The internet is all over Central Cee for claiming to be the person who popularized the trend of wearing Nike Tech in the United States.
In a video that recently surfaced, Cee appears to take credit for the popularity of Nike Tech jackets in the U.S.
“I’m humble innit, but at the same time I like to think that man put a lot of man on to the Nike Tech thing,” said Cee. “You see the influence like even in America people be rocking the Techs like they’re us.”
Nike Tech Fleece jackets began trending in the early 2010s and quickly became popular in the U.S., particularly in New York. Although the trend eventually fizzled as all trends do, Nike Techs never fully left the fashion world — so, as you can imagine, people on the internet have had their thoughts about Cee’s wild claim.
One of those people is Joshua Kissi — a director who posted a conversation with who he claimed to be a Nike employee. The employee suggested the Nike Techs actually came from U.K. culture.
In another post, Kissi suggested that Cee was responsible for the trend in the U.K. but not the U.S. — even if he believed they had the aesthetic first. “YES Central Cee individually didn’t put AMERICANS on Nike Tech Fleeces but the UK in general has been on that particular aesthetic and mold before NY/America,” wrote Kissi. “This is how marketing works — they made what was available in London also available in NY and across the country.”
Another person attempted to clarify what Cee should have said in a thread. “Ah, Central Cee messed up with that one, man,” the user wrote. “Nike Tech has been hot over a decade, but we (Brits) made sportswear as both casual wear & a flex an acceptable fashion statement long before he went international. Now Americans are rushing to downplay our influence without history.”
Check out some other reactions to Central Cee’s statement.