Desmond Thompson

@DEZMAN1906_2.0

This week’s collector is a man that’s been rocking fitted hats since high school and let that passion lead him to delivering some of the best fitteds we’ve seen. From designing to collecting, Dez knows a thing or two about caps. See what he had to say below.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and when you fell in love with fitted caps?

I’m a military brat from Radcliff, KY, by way of North Carolina. A college graduate who began his tenure in fashion 15 years ago. I started out working in stores for JD Finishline where I was surrounded by shoes, clothes, and hats. My love for fitted headwear started in high school. Primarily because all of my favorite rappers wore them. Color blocks and 2-tone Cooperstown MLB logos and NBA hardwood classics were the go-to’s back then.

How many caps do you currently have in your collection?

I’m not sure how many I have now. I used to work for the Lids corporate office as a Buyer for MLB Fashion Core and I was a designer for Lids Hat Drop. I pretty much kept all the samples to my designs, so whatever that equals out to… a lot! LOL.

Why do you prefer fitted caps over any other hat style?

Actually, I’m slowly beginning to transcend to A-Frame 9FORTY’s. However, fitteds will always dominate and hold a special place in my heart. To me, it’s just nostalgic. Watching music videos and album covers of Jay-Z in a Yankee fitted, or Nas in a Mets joint. I remember wanting to emulate that. 

Are there any caps that you’re still on the hunt for?

Not really.  I’ve got a lot of packs releasing on LidsHD.com throughout the year. I just create in hopes that someone is on the hunt for my stuff. 

What cap have you been reaching for the most lately?

My go-to’s have been a lot of the basic LA Dodgers fitteds. And the Rangers City Connect logo is crazy. I’m not super crazy about side patches right now. I think some of the best fitteds out there are without them.