Fashion

Zee Nxumalo Leads the New Direction of the Puma H-Street

Published

6 months ago

1 April 2026

Zee Nxumalo - Instagram

Recent sneaker campaigns show a shift in how heritage styles are introduced to a new audience. Zee Nxumalo is part of that shift, fronting the return of the Puma H-Street in a way that feels current and grounded in everyday wear.

Coverage across titles such as HYPE Magazine and Glamour South Africa presents Nxumalo as a link between the shoe’s original release and a younger audience. The H-Street has a clear history, first introduced in the early 2000s and influenced by late-1990s track design. It draws from Puma’s Harambee runner, a performance model built for speed, which explains the shoe’s lightweight structure and low-profile build.

Zee Nxumalo – Instagram

The current version moves away from a performance-only identity. Instead of focusing on sport, the campaign places the sneaker in everyday social settings. This shift changes how the product is viewed. It is no longer tied strictly to athletics but positioned as part of daily dressing, where comfort and ease matter as much as appearance.

Nxumalo’s involvement supports this approach. Her rise within amapiano reflects how young artists move between music, public appearances, and online platforms. That visibility makes her a relevant choice for a campaign built around accessibility and routine wear, rather than exclusivity. Her presence connects the product to a lifestyle that is already familiar to her audience.

Zee Nxumalo – Instagram

The design of the H-Street aligns with this direction. A streamlined shape, mesh upper, and lightweight sole make it easy to wear across different settings. Key details, such as the T-shaped toe box and metallic panel accents, retain elements of the original design. At the same time, the updated construction focuses more on comfort than heritage appeal, making it practical for regular use.

Zee Nxumalo – Instagram

Campaign messaging reflects this positioning. The focus stays on how the sneaker fits into everyday life, rather than presenting it as a collector’s item. This approach separates the H-Street from many other retro releases, rather than relying heavily on nostalgia. Here, the emphasis is on function and wearability, with the design supporting a more flexible approach to styling.

There is also a global element to the rollout. Nxumalo appears alongside international figures like Rosé, placing the H-Street within a broader campaign. At the same time, her inclusion keeps the product relevant within a South African context, where local influence plays a key role in how fashion is received.

Zee Nxumalo – Instagram

For South African audiences, this campaign has a different impact. It shows a trend where local artists are central to global brand storytelling, rather than being added as an afterthought. Nxumalo’s role is important to how the sneaker is styled and received within her market.

The result is a different approach to heritage sneakers. The H-Street is not presented as a retro release. Instead, it is positioned as a practical option for current use, shaped by how people dress today and how local culture influences global fashion narratives.

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Fashion

Wisdom Kaye Goes From iPhone Fashion Videos to Winning the Virgil Abloh Award

Published

4 days ago

14 September 2026

Tega Ekeri

Wisdom Kaye started making fashion videos in 2020, filming styling ideas at home and posting them on TikTok. Six years later, the fashion creator has received one of the industry’s honours named after the late Virgil Abloh.

Kaye was presented with the Virgil Abloh Award, presented by LVMH, at Harlem’s Fashion Row’s 19th Annual Fashion Show & Style Awards in New York on September 8. The ceremony, held at The Glasshouse, was part of the events surrounding New York Fashion Week and recognised Black creatives across fashion, media and culture.

Photo: Instagram/@Wisdom Kaye

The award is particularly fitting for Kaye because his route into fashion did not begin with a traditional fashion job. His online presence came first. He built an audience through styling videos before moving into modelling, brand campaigns, runway appearances and major fashion events.

Kaye’s early TikTok videos were built around styling and visual transformation. He used clothes, editing and different characters to create short fashion-focused videos from his home. His work soon attracted attention from the fashion industry, and he was signed by IMG Models.

Photo: Instagram/@Wisdom Kaye

From there, the Houston-born creator began working with some of fashion’s biggest names. Harlem’s Fashion Row lists Dior, Fendi, Prada, Valentino, Ralph Lauren, Tiffany & Co., Coach and AMI Paris among the brands he has worked with. He has also walked for Balmain.

