Supreme x MLB Kanji Teams Lightweight Balaclava
The original behind the Supreme x MLB Kanji Teams Lightweight Balaclava is the New Era MLB Knit Balaclava — $30 retail vs Supreme's $54.
Supreme vs. Original
About the original
New Era Cap manufactures officially licensed MLB headwear, including knit and lightweight balaclavas worn during cold-weather games. Founded in Buffalo, New York in 1920, New Era has been the exclusive on-field cap supplier to Major League Baseball since 1993. The FW2022 Supreme three-way collaboration pairs MLB team marks with Japanese kanji translations of each team name (ヤンキース for Yankees, ドジャース for Dodgers, タイガース for Tigers) printed across a lightweight polyester balaclava with full face coverage. The design ran across multiple team colorways and released November 17, 2022 at $54 alongside matching caps and hoodies in the same kanji program.
About New Era
New Era is an American headwear manufacturer founded in 1920 by Ehrhardt Koch in Buffalo, New York, where it is still headquartered. The company introduced the 59FIFTY fitted cap in 1954 and became the exclusive on-field cap supplier for Major League Baseball in 1993, a relationship that now extends to the NFL, NBA, and international football leagues. The 59FIFTY crossed from dugouts into hip-hop wardrobes through the 1990s, and New Era now produces licensed caps for teams and franchises across dozens of sports and entertainment properties. Supreme has released New Era fitted caps nearly every season since the early 2000s.
Price comparison
| Supreme retail | $54 |
|---|---|
| New Era retail | $30 |
| Hype tax | +80% |
Questions
Is the Supreme x MLB Kanji Teams Lightweight Balaclava just the regular MLB Knit Balaclava?
The Supreme x MLB Kanji Teams Lightweight Balaclava, released in Fall/Winter 2022, is based on the New Era MLB Knit Balaclava. Supreme collabs sometimes change the colorway or materials; the description on this page covers the original's specs and any notable differences in the Supreme version. If you want the product without the box logo, the New Era MLB Knit Balaclava is the one to buy.
How much cheaper is the New Era MLB Knit Balaclava than the Supreme version?
Supreme charged $54 for the Supreme x MLB Kanji Teams Lightweight Balaclava; the New Era MLB Knit Balaclava retails for $30. That's a 80% markup — buying the original saves you $24, or 44% off the Supreme price. Buy the original at retail and you skip the hype tax entirely.
Where can I buy the New Era MLB Knit Balaclava?
You can buy the New Era MLB Knit Balaclava direct from New Era. Retail price is $30. The buy links on this page go straight to the product listing at each retailer.
