This Pizza and Fashion Collaboration Celebrates a “Saint of Pizza”

Great pizza can inspire many things—a trip to Italy, a desire to learn how to cook and, for some, even a burst of artistic creativity. The latter is what happened to the creators of FLAN Labs, a clothing brand that celebrates humor, color, comfort, and—as evidenced by its name—food. Based in Brooklyn, the brand’s founders often dine at Best Pizza, the celebrated spot helmed by Frank Pinello, the Culinary Institute of America–trained chef and host of VICE’s globe-trotting “The Pizza Show.” It was over long conversations at the restaurant—set in a former bakery, complete with a century-old wood-burning oven—that Pinello and the FLAN team came up with the idea for a collaboration that would draw from both of their worlds.

Launching today, May 22, and available exclusively online and at Best Pizza Williamsburg, the FLAN Labs x Best Pizza concept capsule collection features three products, each sold separately (prices range from $15-$50) or as a complete set; the tee, hat, and full set will be packaged in a limited-edition Best Pizza box, while supplies last. The core range includes a soft, organic t-shirt emblazoned with an image of the “Saint of Pizza,” a classic five-panel hat with eye-catching graphics, and a custom pizza cutter. “As a brand based in Brooklyn, pizza is near and dear to our hearts and a staple at our office,” says FLAN founder Jared Vinik. “When we kicked off our conversation, the synergies between Frank’s approach to making pizza and our approach to clothing design were apparent and it was really amazing to get to know each other through these different mediums. Working together on this project has been both rewarding and delicious.”

As part of the collaboration, Best Pizza’s Williamsburg location will also be launching a limited-run pizza flavor, available through June 5. The distinct pie will feature a special cinnamon breadcrumb mixture, lightly grated pecorino (instead of mozzarella), a sweet tomato sauce, Best Pizza’s signature sesame seeds on the crust, and a secret ingredient that makes the first bites a surprise. “When I saw the colors in the FLAN ‘Saint of Pizza’ t-shirt design, I wanted to bring the idea of fire to the pizza itself, and mimic that red look,” says Best Pizza founder Pinello, a Brooklyn native with a proud Sicilian heritage. “Anytime I get the opportunity to do R&D with a project like this, I love to dig into my culture and the food I grew up eating. Saints signify days meant for eating, so when I saw the shirt, I wanted to make something special and unique for this theoretical ‘saint.’ What would we eat to honor him? Whatever it is, it should pack a punch, it should have flavor, a little bit of anchovy funk, but also that red, flame-kissed sauce.”