From hustle to haute, there’s a new line of bags to add to our closet. Rapper Rick Ross and Étienne Boulay, co-founder of Edition22 have collaborated to launch an exclusive line of unisex bags.
The RR22 collection features a variety of backpacks, duffle bags, sling bags, toiletry bags, crossbody bags, and cardholders. Prices range between $90-$1000 and a purchase comes with social impact. Each purchase supports Edition22’s Bag-4-Bag Initiative, which donates a backpack to someone.
Ross and Boulay hosted a launch party and fashion show on Aug. 8th at the G7 Rooftop in Hollywood, FL. Guests included DJ Khaled, Rich the Kid, Angela Simmons, Miss Haiti 2016 Suzana Sampeur and Erica Mena as well as other Miami influencers and artists.
RoyalTee caught up with Boulay after the celebrations to get the inside story on this collaboration with the “Hustlin” mogul, his entrepreneurial journey, and his vision for the future of fashion.
What excited you most about bringing this vision to life and having Rick Ross on board with the project?
What excites me most is proving that a bold vision can become real when the right people come together. EDITION22 was built to be more than just a product—it’s a statement about quality, ambition, and culture. Having Rick Ross on board takes it to another level. He embodies consistency, longevity, and larger-than-life energy, and that aligns perfectly with what we’re building.
For me, it’s not just about attaching a big name. It’s about creating something authentic, something people connect with, and something that will last. Ross doesn’t just co-sign projects—he lives them, he elevates them, and he brings people with him. That’s exactly the DNA of EDITION22.
From athlete to entrepreneur. What advice would you give to someone starting their “second act”?
I’d say this: don’t be afraid to reinvent yourself, and don’t let your past define the limits of your future.
In football, I learned discipline, teamwork, and resilience—but none of that guaranteed me success once the helmet came off. I had to start over, with humility, as a rookie again. Media, business, even sobriety—each of those chapters required me to accept that I didn’t know it all, to listen, to learn fast, and to surround myself with people who were smarter than me in areas I wasn’t.
The other piece is this: your second act only works if it’s authentic. I struggled for years with drugs and alcohol. Getting sober was the hardest, most important pivot I’ve ever made. That gave me clarity, and from there, everything else—media, social, building and selling businesses—came from a place of alignment.
So my advice? Be willing to embrace discomfort. Your past achievements are great, but they won’t automatically carry you forward. Be curious, stay humble, and commit to continuous growth. And above all, protect your energy—physically, mentally, emotionally—because no second act is sustainable if you’re not healthy enough to play it out.
Who inspires your hustle and keeps you striving for more?
A lot of people inspire me, but at the end of the day, it really starts with the fire inside me—the drive to push forward no matter what people say. I have a lot of respect and admiration for Rick Ross. Success for a year or two is one thing, but to sustain it for over 20 years, across multiple industries, and to bring others along with you—that’s a different level.
In my own way, I’ve lived a version of that story. I won championships at every level in football, pivoted into media and found success there too, fell deep into drugs and alcohol, and managed to climb back out. Eight years sober now, I’ve built businesses, had a major exit, and I’m still building. Consistency is everything.
What I admire about Ross is that, like Jordan on the court, he makes everyone around him better. He’s not just building for himself—he’s lifting up his circle. His family values run deep too. The first time I met him, he was with his sister Tawanda and their mother. Seeing that bond really struck me. We come from different worlds, but the values are the same: resilience, loyalty, and family first. That’s what inspires me to keep striving.
How would you define a Royal Man in the world of business and style?
To me, a Royal Man is a leader and a strategist. He knows when to block out the noise and trust his vision, and he knows when to use that same noise to fuel his momentum. He’s not a lone wolf—he builds teams, empowers people around him, and makes everyone stronger. Style is part of it too. It’s not just about what you wear, it’s about how you carry yourself, how you show up, and how you make others feel in your presence.
To learn more about the RR22 collection click here.
