Meccapolis: Help Preserve New York’s Urban History
Donation protected
Instagram: @meccapolis
Meccapolis launched on Instagram five years ago as a centralized hub profiling urban New York History. It is just as it sounds. The one place (mecca) where the City of New York (polis) is the center of the universe – celebrating the culture pioneered by the Burroughs and surrounding areas. As we pass the five-year milestone, it's time for Meccapolis to expand exponentially. The widespread impact of New York City has been overlooked and undermined in recent years. Though this is due to many factors, Meccapolis was created to combat this by educating the masses about NYC's storied history. Now that we have established Meccapolis on Instagram, which serves as a digital gallery, the Meccapolis brand has the potential to expand in nine different ways:
1. DIE FRSH (die•fresh)
(@diefrsh on Instagram) is our vintage clothing store where those who appreciate the timeless style of NYC in the 1980s/90s can purchase our growing collection. DIE FRSH already exists as a retailer. But we also plan to expand by creating a database detailing each year of NYC fashion from 1986 to the present day and offering hardcover coffee table books, further educating everyone on how NYC became and still is a fashion capital.
2. Pop-Up Museum
History belongs in museums. So we are planning multiple pop-ups in New York City consisting of high-quality photos of legendary NYC figures of the 1980s/1990s in a gallery setting. The pop-ups will also supply clothing vendors where you can purchase classic pieces from the golden era, meet and greet legendary NYC figures, and more.
3. Art Division
Art is a big part of NYC's flair. So it's only fitting that we establish an art division of Meccapolis that will be dedicated to selling original paintings and art pieces that celebrate the 1980s/90s/00s NYC History. From statement pieces, you can hang on your wall in your home, to small works you can use to decorate your workspace.
4. Meccapolis Website/App
We are launching an actual Meccapolis website and app that will be an expansion of the Instagram page with new features such as a searchable glossary of cultural NYC figures and what they achieved. Think of it as Wikipedia for NYC figures, some of which aren't google-able.
5. Clothing Brand
The Meccapolis apparel line is a collection of basics, beginning with t-shirts dedicated to 1980s/90s/00s urban NYC culture. Designs will range from shirts celebrating NYC figures to NYC-based movies and other pop-culture staples.
6. Book Series
We seek amass to enough material through our research with Meccapolis to produce a high-quality hardcover coffee table book series. The books will have classic photos of NYC figures accompanied by extensive profiles/descriptions and stories.
7. Podcast
The narrative is essential to history, and so much of NYC culture is influenced by spoken words. We plan on starting a podcast where we will interview NYC figures from the 1980s/90s/00s, from rappers to graffiti artists to street guys.
8. YouTube Channel
To continue building the Meccapolis community, we plan on starting an official YouTube page. Our page will consist of videos dedicated to telling the stories of notable NYC figures and detailing the city's different eras.
9. Documentary Films
The culminating production of Meccapolis merges clothing, art, interviews, and photography. We also have begun to account for a full-length documentary series that compiles the stories, people, and places that defined New York City from the 1980s through the early-2000s.
All nine of these brand extensions will be executed with professional teams to a 100% high-quality standard, which we hold ourselves to and with an appreciation for the funds raised. We also will be employing youth from New York’s Inner Cities down the line to help with operations. Using all nine of these ways of expansion, the culture of New York City will not only be boosted in presence and NYC legends who are overlooked and underrated will have a platform to regain their rightful exposure. Our vision is that NYC will be further cemented in history in a way that will be easily accessible for one to educate themselves at any time. Financial support is needed to achieve this, especially on an independent scale and at a swift pace. Emphasis on swift pace; this is campaign is something that will have weekly updates viewable by the people. Ultimately, Meccapolis, with your support, will foster a strong platform for NYC culture that will inspire film/tv producers to create films and tv shows based on our content. Your support will ensure that the culture and history of New York City will have an immediate bolder presence that will be documented forever and live on.
