By Gentle Jones
Torrel Harris Sr., pioneer of the reversible NBA warm-up suit, is the first African-American to be licensed by the NBA and NFL to create fashionable apparel. Recently he teamed up with Japan's third largest company, Nintendo, to launch the video games giant’s new apparel line, which aims directly for the urban streetwear market. The line debuted last week in New York’s Nintendo World Store to much fanfare, and AllHipHop.com was there to get in on the fun.
“I’m very excited to launch this line,” Torrel told AllHipHop.com. “This has successfully combined the heritage of Nintendo with modern style.” The fashion show itself was popping, with a capacity crowd at the Rockefeller Center retail outlet. The generous buffet was tasty while the Grey Goose was flowing. Some slender female models and a few emo dudes did the catwalk thing, while the DJ played strictly Hip-Hop classics.
Torrel LLC is a father-son venture with both Senior and Junior collaborating to bring this high end casual gear to the market place. “While our prices are more expensive than your average t-shirt, none of our products are simply screen printed cotton t-shirts," said Torrel. "The amount of craftsmanship that goes into each of the shirts is [high].” Torrel also explained how they achieve a 3D effect with the materials, “Each panel of the parachute, the feet, and other accented parts of the ‘Para Bob-omb’ shirt are all cut and embroidered onto the shirt.”
The line consists of t-shirts and jackets decorated with iconic Nintendo artwork. As a Nintendo licensee, there are limitations on what characters can be used, although Torrel envisions consistent growth in the brand. “As we move forward with the line, we will be digging deeper into the games for all types of different designs. Graffiti is definitely something that we have considered, and will look to move into in the future.”
Some of the designs were fresh and would appeal to a younger crowd. The Bowser jacket is crazy, but I can’t see anyone who isn't a fan rocking it. However, with the articles limited to 1000 numbered pieces per design, they are certainly collectible. I logged into the site to check on the red Bob-omb shirt and saw that there were still 971 items in stock.
With the limited edition numbers, there’s no telling if you’ll see these items in stores near you - but you can log into www.torreltorrel.com and purchase them directly.
Check out the vibe of the event:
Gentle Jones is online now at www.gentlejones.com