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Shayne Oliver, founder and creative director of the buzzy brand Hood by Air, is such a fan of the Fox hit Empire that he jumped at the chance to make the show's very first pieces of branded Empire merchandise. Vogue interviewed Oliver about the 40-piece collab, which is out today on Hood by Air's site and is very much Cookie-inspired. "Everyone I know was inspired by that show," Oliver told Vogue. "Cookie’s a boss, doesn’t take shit, doesn’t comply with any sort of male rules."
For this collab, Hood by Air's trademark hoodies and tees are now emblazoned with Cookie's face along with other characters from the show and memorable Empire quotes. There are also bodysuits, dresses, and tank tops featuring newsprint with headlines from the show.
"A lot of it is also references to things I grew up with, that are very specific to Queens," Oliver told Vogue. "All the boys in the oversized Hot 97 Summer Jam tees, all the West Indian girls in the printed Gallianos and Moschinos."
The HBA.EMPIRE collection is also quite literal to the over-the-top show, with a $40 champagne flute that's meant for throwing champagne in someone's face. According to Vogue, Oliver (spoiler alert!) also recreated the pillow that Cookie used to try to suffocate Lucious with in the first season's finale, rendering it on a $90 tank, $120 long-sleeve T-shirt, $110 clutch, and as a backpack. The HBA.EMPIRE line is priced from $15 for a keytag to $300 for that pillow backpack.