First Look: FENTY x PUMA by Rihanna Autumn/Winter 2017 Collection

PUMA, and FENTY Creative Director, Rihanna, officially ushers in the third season of FENTY x PUMA by Rihanna by opening up the doors of FENTY University, where varsity sport gets a high fashion makeover and everyone can mix and match the variety of looks.

Rihanna designed the collection to represent different youth cultural cliques and their unique styles that set them apart in hallways and locker rooms – Nerds, Jocks, Skaters, Preppies, Goth kids and of course, Bad Gals. Lending her signature FENTY style, the collection features chunky hand-knit sweaters, chenille PUMA Cats and varsity F’s adorned rib knit sweaters and dresses, over-sized coats in faux sherling and furs.

Classic uniforms and track suits were reinterpreted with technical sport fabric and fashion touches serving up elevated Ivy League-style. Signature branding details appear throughout the range most notably Rihanna’s lucky number 13, badges representing her birth year 1988, the FENTYxPUMA piercing zipper and FENTY PUMA branded buttons and trims. Unique patches, hardware and sporty taping enhanced the collection’s sport theme even further.

Last but not least, the collection’s footwear range instantly puts you on the honour roll of style. Get ready for new-to-cop styles and future icons - Chelsea Sneaker Boot and FENTY Trainer Hi and Knitted High MaryJane Heel. The iconic PUMA Creeper makes a solid comeback in two new stacked sole iterations -  the Cleated Creeper Suede and the Ankle Strap Sneaker available in women’s sizing in the latest seasonal colours.

Items from the PUMA FENTY University collection are now available at PUMA Select stores. 

Drop Two of the PUMA x Trapstar Collection Hits Stores Today!

PUMA and Trapstar London drop the second iteration of their PUMA x TRAPSTAR collection for A/W16. The collaboration, fusing sport-inspired PUMA classics with Trapstar’s streetwear-influenced aesthetics, drops today, 21 October 2016.

London-based lifestyle brand Trapstar is forged from underground subculture, with founders Mikey, Lee and Will influenced by iconic cinema, photography, music and contemporary art. Their signature graphic, “White Noise,” heavily adorns each piece in the second drop.

“After teasing the White Noise graphics a few months back, we’re excited to see this range coming out in the market now, not just in sneakers but also on apparel. It’s a true Trapstar stamp and we’re very proud of how the pieces turned out,” quipped Mikey.

The PUMA x TRAPSTAR second drop is available at PUMA SELECT in Bree Street, Cape Town and Braamfontein, Johannesburg as well as selected retailers in the country.

The PUMA x Careaux Suede and Blaze of Glory Drops Today

PUMA collaborates with Netherlands-born graphic designer and self-confessed sneaker-head Caroll Lynn aka Careaux, on a collection that reflects on the five most significant people throughout her life’s journey.

The collection sees a colourful and optimistic hallmark infused throughout, evident from the palette of the footwear to the aesthetic of the apparel designs. The hallmark floral design ‘Dedication Flower’ using the triangle gradient style became Caroll Lynn’s life signature and she continually uses it to find beauty and strength in dark, difficult times.

A PUMA classic that Caroll Lynn lends her personal touch with is the PUMA Suede. The Suede x Careaux is available in a delicate pallet of white, black or rose suede and features her feminine illustrations with the upper finished in overall classic suede material.

The Blaze Of Glory x Careaux x Graphic is a real stand out piece within the collection, featuring PUMA Trinomic tooling, Caroll Lynn creatively combines the functionality of the classic silhouette with art. It features the symbolic rose print she designed with iconic BOG elements finished with perforated leather giving it a soft romantic touch.

The PUMA x Careaux collection drops today (Friday, 9 September 2016) at selected retailers.

Rihanna and PUMA Remix Japanese Street Culture With A Haunting Twist

Finally, the wait is over as Rihanna’s inaugural FENTY PUMA by Rihanna apparel, footwear and accessories collection is unveiled. No one can forget Rihanna’s debut of this collection last February in New York. Each look was daring, provocative and oozing with attitude and now, it’s available for the world.

