Controversy at it’s best. A.P.C. fashion designer, Jean Touitou showed off his new collection during fashion week. Following the male models who strutted their stuff, Touitou held up a sign – something he always does – with the words ‘LAST NI**@S IN PARIS’, a title matching Kanye West’s popular hit. Of course this has stirred up some heavy debating. The designer, who has had some differences with Kanye in the past is stating that he approves.

Hit the jump for the details.

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Jean Touitou decided that after a shocked collection name such as this one could go without an explanation.

“I call this one look Last N***as in Paris. Why? Because it’s the sweet spot when the hood—the ‘hood—meets Bertolucci’s movie Last Tango in Paris. So that’s ‘N****s in Paris’ and Last N****s in Paris. [Nervous laughter from audience.] Oh, I am glad some people laughed with me. Yes, I mean, it’s nice to play with the strong signifiers. The Timberland here is a very strong ghetto signifier. In the ghetto, it is all the Timberlands, all the big chain. Not at the same time—never; it’s bad taste. So we designed Timberlands with Timberland…”

Touitou then was interviewed by Style.com where he further clarified his previous statements.

I made looks which are a cross-over of those two references: the Timberland shoes and the sweat pants are iconic of hip-hop, and the camel hair color coat, worn with nothing under it, is iconic of that precise movie. I am friends with Kanye [West, who recorded “Ni**as in Paris” with Jay Z], and he and I presented a joint collection at the same place, one year ago, and that this thing is only a homage to our friendship. As a matter of fact, when I came up with this idea, I wrote to him, with the picture of the look and the name I was giving to it, and he wrote back immediately saying something like, “I love this vibe.”

Check out the gallery for a peek at this ‘Last N***as In Paris’ clothing line.

[via]