Preview Hood By Air's First Drop Since 2017
The subversive streetwear brand is returning from hiatus.
UPDATE (July 14, 2020): Following a three-year-long hiatus, Hood By Air surprised fans with the announcement that the brand will relaunch under an entirely new business structure. To kick things off, co-founder and designer Shayne Oliver created a limited-edition T-shirt as part of Uprising, the brand’s new charitable initiative. All proceeds from the shirt will be split between Black Trans Femmes in the Arts, Emergency Release Fund and Gays & Lesbians Living In A Transgender Society, three organizations that assist marginalized communities.
“We don’t subscribe to the great American dream. Our form of protest is to create a space for solutions,” the brand told HYPEBEAST in an elaboration on its commitment to social causes. “It’s about creating your own future vision and not waiting for anyone or any instructions.”
The Hood By Air Uprising T-shirt arrives in black and neon green colorways and retails for $100 USD. Pre-sale beings July 16 at 11 a.m. EST on the Hood By Air website.
ORIGINAL STORY (July 13, 2020): Designer Shayne Oliver has announced the return of Hood By Air, the avant-garde streetwear brand he and co-founder Leilah Weinrab launched in 2007. In the midst of what seemed to be a renaissance for the brand, the label went on hiatus in 2017 so that Oliver and Weinrab could focus on personal projects.
Judging from a statement by Oliver, Hood By Air’s timely return seems to be — at least in part — a response to the increase in conversations and actions surrounding racism in the United States. “Even now, gentrification leaves no physical spaces for new, influential ideas to exist or reside. So Hood By Air will be a place for these ideas to have a home,” Oliver said. The designer further touched on the current cultural climate:
“There is another world that still needs to be created. It’s about tearing the old one down while figuring out a way to build a new one up, and in the midst of all of that, amplifying the ideas and conversations that we feel are important. 13 years ago Hood By Air was birthed out of young, black and POC creatives performing at the highest level. This was the contemporary output because no one else was doing it. Hood By Air resides here to allow risk and be vanguards for where it’s going next. Hood By Air, the new institution.”
The relaunch of Hood By Air will begin with a limited-edition T-shirt launch part of Uprising, the brand’s new charitable initiative. Hood By Air has also partnered with financial service Cash App on a Cash Card designed by Oliver. All proceeds from the T-shirt and Cash Card will be split between three organizations: Black Trans Femmes in the Arts, Emergency Release Fund and Gays & Lesbians Living In A Transgender Society.
Going forward, the brand will be structured as four entities: Hood By Air, HBA, Museum and Anonymous Club. Hood By Air will determine a yearly theme for the brand, translated as events, activations and of course, fashion products. HBA will serve as a direct-to-consumer platform that will transcend markets and seasons, pioneering a new approach to retail. Museum will act as an archive fo the brand and occasionally enlist a designer-in-residence to re-interpret past designs. Lastly, Anonymous Club will support emerging creatives and provide them with the opportunity to create and collaborate with the brand.
Hood By Air’s limited-edition Uprising T-shirt releases on July 16. Head to the Hood By Air website for more information on its return.
