True Religion, an iconic American apparel and accessories brand, has tapped Soldier, a London-based artist and skateboarder from Nigeria, for an exclusive capsule collection that is set to bring Soldier’s camouflage prints to life. True Religion will donate 100 per cent of the proceeds to War Child USA, to help children living through terrifying conflicts.

The collection, featuring t-shirts, denim jackets and jeans, hoodies, cargo pants and hats, unites Soldier’s art with True Religion’s unique style, modernising the ’90s and 2000s iconic camouflage hip-hop uniform and reflecting Soldier’s message of unity and peace throughout the streetwear community, True Religion said in a media statement.

Soldier, who was born Leonard Iheagwam, creates art that is a representation of his experiences in his motherland. As a kid in Lagos, Nigeria, Soldier gravitated towards the camouflage cargos he saw in the international hip-hop scene. He quickly adopted the look for himself, but the Nigerian military stopped him on the street and made him strip right where he stood. This experience would one day find its purpose when Soldier began to experiment with his art, painting camouflage prints on canvases inspiring unity and peace, not war and destruction.

“While camouflage prints are part of True Religion’s DNA, today’s headlines have made us look at them differently. When we learned about Soldier’s story and how he uses camo as a message for peace, we knew this was the right partnership for us. We’re proud to partner with a young, upcoming designer who is also passionate about giving back to those in need,” Zihaad Wells, SVP, creative director for True Religion, said.

“The aim of my paintings is to serve not only as a hiding place with its symbolism but also as a way to reveal a whole culture and create a new meaning. Taking the normal military theme that represents violence and creating a more beautiful meaning. Partnering with True Religion, a brand whose identity in the hip-hop scene is unmatched, was an important career milestone for me and a way I could give back to a community I grew up in,” Soldier said.

War Child USA is a humanitarian organisation that helps children and families who have been affected by conflict get back to school and create safe spaces where they can heal. One out of every six children are forced to live in a country affected by war, and every four seconds a child is driven from their home by conflict.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (GK)

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