By: Sara Koonar

Andre Benjamin or as he is more commonly known, Andre 3000 of Outkast, brightened up the room when he walked into his cocktail party at Holt Renfrew Tuesday night in his bright pink over-die button-down Benjamin Bixby shirt. The party debuted his Spring/Summer 09 collection and the brand’s launch at Holts.

Andre Benjamin and Adorned Editor Sara Koonar

His logo, a hot-air balloon, represents the adventure the line will take its buyers on every season. This season the balloon takes us to colonial India.

Benjamin took the time to talk to each attendee about his latest collection.

“I have never been to India and have never taken a ride on a hot-air balloon,” he said. “But, I want the buyer who is into Benjamin Bixby to be able to get away and have a piece of whatever adventure we are selling at that time.”

Benjamin has been creating clothes selfishly for a long time. Those outfits he wore in the chart-topping video “Hey Ya” were all hand-stitched by the man himself. It was just two years ago that he decided to create a business out of his natural talent.

Benjamin expressed that it has been a challenge for him to crossover from a hip hop artist to a designer. Scared he might not fit in, he worried he would be stereotyped as a rapper who just threw his name on a product.

“I want people to know I really care about these clothes,” said Benjamin. “I have gone through every piece, every stitch, and picked every button.”

Stand out pieces in the collection are the structured and tailored jackets and the maps on the lining of his blazers and backs of his vests.

Although there is no women’s line yet, Benjamin suggests the ladies try a small button-down shirt with a belt. I think I will try the pink one, since it looks so darned good on Benjamin.