Two visionary Morehouse College alumni, Spike Lee '79 and Cam Kirk '11, recently collaborated on New Era’s global 59FIFTY Day campaign celebrating the 30th anniversary of the iconic red New York Yankees fitted cap, a defining cultural moment that forever changed sports fashion, streetwear, and hat culture around the world.
Directed and photographed by acclaimed creative entrepreneur Cam Kirk, the campaign revisits Spike Lee’s legendary 1996 phone call to New Era requesting a custom red Yankees cap. At the time, the bold request broke from tradition and transformed the 59FIFTY fitted cap from an on-field sports accessory into a global symbol of individuality, identity, and self-expression.
The campaign features intimate storytelling with Spike Lee and New Era CEO Chris Koch inside Yankee Stadium, reflecting on how one creative decision reshaped sports fandom and cultural expression for generations to come. Through cinematic visuals and personal conversation, the project captures the intersection of sports, fashion, music, and Black cultural influence that continues to define the legacy of the iconic fitted cap today.
For Kirk, the collaboration represented both a professional milestone and a full-circle moment rooted in the values he developed at Morehouse.
“As a creative entrepreneur, my journey has been rooted in consistency, authenticity, and documenting culture from an honest perspective,” Kirk said. “I built my career by creating opportunities for myself and others, starting with a camera, a vision, and a commitment to storytelling that reflects the communities and cultures I come from.”
Over the years, Kirk transformed that vision into Cam Kirk Studios, a creative hub that has supported thousands of artists, photographers, brands, and creators while helping shape Atlanta’s creative ecosystem.
“What led to this achievement was years of staying close to the culture, building genuine relationships, and treating every project — big or small — with intention and care,” Kirk said. “Morehouse taught me the importance of leadership, brotherhood, and creating impact larger than myself, and those values continue to shape how I approach my work.”
As two Morehouse men came together to honor one of the most influential moments in sports and fashion history, the campaign also became a celebration of Black storytelling, creativity, and cultural legacy.
“Being able to collaborate with Spike Lee, another Morehouse alum and cultural pioneer, on a project that celebrates a historic moment in sports and fashion culture felt like a full-circle moment and a reminder of the power of Black creativity and legacy,” Kirk said.
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Alumni Achievement