On Friday (Sept. 8), Brooklyn sportswear boutique Vinnie’s Styles turned into a “Bajan Summer” to celebrate the launch of Melissa Forde’s M$$ x New Era collection. As a low-key New York Fashion Week event, Forde (who also happens to be the best friend of Rihanna) bopped along to reggae and dancehall jams as she celebrated her native Barbados with a collection of bucket hats and trucker caps.
According to Forde, this is her first hat collection with premier sports apparel brand New Era; but, it isn’t her debut. The photographer served as creative director for WRKNG Title in 2015, and launched her first M$$ collection at Opening Ceremony. In an exclusive interview with Billboard Style, Forde mentions that the palm trees and hibiscus flower (which happens to be the national floral for Barbados) “is [representative of] us [Bajans].” She continued: “I just want people to be fly, be sexy, and to have fun no matter what situation they’re in.”
The bucket hats and caps of M$$ x New Era are officially available for purchase at Vinnie’s and on their website. Offered in six colors including pink, yellow, and sky blue, the hats cost $40. They’re also available in kids sizes.Forde’s friend and Rihanna’s personal assistant Jenn Rosales showed her support on Instagram as one of the hat’s models, along with Love & Hip Hop staple Joseline Hernandez.
As for her next line? Forde teases (with a laugh), “maybe it’s already been done, and it’s just waiting to drop!”