Sean John

   This company was launched in 1998 by Sean "Puffy" Combs (1971- ), a rap artist and music executive (Bad Boy Entertainment). Capitalizing on the urban hip-hop apparel trend, Combs initially focused on menswear and boyswear but expanded the collection through the years with the help of a $100 million injection of capital in 2003 by billionaire Ron Burkle. The empire consists of more sophisticated clothing through licensing deals which include men's suits, dress shirts, neckwear, outerwear, accessories, and fragrances. In 2004, Combs won the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Menswear Award. In 2005, he created a line of shaving products, launched a women's collection, and opened his own flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City.