It’s official: Kimora Lee Simmons has parted ways with Baby Phat, a fashion line that she launched with her ex-husband Russell Simmons.
Late last week, the former model broke news to her Twitter followers that she would be leaving the label behind, to instead focus on her other labels. But, the New York Post's Page Six now reports that she was dumped by the label, which is owned by Kellwood Co.
“Kimora was going over budget. She’d pay herself a fee to be in the ads, plus she paid her children fees to appear in ads. It costs thousands of dollars to airbrush her because she's a size 10. Plus, they spent a ton of money on body doubles. They would shoot another model in the clothes, and take Kimora’s head and put in on her body,” the gossip column writes, quoting an unnamed source.
“It’s time for me to move on and further expand my other businesses and create a new phenomenon. I adore all those who have faithfully been with me since the beginning,” Simmons says in a statement. “I’m forever dedicated to my family, fans and customers. My inspiration has always come from the fabulous women who have been with me through the years as we've grown from young party girls to power players! We're ready for our next journey together and we're taking a whole new generation of incredible young women with us. Girl power unite!”
Simmons, who divorced hip-hop music mogul Russell Simmons in 2008, served as creative director of the label, and her other business interests, include her clothing lines, KLS, Fabulosity and Kouture by Kimora Collection for Macys. Russell Simmons sold Phat Farm to Kellwood in 2004 for $140 million.
After the news broke, Simmons headed back to Twitter to tweet a few more updates to fans. She told them that there wouldn’t be a Baby Phat fashion show at this year’s Fashion week, tweeting “I will not b there. And corporate has decided not 2 do one!”
Simmons, who also is the star of her own reality show, “Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane,” tweeted that her daughters with Russell Simmons, Ming Lee and Aoki Lee, will cease modeling for the Baby Phat line as well.
Late last week, the former model broke news to her Twitter followers that she would be leaving the label behind, to instead focus on her other labels. But, the New York Post's Page Six now reports that she was dumped by the label, which is owned by Kellwood Co.
“Kimora was going over budget. She’d pay herself a fee to be in the ads, plus she paid her children fees to appear in ads. It costs thousands of dollars to airbrush her because she's a size 10. Plus, they spent a ton of money on body doubles. They would shoot another model in the clothes, and take Kimora’s head and put in on her body,” the gossip column writes, quoting an unnamed source.
“It’s time for me to move on and further expand my other businesses and create a new phenomenon. I adore all those who have faithfully been with me since the beginning,” Simmons says in a statement. “I’m forever dedicated to my family, fans and customers. My inspiration has always come from the fabulous women who have been with me through the years as we've grown from young party girls to power players! We're ready for our next journey together and we're taking a whole new generation of incredible young women with us. Girl power unite!”
Simmons, who divorced hip-hop music mogul Russell Simmons in 2008, served as creative director of the label, and her other business interests, include her clothing lines, KLS, Fabulosity and Kouture by Kimora Collection for Macys. Russell Simmons sold Phat Farm to Kellwood in 2004 for $140 million.
After the news broke, Simmons headed back to Twitter to tweet a few more updates to fans. She told them that there wouldn’t be a Baby Phat fashion show at this year’s Fashion week, tweeting “I will not b there. And corporate has decided not 2 do one!”
Simmons, who also is the star of her own reality show, “Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane,” tweeted that her daughters with Russell Simmons, Ming Lee and Aoki Lee, will cease modeling for the Baby Phat line as well.