Rihanna drew inspiration from contemporary Japanese street culture and tradition for her debut collection with PUMA. Mixing cultural influences with gothic overtones and exaggerated volumes and proportions, the fashion icon challenged the traditional male and female silhouettes and blurred the lines between genders that are often times too rigid for her fashion tastes.

Key styles include the ground sweeping Mock Neck Maxi Dress and popular Rising Sun Lacing Sweatshirt and Sweatpant. The Tear Away Track Jacket and Pant, Bra and Lace-up skirt will also be making its mark in stores serving the fashion hungry and function needy. Every inch of her personality is depicted in every element of the range, and definitely not to be worn by the faint hearted. New introductions will follow in November, including the original and new FENTY PUMA Creepers, her show-stomping Sneaker Heels and key accessories like the Mesh and Bandana Cap and signature Lace Up Backpack.

“This collection is not only a representation of who I am and how I dress, but also pushes the boundaries of what I wanted to create with PUMA” says Rihanna, “I wanted to take PUMA to a new place with something unpredictable and unexpected. It's Japanese street culture with a haunting twist. I played with texture and silhouettes and all of the fabrics are luxurious. I reinterpreted the traditional in my way.”

The first drop from the collection will be available in local stores from 6 October at PUMA Select Bree Street, Cape Town and Braamfontein, Johannesburg.

First Look: Butan Wear’s Second Drop For This Season

Butan Wear has released their second drop for the season! Each piece in the collection has a cool and unique story. Peep the collection below, which is now available in stores and online!

‘Impi’ Baseball Cap

The cap pays homage to the fighting spirit of the indigenous tribes in Africa. It features a a deconstructed traditional shield logo.

‘Black Star’ Baseball Cap

The ‘Black Star’ baseball cap pays tribute to Pan-Africanism with the infamous tri-colour band embroidered on the left temple. The cap features a tribal mask on the front panel which serves as an identity to the roots of African people.

‘Wax Camo’ Pullover Hoody

The ‘Wax Camo’ pullover hoody features a combination of abstract camouflage and a pattern which is typically found on West African wax textile prints.

‘ZA-Kuza’ Crewneck Sweater

‘ZA-Kuza’ Reversible Bomber Jacket

The ‘ZA-Kuza’ crewneck sweater and reversible bomber jacket was inspired by the full body tattoo art which the Japanese Yakuza gangs are known to mark themselves with. The design has a uniquely South African twist on the art style, incorporating elements indigenous to South Africa in place of the Japanese elements which the Yakuza use.

PUMA x Dee & Ricky Collaborates For A Second Season On A Dope Collection

PUMA collaborated with Staten Island’s design duo, Dee & Ricky Jackson for the second time. The collection combines the whimsical world of Dee and Ricky, with PUMA’s deep sporting heritage.

Born and raised in New York City, the brothers spent their early years exploring each of the five boroughs from the subway or their skateboards.  They marveled at the concrete paradise of street art and people.  For their second collection with PUMA, Dee & Ricky have recreated that instant euphoria of discovering.  The pieces are inspired by a mix of the iconic visual language of Massimo Vignelli’s ubiquitous subway map and the influence of graffiti artists.

The PUMA Basket has been refreshed with a playful and innovative upper finished in twisted grind print textile.  The PUMA Basket Dee & Ricky NYC (R2 899) features embroidery prints over the upper and is available in vibrant orange suede.  The playful pallet that features throughout the collection highlights Dee & Ricky’s notorious sense of fun and makes the perfect sneaker addition for upbeat street style.

The Basket Mid x Dee & Ricky BigA (R1 899) is a different take on the classic mid sneaker and features removable Velcro patches for a touch of fun.  More premium than before, the re-worked style features a debossed print on suede upper.

A range of apparel featuring jackets, t-shirts, sweat pants and a cap supports the footwear collaboration. The PUMA x Dee & Ricky cap (R399) features the New York subway all over graphic, complete with moisture wicking sweatband and fuse mesh lining.  When styled together the collection creates a fun, carefree, urban inspired street style look.

