Chris Webber And New Era Launch New 59Fifty At 50 Cap

Article written by: Rodrick Rainey
Posted on: May 2, 2005

DERBY, NY – New Era Cap Co., Inc., the premier, global headwear designer, developer and manufacturer, announced it has launched its next Capture the Flag 59FIFTY, designed by NBA super star, Philadelphia 76er’s Chris Webber. The cap has been available at retail stores and NewEraCap.com since Thursday, April 28th.

Chris Webber, a member of the well known University of Michigan “Fab Five,” the 1993 #1 NBA draft pick, a five-time NBA All-Star, a star member of the Philadelphia 76ers, and the list just goes on and on and on! And now, Chris Webber, familiarly known as C-Webb, has become the FIRST current NBA player to design a custom, limited edition 59FIFTY with New Era!

The Detroit native put a lot of his hometown and himself into his New Era fitted. A distressed denim cap, it features a stylized “D” in dark camel embroidery with a navy fill; hidden in tonal navy embroidery on the front left wear-side panel is a map of some of Detroit’s famed streets, including “6 Mile” where Chris grew up. On the right wear-side panel is a tonal navy embroidery featuring the word “Faith,” styled after a tattoo he has on the underside of his left forearm.

Two significant images on the cap are silhouettes on the rear and under visor replicating the famous fist-raised, head-bowed stance of United States sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Summer Olympics as they received their medals.

Chris’ cap does not leave out a tribute to his NBA career, his number, “4,” can be found on the rearleft-wear panel in tonal navy embroidery. The final touches of the cap are a flip-under visor in dark camel “duck cloth” material, featuring Chris’ embroidered signature; while the lining of the cap is touched off with light blue and navy checked woven shirting material.

“I have a long history with New Era from wearing their caps as a kid to being featured in one of the company’s commercials in the late 90s – I’m a fan,” said Chris Webber regarding his relationship with New Era. “I was excited to sit down to design my own 59FIFTY; it had to be fashionable and ‘clean.’ My 59FIFTY is inspired by all that Detroit means to me: family, friends, fans – home!”

The Chris Webber design will be exclusively available at Mr. Alan’s (Detroit); Total Sports (Philadelphia); Genesis and Classic Kicks (New York); Huf (San Francisco); Undefeated (Los Angeles); and in Tokyo, Japan. New Era will sell the Chris Webber 59FIFTY fitteds at www.neweracap.com beginning 12:00 a.m. Thursday, April 28th. A portion of the proceeds will go to The Chris Webber Foundation.

New Era’s Capture the Flag series of headwear, designed by select Celebrities, was launched in 2004 in celebration the New Era 59FIFTY’s 50th anniversary. New Era designs for the Capture the Flag, limited edition guest designer series, launch the last Thursday of select months throughout the year. A Portion of the proceeds for each Capture the Flag design will go to the charity of the guest designer’s choice. The Capture the Flag series highlights New Era’s ability to produce highly customized headwear that is driven by and made for the most unique individuals in the world. Capture the Flag’s 2004 alumni include: Filmmaker Spike Lee, MLB Pitcher Roger Clemens, Rapper Fabolous, MTV VJ La La, NFL Player Kyle Turley, NBA Hall of Famer George “Iceman” Gervin, and Skate Boarder Stevie Williams.

All New Era caps released by Urban and Hip Hop celebrities will be made available to the public through URB1.COM and URB1 Magazine (urb1mag.com). Urb1 is the first Hip Hop Fashion Focused website to appear online.