Behind the Design: The Battle of The USA Hat
When I set out to design The Battle of The USA Hat, I wanted to create more than just a piece of headwear—I wanted to blend sports nostalgia with streetwear culture. This project took inspiration from The Battle of the Bay 1989 World Series logo, which I reimagined through my own creative lens. From concept to execution, this was a deep dive into product design, manufacturing, and marketing.
Here’s how I brought The Battle of The USA Hat to life:
Finding Inspiration & Concept Development
The creative process began with research. I wanted to capture the energy of historic sports rivalries while giving it a fresh and modern twist that fit Unfinished USA’s streetwear aesthetic.
Using Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop, I designed a bootleg-style reinterpretation of the iconic logo, incorporating elements that made it unique to Unfinished USA. This step involved multiple iterations, testing different typography, layouts, and color schemes to ensure the final design felt bold and timeless.
Creating the Tech Pack & Preparing for Manufacturing
Once the design was finalized, I developed a tech pack, a crucial document detailing every aspect of the hat—materials, stitching, color references, and embroidery placements. A well-prepared tech pack ensured that my manufacturers in Hong Kong could bring my vision to life with precision.
Manufacturing & Sampling
Working with my manufacturers, we went through several sample rounds to perfect the:
✔️ Embroidery details – Ensuring the stitched logo was sharp and high quality.
✔️ Hat structure & fit – Finding the perfect shape and material for durability and comfort.
✔️ Color matching – Making sure the final product matched the original design vision.
Each revision helped refine the product until it was exactly how I envisioned it.
Photoshoots & Marketing Campaign
With the final product in hand, it was time to build hype for the launch. I planned and executed a photoshoot to showcase the hat in different settings, ensuring the visuals matched Unfinished USA’s branding.
📸 Streetwear-inspired photoshoots – Shot in urban settings to highlight the hat’s everyday wearability.
🎥 Short-form content for social media – Created teaser videos and behind-the-scenes clips to generate anticipation.
🔥 Influencer & ambassador marketing – Sent early release samples to brand ambassadors to start organic promotion.
Selling Through Shopify & E-Commerce Strategy
The hats were exclusively available on my Shopify store, where I optimized the product page with:
🛒 High-quality images & lifestyle shots – Giving customers a full view of the product.
💬 Compelling product descriptions – Highlighting the story behind the design.
⚡ Scarcity marketing tactics – Announcing limited stock to drive urgency.
Final Thoughts
From a bootleg-inspired sketch to a fully realized streetwear piece, The Battle of The USA Hat was a testament to design, execution, and strategic marketing. Seeing it sell out was proof that storytelling and branding are just as important as the product itself.
This project reinforced my passion for product design, brand development, and e-commerce, and it’s only the beginning.