This is not what you think it is, as in, not yet another diatribe about the "motherfucking hipsters" that have gentrified Brooklyn. In a panel discussion at Sunshine Cinema yesterday, Spike Lee, who grew up in Fort Greene (which he now pits as "the motherfuckin' Westminster Dog Show"), turned his gaze to street culture's influence on fashion. Wearing a custom-made, cherry-red New Era 59Fifty fitted cap and vintage Nikes, the filmmaker came out to fête this month’s New Era x Spike Lee Heritage Series collection, a five-piece capsule collection inspired by his first New Era commission during the 1996 World Series. The original request was an ingenious one, time has proved it successful, and—for once—no one doubts that Brooklyn is better for it.
Here are Spike’s best takeaways from the chat, which included New Era CEO Chris Koch, Stephen Malbon of FRANK151, FIT professor Elena Romero, and lifestyle blogger Marcus Troy.
1. Athletes influence fashion—and the game goes on.
“Look at Jordan Brand. It’s a million dollar company, but when was the last time Michael Jordan played? It’s nothing new.”
2. Kids should not have expensive taste.
“My son wants a $500 belt. As a New Yorker, I was happy to get my first pair of Cons back in the day. It cost five dollars, and you had to beg your parents. And when you got your first pair of Cons, you considered yourself entering manhood. And that’s the way it was in Brooklyn: five dollars."
3. Matching is passé.
“I think the matching has gone too far. I don’t understand people running around New York wearing Celtics hats. ‘Why are you wearing a Celtic hat?’ ‘Well, I like the color green.’ No, no. You can find the color you want. Yankees, Knicks—there’s many colors today, so don’t give me this, ‘Well, I like green; that’s why I like the Celtics.’ Uh-uh. Jets, Michigan State—they’re all the same color.”
4. Imitations will be the death of you.
"Growing up in Brooklyn, the worst thing you could wear was M-O, which stood for imitations. If your stuff wasn’t right, you couldn’t come outside, because you’d be ridiculed. You would rather stay inside than gettin’ it left and right. It had to be authentic."
Want to know more about New Era? Check out all of our coverage here
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Photo courtesy of New Era
Here are Spike’s best takeaways from the chat, which included New Era CEO Chris Koch, Stephen Malbon of FRANK151, FIT professor Elena Romero, and lifestyle blogger Marcus Troy.
1. Athletes influence fashion—and the game goes on.
“Look at Jordan Brand. It’s a million dollar company, but when was the last time Michael Jordan played? It’s nothing new.”
2. Kids should not have expensive taste.
“My son wants a $500 belt. As a New Yorker, I was happy to get my first pair of Cons back in the day. It cost five dollars, and you had to beg your parents. And when you got your first pair of Cons, you considered yourself entering manhood. And that’s the way it was in Brooklyn: five dollars."
3. Matching is passé.
“I think the matching has gone too far. I don’t understand people running around New York wearing Celtics hats. ‘Why are you wearing a Celtic hat?’ ‘Well, I like the color green.’ No, no. You can find the color you want. Yankees, Knicks—there’s many colors today, so don’t give me this, ‘Well, I like green; that’s why I like the Celtics.’ Uh-uh. Jets, Michigan State—they’re all the same color.”
4. Imitations will be the death of you.
"Growing up in Brooklyn, the worst thing you could wear was M-O, which stood for imitations. If your stuff wasn’t right, you couldn’t come outside, because you’d be ridiculed. You would rather stay inside than gettin’ it left and right. It had to be authentic."
Want to know more about New Era? Check out all of our coverage here
Photo courtesy of New Era