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Gucci's latest initiatives to eliminate their cultural ignorance were helped brought together by Dapper Dan, a decision that has left the designer at throws of critics who aren't thrilled about the Harlem legend working with the luxury brand.

On Saturday (Feb. 16) Dan, born Daniel Day, explained why he met with Gucci's President and CEO Marco Bizzarri and what it could mean for the future of young black designers.

"We have to learn to earn," he said in a statement on Instagram. "What happened to all the Black fashion brands that failed since the '80s? Was it because they didn't get Black support, or was it because they didn't know the business? Do you expect our young Black designers to spend 30+ years mastering fashion by teaching themselves as I did? How do you expect them to compete with big brands if they don't really know the business? They need jobs and internships within these big brands so that they can learn and they branch out on their own."

A post shared by Dapper Dan (@dapperdanharlem) on Feb 16, 2019 at 8:36am PST

Dan's history with Gucci has always been a complex one. Known for his custom designs for street legends like Alpo Martinez and rappers like Jay-Z, Eric B. and Rakim and Cam'ron, Dan is credited with bringing luxury to hip-hop culture. It took over two decades for Gucci and other brands to acknowledge his influence. In 2017, Dan partnered with the brand for a new menswear line and Harlem saw The Dapper Dan Atelier Studio as the first luxury house fashion store in 2018.

But it wasn't until figures like 50 Cent slammed the designer over his business ties with the brand which seemed like a victory just last year to the public. In his statement to his critics, Dan explained why the meeting was bigger than his brand and how Gucci's new initiative will benefit aspiring designers.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt5aNxCnht4/

"Many young people think a t-shirt design with a logo is a fashion business when in reality the business of fashion is so much broader and more complex than that," he added. "I studied my a** off to master this business. Live your dream. Don't let other people's feelings stop you. Take advantage of the chance to learn. All you haters get out the way for young people. Embrace change. For those that want to continue to hate Gucci and boycott, you are entitled to do as you please. But if anyone should be boycotted it's the brands that won't give our young people an opportunity to learn."

Gucci's four new initiatives include hiring global and regional directors for diversity and inclusion, setting up a multicultural design scholarship program, the launch of a diversity and inclusivity awareness program and launching a global exchange program.

Gucci is still facing backlash after the fashion brand debuted a women's shirt that appeared to resemble blackface imagery. And now it's heavily affecting their credibility in the hip-hop community. In response to the recent scandal, Soulja Boy announced that he in the process of  removing his forehead tattoo which contains the Gucci logo on it.

"I Love Gucci, man. I got a Gucci tattoo in the middle of my forehead," Soulja Boy told TMZ while walking down the street in Los Angeles. When asked if he was going to get his face tattoo remove, the rapper replied:, "I've already started the process. I've got to go back two more times. I've already been three times."

Soulja also noted that he plans to give away the Gucci merch that he has collected over the years. "I spent hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions, over the last two years on the brand so it's like I feel so disrespected by them," he added.

The "Pretty Boy Swag' rapper isn't the only black artist to denounce Gucci however. T.I. and Spike Lee have both protested the label and have vowed to boycott the brand until further notice. Dapper Dan, who has commonly used the brand's logo in his designs, also released a statement saying that he would be sitting down with the brand to have a serious discussion about moving forward.

Check out Soulja Boy's full comments in the video below.

Spike Lee has had enough with fashion brands and politicians using blackface. The Academy Award nominee announced on Friday (Feb. 8) that he will be boycotting Gucci and Prada fashion brands until they decide to hire black designers.

"I, Spike Lee Of Sound Mind And Body Will No Longer Wear Prada Or Gucci Until They Hire Some Black Designers To Be In Da Room When It Happens," Lee wrote in a post on Instagram. "It's Obvious To Da Peoples That They Don't Have A Clue When It Comes To Racist, Blackface Hateful Imagery. WAKE UP. Ya-Dig? Sho-Nuff. And Dat's Da 'Coonery And Buffoonery' Truth,Ruth."

Spike's comments come shortly after Gucci received backlash for debuting a turtleneck that appeared to mimic blackface. The all-black shirt allowed customers to pull the elongated neck up to their face, exposing a red hole for the mouth. The brand later apologized for the misstep, stating that it considers "diversity to be a fundamental value to be fully upheld, respected, and at the forefront of every decision we make."

Prada also landed at the center of controversy in Dec. 2018, after it attempted to sell keychains that resembled blackface imagery. The brand pulled the offensive keychain shortly after.

Check out Spike Lee's full statement below.

I,Spike Lee Of Sound Mind And Body Will No Longer Wear Prada Or Gucci Until They Hire Some Black Designers " To Be In Da Room When It Happens". It's Obvious To Da Peoples That They Don't Have A Clue When It Comes To Racist, Blackface Hateful Imagery. WAKE UP. Ya-Dig? Sho-Nuff. And Dat's Da "Coonery And Buffoonery” Truth,Ruth.

A post shared by Spike Lee (@officialspikelee) on Feb 8, 2019 at 6:22am PST