Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Thomas will also create four stylish capsule collections for fall.
Two years after launching, MVP Collections, a men’s big and tall brand founded by former Major League Baseball All-Star Mo Vaughn, has brought on a partner to expand the company’s visibility and reach.
Frank Thomas, “The Big Hurt,” a two-time MVP and MLB Hall of Famer, has joined the brand and will front four capsule collections that will launch for fall.
Thomas, an analyst for Fox Sports who is also on the broadcast team for NBC Sports Chicago, will become the brand’s third partner, along with Vaughn and Diane Cutuli-Bennett, a former Kellwood executive.
In an interview with WWD, Vaughn said he and Thomas have been friends since their college playing days and developed a mutual respect after being pitted against each other for decades. “He’s a professional and a great representative for our team,” Vaughn said. “Plus, he’s the customer.”
Thomas, who said he’s 6-feet 5-inches and nearly 300 pounds, said he saw the MVP Collections line in a DXL store in 2017 and was immediately drawn to it. “The clothes are hot and fashionable,” he said, adding, “no one takes care of the big guy. I’ve always loved fashion and this is right up my alley.”
Vaughn said he is “more bland” than Thomas so the new capsule collections will be more fashion-forward. They will be “inspired by Frank Thomas’ favorite styles,” and will be El Dorado, which includes gold details and embroidery; Seductive Nights, which will be jewel-colored python prints and velveteen vintage washed denim; La Barocco, which is based on Baroque prints, and Neon Lights, techno satin fabrics with neon stripes. Styles will include alth-leisure, premium denim, Ts, polos, jackets and dress shirts.