The PUMA x Ricky Dee collection is available at PUMA Select Bree Street, Cape Town and Braamfontein as well as X-Trend Store and selected retailers nationwide.

Introducing the PUMA x SWASH London collection

PUMA collaborated with print and fashion house SWASH London, which is renowned for its hand-drawn and painted digital prints.

SWASH duo Sarah Swash and Toshio Yamanaka have injected bold and whimsical prints into some of PUMA’s most iconic styles for this basketball inspired collection, which is based on “things lost and found” including skeletons, antique jewellery and other hidden treasures.

While the new collection delves deep into the unexpected, the styles remain streetwear-ready and true to both brands - the blending of premium prints, cutting edge tech and handcrafted designs with classic PUMA styles, perfectly represents both brands’ unique DNA.

The PUMA x SWASH footwear illustrates the inspiration behind the collection thanks to the bold application of prints to some of PUMA’s most classic shoes. The Blaze of Glory (R2 299), originally known for its athletic construction demonstrates a playful and artistic theme in all over SWASH Ossuary design paired with a mellow, soft leather strike.

While the States Mid (R2 999) features SWASH Samovar, a unique hand drawn and painted design featuring bold and lavish, intricate patterns with an upper constructed from rich leather. Finally, the States (R2 699) has been given an equally bold SWASH treatment with an embellished Toucan design in jewel colour print.

The apparel builds on the basketball theme with the unisex Varsity Jacket (R10 999) featuring soft lambskin sleeves, side pockets and custom badges and the eye-catching Samovar print runs true to SWASH’s design ethos. The unisex Basketball Tank (R899) has an allover Samovar pattern and loose fit for a true basketball feel. 

The collection can be found at PUMA SELECT Cape Town, Bree Street and PUMA Select Johannesburg, Braamfontein and Madaiza  from 8 April 2016.

First Look: PUMA x Dee & Ricky Collection

PUMA collaborated with Staten Island’s design duo, Dee and Ricky Jackson for the first time. The brand new range takes a look inside their whimsical world where no colour is too bold and no detail is overlooked.

Dee & Ricky’s brand is built on the brothers' uncanny, innate artistic visions. Their business began with Lego brooches and quickly won over the fashion world thanks to its bright and quirky style. The self-professed style curators debut their new and first PUMA range taking basketball as their inspiration.

Revisting PUMA’s well-loved Basket, Dee & Ricky use playful and innovative ideas to create a shoe that will truly stand out. Available in two finishes - glossy patent leather (R1 299) and Velcro texture (R1 499).

The apparel and accessories are equally eye-catching. The PUMA x Dee & Ricky Bomber Jacket (R3 199) comes in a soft nylon fabric featuring knitted ribs and waistband with colourful tippings. The woven PUMA x Dee & Ricky label on the front bottom and big wording on the back is finished off with ‘we will win’ embroidery representing the collection’s sports inspiration. The PUMA x Dee & Ricky Basketball Tee (R499) comes with a playful basketballer print combining the duo’s design ethos with PUMA’s sportswear heritage. The PUMA Dee & Ricky AOP Tee (R799) features the designers’ bold and colourful body with black contrast sleeves and neckline. Number “86” printed on the chest honours the brothers birth year.

A signature PUMA x Dee & Ricky cap (R349) has an all over coloured print with a 3D embroidered Archive No.1 logo and PUMA No.2 woven tab sign off logo on the reverse. A collaborative woven label matching the sneakers is also featured on the bold cap.

PUMA x Dee & Ricky can be found at PUMA SELECT stores in Bree Street, Cape Town and Braamfontein, Johannesburg, as well as X–Trend, Madaiza and selected retailers nationwide from 10 March 2016.

FENTY x PUMA – Rihanna’s First Collection Premieres at New York Fashion Week, AW16

Overcome by environmental elements and an ominous mood-inducing energy, frostbitten models walked the runway with a bold chill, donning the first ever FENTY PUMA BY RIHANNA Collection. Just like the collection’s namesake creative director, the first season driven by Rihanna is nothing short of unexpected with a full collection of footwear, apparel and accessories for both women and men.

Rihanna drew inspiration from today’s Japanese street culture and tradition for this first full season collection since partnering with PUMA in December 2014. Mixing that cultural influence with gothic overtones and exaggerated volumes and proportions, the fashion icon challenged the traditional male and female silhouettes and blurred the lines between genders that are often times too rigid for her fashion tastes.

Rihanna introduced styles such as a ground-sweeping Kimono Robe, Tear Away Tricot Track Suits, an attitude punched Lace-Up Jersey Corset, dresses and bodysuits. In her first collection, she played with shapes creating exaggerated long sleeve tops and jackets and voluminous hoodies and crew necks.  Many apparel silhouettes play with laces, running up and down the pieces for an added edge. Outerwear styles, like the Velvet Bomber Jacket, serve both the fashion hungry and the function-needy. Each piece embodies a sexiness with a tough-as-nails attitude.

“This collection is not only a representation of who I am and how I dress, but also pushes the boundaries of what I wanted to create with PUMA” said PUMA Brand Ambassador and Women’s Creative Director Rihanna, “I wanted to take PUMA to a new place with something unpredictable and unexpected. It's Japanese street culture with a haunting twist. I played with texture and silhouettes and all of the fabrics are luxurious. I reinterpreted the traditional in my way. I'm looking forward to sharing the collection with the fashion community and fans.”

A PUMA collection is never complete without footwear. As a follow up to her beloved PUMA Creeper launch, the AW16 collection ranges from show-stomping boots to sporty heels to training sneakers. An exaggerated over-the-knee Eskiva boot laced up on some of fashion’s top models turned heads on the runway.

The footwear styles that was shown will be available soon. Rihanna’s first official modern and futuristic training shoe, the FENTY Trainer will hit PUMA SELECT in Cape Town, Bree Street and Johannesburg, Braamfontein, as well as X–Trend on 26 February 2016. Rihanna’s anxiously anticipated Fur Slide will launch in April and the infamous PUMA Creeper returns in May with new colors.

The PUMA by Rihanna Accessories range features an over-the-top Bomber Jacket Bag, the Fur Waistbag fit with two pockets for you and your boo and fashionable durags, caps and headwear, chokers and veiled sweatband all to perfect the look.

The AW16 PUMA by RIHANNA collection, under her FENTY label, includes a mix of fashion and lifestyle apparel, footwear and accessories and will be available at retail beginning September 2016.

PUMA x Bathing Ape - High Street Style with Camouflage Print and Dope Graphics

PUMA partnered with Japanese street label BAPE®, also known as A Bathing Ape®. The PUMA x BAPE® collection fuses high street style and sports, integrating BAPE®’s iconic camouflage print and graphics into PUMA’s sports performance apparel and footwear.

Founded in 1993 BAPE® has elevated lifestyle streetwear, setting trends and influencing musicians and artists around the world. By applying its unique design aesthetics to some of PUMA’s most classic and well-known styles, BAPE® has created a unique capsule collection.

The original ‘90s Trinomic R698 sneakers have been given a distinctive re-fresh with BAPE®’s black camo design, while the DISC Blaze has been given an equal camo flash in a classic green camouflage print. The Blaze of Glory, an icon known for its material play as well as its tech and sporty sole, has been merged with BAPE® for an all-over design treatment.

Designed using 2015 team replica football jerseys, the FC BAPE® Replica Shirts (R999) have a camo print in addition to reflective piping on the sleeves for a streetwear edge. The shirts can be coupled with the FC BAPE® Replica Shorts (R999) in the collection. The BAPE® Training Jacket (R1 999) has an original PUMA X BAPE® tape design on the sleeves, while the apparel collection is completed by the BAPE® Shark Hoodie (R2 499), based on the iconic and best-selling design from BAPE®’s mainline.

The PUMA x BAPE® collection is available at PUMA SELECT stores in Bree Street, Cape Town and Braamfontein, Johannesburg from 12pm on 12 December 2015.

