Jay-Z

Want to know how easy it is to copy an original garment and market it as your own? Well - this time around, Jay-Z sought permission from the original owners - i guess he's done with fashion related "lawsuits".

Representatives from the rapper has revealed how it can be done...professionally.

According to reports:

... a small, family-run custom clothing shop in Ogden -- just got an exclusive order from rapper Jay-Z.

If you went to high school in Utah and got a letterman jacket, it was probably made by Coleman Knitting Mills. The company's been in business since 1947.

Coleman Knitting, located in Ogden, was founded in 1947 by William C. Coleman. It is now owned and operated by his grandson, Richard. A representative for Jay-Z's new clothing line tracked an old letter jacket from the ‘70s to the shop in Ogden and ordered a batch of them for the musician's new clothing line. The Grammy Award-winning artist is also part owner of the New Jersey Nets NBA team and already owns the clothing line Rocawear.

When the rep called Richard Coleman, owner of Coleman Knitting Mills, about the order, Coleman admits he didn't know who Jay-Z was.

"Never heard of him," he said. "He told me somebody had found a jacket in a thrift store that had our label in it, and it was made back in 1971."

Now Coleman and his crew are making 88 jackets for a new clothing line Jay-Z purchased out of England, called Artful Dodger.

Who is... Jay-Z? Jay-Z, or Shawn Corey Carter, is a rap artist and businessman with holdings in, among other things, record companies, a clothing line (Rocawear) and sports bars. He is also the part-owner the NBA's New Jersey Nets. He is married to R&B star Beyonce. The jackets are all handmade with the best materials -- just like what's used in the letterman jackets and cheerleading outfits the company makes for Utah high schools.

That's what Jay-Z's representative liked about the jackets.

"He says, ‘I love the quality of your coat;' and he says, 'and I assume that the quality's still the same today.' I said, ‘Yes, it is,'" Coleman recalls.

Jay-Z was adamant the Coleman name remain on the jackets so people know they were made in America.

"This is how the original label was; my grandfather designed way, way back when," Coleman said.

In the next couple of weeks Coleman will ship out the jackets, hoping Jay-Z likes them enough to make another order.

The new Artful Dodger jackets will sell for about $400. Because only 88 were ordered, Coleman says he doesn't know if Jay-Z will want more or if it's a limited item.

Story Continues...

Wondering how T.I. feels about Jay-Z jocking styles from his fashion line and marketing them overseas?

These letterman jackets probably cost $60.00.

Jay-Z purchased 88 customized jackets that his company plans to sell for $400.00 a piece?

Highway Robbery if you ask me. Yes the company will receive due credit, however why isn't the company Coleman Knitting Mills selling exclusive Rocawear letter jackets for $400.00?