaws

Amidst the AIDS awareness of the 1990s, these underwear took a proactive stance on safe sex.

Read

In an iconic 1990s streetwear advertisement, designer Maurice Malone is wearing his famous chain-link overalls in an advertisement stating, "Once I Was Abducted by Extraterrestrials."

1994 - Once I was Abducted by Extraterrestrials...

A double-page spread was featured in the Feb. issue of Vibe magazine.

Read

1998 - Inspiration? I Design.

Clicker in hand, this selfie and still-life campaign focused on product design. Read the backstory.

Read

Mojeans Denim De Lux 2000s advertising campaign featuring a young couple lounging on a yacht, both wearing Mojeans denim with hand-painted blue detailing and tank tops, embodying the luxury lifestyle in Maurice Malone's men's and women's streetwear clothing.

2000 - Mojeans Denim De Lux

The collaboration between Maurice Malone x Ducati was one of the early examples of brands joining forces

Read

2000s advertising campaign produced by African-American fashion designer Maurice Malone features a stylish man in a light gray suit and white shirt, partially unbuttoned to reveal a glimpse of his chest, standing amidst clouds with the Empire State Building looming in the background

2004 - Giants in the Cities

The backstory about making the groundbreaking 2004 advertising campaign that featured colossal models towering over global cities.

Read