Frank Ocean's Luxury Brand, Homer, Launches Prada Collaboration
With the recent release of its 160-page catalog, the launch of Frank Ocean’s luxury line, Homer, announced on August 6th, continues to gain momentum and anticipation. Known for being particularly low key and elusive, as made apparent by Twitter accounts such as “Where is Frank Ocean” and “Did Frank Ocean Drop Today,” Ocean continues to surprise all. Transcending music and breaking into the elite world of luxury fashion, Ocean has expanded his creative outreach in more ways than one. As Ocean has not released a studio album since 2016, many have speculated whether this line could be hinting towards future music projects. Homer could likely mimic the creative trajectory of his 2016 album Blonde, which featured a fully-print magazine and a variety of pop-up stores around the United States and London. Regardless, with the announcement of Homer, many are eager to explore the talented artist’s creative vision and inspiration.
Image Courtesy: Homer
Homer is an independent American luxury company, its namesake representing the idea of “carving history into stone.” The first collection comprises fine jewelry and printed silk scarves, handcrafted using 18K gold, recycled sterling silver, hand-painted enamel, and American lab-grown diamonds. The products are designed in New York City and handmade in Italy, with the lab-grown diamonds reigning from Homer’s state-of-the-art lab in the United States. Ocean has cited the inspiration for his designs as childhood obsessions and heritage as fantasy, made apparent by the vibrant, futuristic, yet distinctly 2000s retro aesthetic. Inspired by a 2019 boho retreat with friends, Ocean and company spent time creating and exploring DIY craft, “We had everyone from horticulturalists to electrical engineers and architects, carpenters and metalworkers," Ocean explained in an interview with Financial Times. As a child of the late 90s and early 2000s, the line’s design is heavily influenced by the Y2K era, as seen in the vivid color palette and geometric shapes. Similarly, the craftsmanship of Homer reflected work by designers such as Takashi Murakami, Walter Van Beirendonck, and Micha Klein.
Image Courtesy: Homer
While the photographs were captured by UK-based photographer Tyrone Lebon and Ocean himself, the catalog was put together by graphic designer Tracy Ma. One large section of the catalog is dedicated to explaining the use of their lab-grown diamonds, a point of contention for some consumers as they view this as somewhat less exclusive. Although there are many product images, photos of Ocean and friends are scattered throughout at random, crediting a portion of his muse to the models seen here. The catalog itself is considerably limited as it is listed out of stock on the website but reselling for upwards of $1,000. With the price of products ranging from $400-$2,000,000, it appears that Ocean is attempting to compete directly with large, established companies such as Tiffany’s and Cartier. Outtakes of the catalog can be found on the Homer website itself, and a scan of the print can be found on HIGHSNOBIETY.
Image Courtesy: Homer
The official Homer store located in New York City, designed by Ocean and creative duo, ANY, is one of the only places to purchase the collection. However, global orders may be accepted upon request. Premade store appointments are recommended, while walk-ins are rarely offered yet sometimes available. The much-anticipated, limited edition Homer x Prada collaboration is now available in-store, featuring a spin on Prada’s classic anorak jacket, backpack, and belt bag in four different pastel colors. While Homer’s future plans are still unknown, there is no doubt the brand will continue situating itself next to top luxury lines.
Image Courtesy: Homer
In the meantime, I’ll be here waiting for literally any of the items under $400 to restock.
Strike Out,
Writer: Gracie Wipfli
Editor: Melania Zilo
Boca Raton