Meccapolis launched on Instagram five years ago as a centralized hub profiling urban New York History. It is just as it sounds. The one place (mecca) where the City of New York (polis) is the center of the universe – celebrating the culture pioneered by the Burroughs and surrounding areas. As we pass the five-year milestone, it's time for Meccapolis to expand exponentially. The widespread impact of New York City has been overlooked and undermined in recent years. Though this is due to many factors, Meccapolis was created to combat this by educating the masses about NYC's storied history. Now that we have established Meccapolis on Instagram, which serves as a digital gallery, the Meccapolis brand has the potential to expand in nine different ways:
1. DIE FRSH (die•fresh)
(@diefrsh on Instagram) is our vintage clothing store where those who appreciate the timeless style of NYC in the 1980s/90s can purchase our growing collection. DIE FRSH already exists as a retailer. But we also plan to expand by creating a database detailing each year of NYC fashion from 1986 to the present day and offering hardcover coffee table books, further educating everyone on how NYC became and still is a fashion capital.
2. Pop-Up Museum
History belongs in museums. So we are planning multiple pop-ups in New York City consisting of high-quality photos of legendary NYC figures of the 1980s/1990s in a gallery setting. The pop-ups will also supply clothing vendors where you can purchase classic pieces from the golden era, meet and greet legendary NYC figures, and more.
3. Art Division
Art is a big part of NYC's flair. So it's only fitting that we establish an art division of Meccapolis that will be dedicated to selling original paintings and art pieces that celebrate the 1980s/90s/00s NYC History. From statement pieces, you can hang on your wall in your home, to small works you can use to decorate your workspace.
4. Meccapolis Website/App
We are launching an actual Meccapolis website and app that will be an expansion of the Instagram page with new features such as a searchable glossary of cultural NYC figures and what they achieved. Think of it as Wikipedia for NYC figures, some of which aren't google-able.
5. Clothing Brand
The Meccapolis apparel line is a collection of basics, beginning with t-shirts dedicated to 1980s/90s/00s urban NYC culture. Designs will range from shirts celebrating NYC figures to NYC-based movies and other pop-culture staples.
6. Book Series
We seek amass to enough material through our research with Meccapolis to produce a high-quality hardcover coffee table book series. The books will have classic photos of NYC figures accompanied by extensive profiles/descriptions and stories.
7. Podcast
The narrative is essential to history, and so much of NYC culture is influenced by spoken words. We plan on starting a podcast where we will interview NYC figures from the 1980s/90s/00s, from rappers to graffiti artists to street guys.
8. YouTube Channel
To continue building the Meccapolis community, we plan on starting an official YouTube page. Our page will consist of videos dedicated to telling the stories of notable NYC figures and detailing the city's different eras.
9. Documentary Films
The culminating production of Meccapolis merges clothing, art, interviews, and photography. We also have begun to account for a full-length documentary series that compiles the stories, people, and places that defined New York City from the 1980s through the early-2000s.
All nine of these brand extensions will be executed with professional teams to a 100% high-quality standard, which we hold ourselves to and with an appreciation for the funds raised. We also will be employing youth from New York’s Inner Cities down the line to help with operations. Using all nine of these ways of expansion, the culture of New York City will not only be boosted in presence and NYC legends who are overlooked and underrated will have a platform to regain their rightful exposure. Our vision is that NYC will be further cemented in history in a way that will be easily accessible for one to educate themselves at any time. Financial support is needed to achieve this, especially on an independent scale and at a swift pace. Emphasis on swift pace; this is campaign is something that will have weekly updates viewable by the people. Ultimately, Meccapolis, with your support, will foster a strong platform for NYC culture that will inspire film/tv producers to create films and tv shows based on our content. Your support will ensure that the culture and history of New York City will have an immediate bolder presence that will be documented forever and live on.
Organizer
Lade Iluyomade
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA