Sol-Sol Menswear, known for their quality men’s basics, has welcomed 2017 with its capsule collection created in collaboration with Hong Kong-based artist and illustrator Forlee Bean aka BAD IDEA.
Started by Durban-born, skateboarding veteran Mathew Kieser three years ago, Sol-Sol has heavy skate and street influences. Focusing on fit as well as design, Mathew wanted to create a brand that he felt he could wear. Complemented by 2Bop and Young and Lazy who share Corner Store CPT with Sol-Sol, it is clear that all three labels share a vision when it comes to streetwear but have different ways of materializing that vision.
Mathew has been a fan of Forlee Bean’s work for a while, including his recent work with Paris store Colette. During his last trip to Hong Kong a coffee meet up planted the seed for the Sol-Sol and BAD IDEA collab. “Later that day he [Forlee Bean] texted me with some artwork and was like ‘yo lets do something’,” explained Mathew, “It was extremely easy and I think that is the way things should happen”. Already a fan of Forlee Bean’s style, Mathew chose designs he felt represented both his art and the Sol-Sol brand. “He has this 90s skate vibe [with] all these cats on skateboards,” Matt explained. This resonates with Mathew’s skating influence for Sol-Sol. “He didn’t want to hear from me until the tees were printed…He wanted a surprise and yeah that’s how it went.”.
Bearing resemblance to graffiti images spray painted over text, elements of Sol-Sol’s clean, simplistic logo share space with Forlee Bean’s illustrations of cats, birds and dollar signs. The collection sees Forlee Bean’s illustrations incorporated with the Sol Sol signature logo in cheeky ways, such as the ‘S’s for Sol-Sol presented as painted dollar signs. A second design sees the ‘S’ in Sol-Sol replaced by the curved tale of a mean-mugging cat biting a mouse with a skateboard in its hand. This adds a playful character to the collection as well as merges both Forlee Bean’s drawing style and the minimalist look of Sol-Sol in a seamless manner. The collection includes three different black and white cotton tees, rugby jerseys and a nylon coach jacket with metal coated press studs.
The new range is available at Corner Store or online
Excited about the local support SA streetwear has been receiving and the direction that it is going in, Mathew also let us in on a plans for a second collection with BAD IDEA for later this year. Keep checking out Sol-Sol’s Instagram and Twitter to make sure you get on it as soon as it drops.
