Ballantine’s and hip-hop legend RZA have joined forces once again for a new drop.
To celebrate 50 years of hip-hop culture, this new project from Ballantine’s and RZA also calls on Japanese streetwear brand NEIGHBORHOOD for a limited-edition capsule collection.
Aiming to champion authenticity and what it means to stay true to yourself, the collection also aims to inspire experimentation and includes the following: a work jacket with the Ballantine’s crest and the mantra “Stay True, Craft With Pride” printed on it, a baseball cap with RZA’s signature on it, a whisky decanter, a clay tumbler and a tote bag.
On the release, RZA said, “Fashion is one of the greatest ways to show self-expression; we use clothes to express everything, from our style to other interests such as sports and music, and even our communities and neighbourhoods. The whole collection came out great, but having Ballantine’s ‘Stay True’ motto on the jacket is my favourite detail – it encapsulates our shared belief of doing things your own way.”
Haruchika Mitsui at NEIGHBORHOOD added. “RZA has a unique style; while it has evolved over time, it remains unmistakably true to his essence – timeless and multi-faceted. Likewise, the items in this collection are physical expressions of different art forms – namely fashion and pottery – through multiple cultures: a Japanese streetwear brand partnered with New York hip-hop culture and the legacy of an iconic Scotch whisky.”
The collaboration is available here.