Words by Michellee Nelson-
There’s few bigger staples in hip-hop fashion than snapbacks and fitteds, but when Pusha T started rocking Ale at Ange’s Tropical Flower Zilla hat, we were intrigued. The hat is one of many designs by Ale et Ange, a boutique in NYC’s East Village run by Osoré Ale Oyagha and Jamaican native, Eloise Ange Simonet. Since opening the shop in 2009, the duo have been churning out menswear pieces from ties, and dress shirts to pants and of course hats
Pusha’s fave Tropical Flower Zilla hat features leather trimmings and a floral design akin to one you might see on a Hawaiian shirt. The rapper and dancehall aficionado has been spotted in it everywhere from interviews for his new album, My Name is My Name and the latest cover of The Source (see below). You can also see him rocking Ale et Ange’s Peetee Zilla cap in his video for his freestyle over Common’s “Sweet.”
Other Ale et Ange designs feature African Ankara fabrics, zebra stripes and other dope prints. Right now the Tropical Flower Zilla hat is sold-out online, but if you’re in NYC and visit the store itself, they might have a few on hand. Until they re-stock, check out some of Ale et Ange’s other designs here, and here.
One half of Ale et Ange, designer Eloise Ange Simonet (Photo: Conor Lamb)