Dropout is pleased to announce the availability of hoodies and t-shirts
Jerry Lorenzo, the creator of Fear of God, has had a long and winding career. He's gone from working in a Diesel warehouse to overseeing scholarships and collaborations for the Los Angeles Dodgers, managing Dodger player Matt Kemp—and even throwing fancy parties for rappers and sports stars. Lorenzo began creating clothing with the money he earned from events. He started with a short-sleeved sweatshirt with side zippers, then moved on to a stretch T-shirt and other items.
Lorenzo was able to deliver his products to Big Sean a year later, in 2012, thanks to his wife's connections. This prompted Ye, then still Kanye West, to ask him for advice on a collection the rapper was working on with APC. This would lead to a collaboration in which Lorenzo designed tour merchandise for Yeezy, Donda, and a variety of other projects.
Fear of God had already become one of the most sought-after streetwear brands by 2015. Lorenzo, always an entrepreneur, wanted to make his clothes more accessible and ended up collaborating with PacSun to produce a more affordable collection called FOG. When asked why he chose a more accessible market, Lorenzo told The Cut, "I have more family members who shop at PacSun than Barneys, honestly, I want to be where they are."
FOG had been a mainstay of the streetwear scene for a few years, but in 2018, Lorenzo decided to discontinue the brand and replace it with Essentials. Essentials, as the name suggests, creates collections of basics in muted colors. Essentials was Lorenzo's attempt to properly categorize his products, while FOG was simply a more affordable version of Fear of God. Essentials has thrived since its inception and, as streetwear enthusiasts will attest, is the best way to get your hands on Lorenzo's gear.