Inside Look: Kanye West Yeezy Season 2 at New York Fashion Week 2015

View image | gettyimages.com

Kanye West returned to New York Fashion Week on Wednesday, 16 September 2015, where he showcased his second collection.

Kylie Jenner and Bella Hadid were seen on the runway, where Kanye showcased mostly outwear pieces and oversized sweaters. He also unveiled new colorways of the Yeezy 350, 750 and the 950.

Quite a few celebrities and well-known people attended the show, including his wife (Kim Kardashian-West), daughter (North West), Pusha T, Common, Tyga, Riccardo Tisci, André Leon Talley, Anna Wintour, and Drake. 

Peep a few backstage shots below:

View image | gettyimages.com

View image | gettyimages.com

View image | gettyimages.com

View image | gettyimages.com

Durban Fashion Fair 2015: Life By Andre Martin

Life by Andre Martin was the dopest show at this year’s Durban Fashion Fair. This year Andre showcased an urban men’s collection, which we still can’t get over!  

Highlights from the show include:

The Life sound range

The white fashion trend (great for this season)

The Life racing range

The Black fashion trend (black always rule!)

Life Kids

According to Andre ‘Life the brand is similar to life the experience. It is a mixture of what we know and what we want to know. Life is changing and evolving daily. Our brand is a voice that says, be a misfit, be misguided, be crazy, be inspired, be yourself – whatever that means, but always be brave’. You can shop the Life by Andre Martin collection from Life stores, which are located at various shopping malls around Durban including Gateway, the Pavilion and Galleria.



Congratulations to Andre on showcasing such a great collection and for also receiving the well deserved Durban Fashion Legend Award!



Image Credit: Simon Deiner / SDR Photo 

Introducing the PUMA x STAMPD Collection

PUMA collaborated with luxe streetwear brand STAMPD on a dope collection. Merging a reinvention of PUMA’s sporting heritage with STAMPD’s knowledge of modern youth culture, to create the cutting edge street style of the future.

Chris Stamp, a west coast ‘Avant Street’ influencer, founded STAMPD in 2011 and received the GQ award in 2015 for Best New Menswear Designer in America. His line has evolved into contemporary luxury while retaining its iconic styling cues. STAMPD embraces modern youth culture, creating high quality streetwear products mixed with simple forms for the every-day consumer.

The PUMA x STAMPD collaboration boasts a luxury performance athletic line that appeals directly to the modern high-street trend of today.

The footwear collection encapsulates the collaboration, combining the development of classic sportswear with the creation of new innovative streetwear. STAMPD has included key silhouettes such as the R698 and developed an entirely new shoe in the Trinomic Sock.

The R698 x STAMPD is a perfect mix of PUMA performance technologies and iconic running heritage, featuring rich soft leathers and an embossed STAMPD logo at the tongue.

In contrast to the R698 twist on a PUMA classic, the Trinomic Sock is sport-meets-fashion – exhibiting the cutting edge nature of the collaboration.

The STAMPD Athletics by PUMA apparel range pushes the boundaries of streetwear. Staple colours grey, black and white occur throughout, pulling focus towards the impressive design and forward thinking features.

Key styles include STAMPD Tech Leggings (R799), constructed with yoke panelling with a hidden back pocket featuring embroidered eyelets. Other standouts include the STAMPD Windbreaker (R3 999), Oversized Tee (R799), Nylon Gilet (R2 699) and Baseball Tee (R899), executed in sport fabric with a high-end fashion twist.

PUMA x STAMPD can be found at PUMA SELECT stores in Cape Town, Bree Street and Johannesburg, Braamfontein, as well as X–Trend and Lyme, from tomorrow (3 September 2015).

You have the opportunity to see and shop the collection tomorrow at PUMA SELECT stores in Cape Town (Bree Street) and Joburg (Braamfontein) as it is #FirstThursdays. Drinks will be available in both cities and @fratpacker will be performing in Joburg.

Follow @PUMASouthAfrica and #stampdPUMA and/or #PUMASelectZA to join the conversation.