Collaboration with New Era takes Buffalo fashion designer ‘global’

A collaboration with global hatmaker New Era Cap Co. has Billie Essco’s brand on display – and the Buffalo native plans to take full advantage of it.

The fashion designer would like to use his time in the spotlight to not only further his own platform, but also bring attention to the community.

Essco, who’s also a rapper and creative director, uses the term “locally global” to represent his aspirations. While becoming an influencer in the fashion industry, he still wants to represent the community where he grew up.

“I’ve always been a local advocate of Buffalo, but at the same time, had a very global demeanor and presence from my music to my clothes,” said Essco, CEO at Café, a contemporary design brand headquartered in Buffalo.

“I feel like I’m well known around the world, but at the same time, I want to be very local,” added Essco, whose designs have been featured during Paris Fashion Week. “I feel like this collaboration with New Era explores that – with a local-based company teaming up with a globally recognized company.”

New Era launched a line of trendy fashion hats and garments as part of the collaboration with Essco’s company Café. The premiere for the line was held June 30 at the New Era retail store in Buffalo.

The colorful collection features a variety of hat styles, including snapbacks, fitted caps and beanies, as well as introducing a “trucker hat” to New Era’s lexicon. Some of the hats include classic green and gray underbrims, keeping with traditional hat culture, Essco said.

The graduate of then Buffalo State College’s fashion and textile technology program said he’s proud to have brought a line of stylish hoodies to the hat manufacturer based in Buffalo.

Essco has already had an influence on the local community and beyond. He pioneered the local #buffalokids scene and built off that momentum by opening a…