Modern Pharaoh's Rugby Snapbacks For Kenya & South Africa
Liberian creative Adam Smarte's Modern Pharaoh lifestyle brand Modern Pharaoh reveals classic rugby snapbacks for South Africa and Kenya.
Words by Alyssa Klein & Netzayet Itzea
<p><a href="http://www.modernpharaoh.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Modern Pharaoh</strong></a> is a California/Massachusetts-based apparel and lifestyle brand who recently caught our attention with their classic snapbacks. The brand's Liberian-born founder <strong><a href="http://instagram.com/afrikingi" target="_blank">Adam Smarte</a></strong>, a former MLS player (for the <strong>San Jose Earthquakes</strong>, before injuries forced him into retirement) who spent his childhood between Accra, Ghana, Ibadan, Nigeria, Cote D'Ivoire, and finally Sacramento, California, began the label as a "Return to Royalty," he tells us. "As a company, we believe that there is greatness inherent in each of us," he says. "Our logo is a woman pharaoh as a means of challenging immediate perceptions of greatness. This is a hint of what we mean to do, to trigger thought and reactions in creatives across the world."</p><p><div class="preroll-video"></div><ora-player></ora-player></p><p>In May the brand launched a special <a href="http://modernpharaoh.com/world-cup-2014/" target="_blank">football campaign</a> of tees and caps to commemorate <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/2014/06/12/ghana-world-cup-wiyaala/" target="_blank">Ghana</a>, <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/video/nigeria-world-cup-2014-nigeria-anthem-song/" target="_blank">Nigeria</a>, and <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/video/cameroon-world-cup-anthem-song/" target="_blank">Cameroon</a>'s participation in the <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/tag/brazil-2014/" target="_blank"><strong>2014 World Cup</strong></a>. Now, with the largest international rugby event slated to take place next month in Las Vegas, the label has shared a <a href="http://www.modernpharaoh.com/mp-x-rugby/" target="_blank">Rugby Collection</a> of classic snapbacks for Kenya and South Africa– the two African teams competing at the <strong><a href="http://www.usasevens.com/las-vegas/" target="_blank">Sevens World Series Event</a>. </strong>Revealed this week, the caps feature the South African and Kenyan flags joined by a single logo in the front.</p><p>"We are currently working on some concepts and ideas for spring including a Jersey a few accessories and a few new countries to add to our snapback collection," Smarte told us. They also plan on re-releasing new color ways for their original Ghana, Liberia, and Naija snapbacks. Until then, the <a href="http://www.modernpharaoh.com/shop/" target="_blank">Rugby Collection</a> is currently available for pre-order. For more, follow Modern Pharaoh on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/modernpharaoh" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/_ModernPharaoh_" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://modern-pharaoh.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a>, and <a href="http://instagram.com/_modernpharaoh_" target="_blank">Instagram</a>.</p><p><div class="dfp_atf-slot" data-not-loaded="true"></div><script type="text/javascript">
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