Prince Royce during his photoshoot for Ecko in Los Angeles.
Courtesy og Ecko
Singer, songwriter, actor and now designer: Prince Royce has officially been named ambassador of Ecko’s “All Access” campaign and curator of an upcoming signature limited-edition collection.
The partnership between the brand, founded by Marc Ecko, and the “Príncipe de la Bachata” was announced Wednesday (June 15) in a statement that said Prince Royce “embodies Ecko in everything he does — he’s a musician, he boxes, he skateboards, he is passionate about expressing himself through what he wears. He connects with the brand on the ultimate level.”
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Back in April, Billboard caught up with Royce during his Ecko photo shoot in the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, where he was already sporting some pieces from his collection — black ripped denim jeans and a loose white tank top — and told us how “hyped” he was about sharing this new project with his fans.
You’re going on tour with Pitbull this summer, starring in Hulu’s East Los High and now you’re also designing a line for Ecko. It’s safe to say you’re keeping busy this year.
It’s amazing! I’ve always had this dream to be involved in fashion and to be able to create things and see people wearing them. This is something else that I’m crossing off my bucket list. It’ll be cool to wear something and think, “Wow, I had an input in this design.”
How did this new venture with Ecko come about?
For a while now, I’ve been wanting to work with somebody or put some pieces out there. I even thought about doing an online store, but then they reached out with this opportunity to do something together. At first I was a bit nervous, ’cause you never know how new projects will go and I just wanted to make sure that I had a say in the designs. Then, I sat down with the designers and stylists and knew we could really do something great and make it my own. Clothes should be about being comfortable and feeling good. That’s what we’re trying to do with this new collection. With everything I do — music, television — I never force anything. I’ll do something only if I’m 100 percent committed.
How much were you involved in the creative process for this new line with Ecko?
During the creative process, I told them what cuts I liked and that I wanted to include hoodies, dope shirts, suits, a good mix of everything. It’s clothes for casual events, but there are pieces you can also wear out to a fancy dinner. During the photo shoot for the collection, I wore some stuff that I would use at the pool or maybe something I’d wear to bed. I can’t wait for people to see what we’ve created.
When designing, what were some qualities that you made sure the clothing line had that represented your personal style?
I wanted to make sure that the clothes represented me as a person and as an artist — clothes that I feel good in when going to the airport, playing basketball and/or even wear onstage. Growing up in the Bronx, I used to wear a lot of hoodies and more sporty looks, so you’ll definitely see some of that also. There will be a little bit of Prince Royce in everything that we have created.
What was your vision for the final product?
It’s all about being yourself. As an artist, that’s what you want to put out. You want to put out unique music that hasn’t been out before, put out stories that haven’t been told before, and that’s what makes everything successful.
Do you have any favorite designers or are there other artists you look to for fashion inspiration?
There are a couple of people whose sense of style I really like. Justin Timberlake is one of them. I like the way he dresses and how he rolls up to the red carpet. He always has this chic look, so I look to him for some inspiration. I also like Kanye West‘s vision on a lot of stuff. Sometimes I just like looking at awards shows and red carpets and think ‘oh wow, that’s dope how that artist wore that accessory.’ But most importantly, I try to be myself and not be afraid of putting on something that looks a little crazy, as long as you feel comfortable, it’s all good.
Do you have a favorite piece from the collection?
I’m excited about the jeans! I really like the way the jeans fit. I’m also looking forward to wearing some joggers and sweatpants that look really dope. I already see myself wearing all of it. I’ll be wearing some samples during my summer tour for sure.
–All photos courtesy of Ecko.