His move from social media creator to fashion professional has also included appearances on some of the industry’s biggest stages. In 2024, Kaye made his Met Gala debut wearing a dramatic Robert Wun look. The appearance further established him as a fashion figure beyond TikTok, while his online platform remained an important part of his career.

In 2025, Kaye was included in the inaugural TIME100 Creators list, recognising creators whose influence extends beyond social media. A year later, he took another step into the traditional fashion establishment when he joined the expert panel for the 2026 LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers. LVMH lists him alongside editors, stylists, creative directors and other established figures in the fashion industry.

Photo: Instagram/@Wisdom Kaye

That progression makes his Virgil Abloh Award notable. Abloh himself became known for challenging the usual boundaries between luxury fashion, streetwear, music and popular culture. He founded Off-White and became Louis Vuitton’s Men’s Artistic Director in 2018, a position he held until his death in 2021.

Kaye’s career has followed a different route, but there is a clear connection in the way both understood the importance of culture beyond the traditional runway. Kaye first built an audience through his own content before fashion houses, modelling agencies and major events became part of his professional life.

Photo: Instagram/@Wisdom Kaye

At Harlem’s Fashion Row, his award was announced alongside honours for Erykah Badu, Brandon Blackwood, Jahleel Weaver, Audrey Smaltz and Recho Omondi. Badu received the Fashion Icon Award, Blackwood was named Designer of the Year, Weaver received Stylist of the Year, Smaltz received the Ann Lowe Maverick Award and Omondi was named Editor of the Year.

For Kaye, the Virgil Abloh Award marks another stage in a career that began with a phone, a wardrobe and an audience on social media. What started as fashion content made at home has grown into work with global fashion houses, appearances at the Met Gala, a place among TIME’s leading creators and, now, an award carrying the name of one of fashion’s most influential modern figures.

Fashion

Ib Kamara Exits Off-White

Published

2 weeks ago

1 September 2026

Fadire Olusola

Photo credit: Pause Online (@pauseonline/Instagram)

Ib Kamara has left Off-White, ending his tenure as creative director. The brand announced the departure on Monday, August 31, 2026, describing the split as a mutual decision. No successor has been announced.

Kamara first worked with Off-White as a stylist after connecting with Virgil Abloh in 2019. Following Abloh’s death in November 2021, Kamara joined the brand as Art and Image Director in 2022 and was later appointed Creative Director in 2024.

Photo credit: Pause Online (@pauseonline/Instagram)

During his time at Off-White, explores the impact of Black culture has had on America. In his 2024 show, entitled “BLACK BY POPULAR DEMAND”,he infuses elements of heritage and modernity that paint a rich vision of Black fashion.

In September 2024, Off-White held its first New York fashion show. Celebrities like Issa Rae, Victoria Monét, Sunisa Lee and Flavor Flav attended the event.

His departure comes after a change in Off-White’s ownership. In 2024, LVMH sold the brand to Bluestar Alliance.

Photo credit: Pause Online (@pauseonline/Instagram)

Bluestar Alliance CEO Joey Gabbay praised Kamara’s contribution to the company. He said they are deeply grateful for Ib’s vision, creativity, and the remarkable energy he brought to Off-White throughout his tenure.

Kamara also spoke about his time at the company.

“Working at Off-White has been an honor and a profound creative education. The teams I have worked alongside, the collections we produced, the shows we dreamt ”

Photo credit: Pause Online (@pauseonline/Instagram)

Kamara has launched his own creative agency, Raw Materials by Ib Kamara, which will be his main focus now. Off-White now faces another a new transition.

Fashion

Louis Vuitton Opens New Immersive Store at V&A Waterfront

Published

1 month ago

6 August 2026

Fadire Olusola

Photo: Instagram

Luxury shopping in Cape Town has a new attraction. Louis Vuitton has unveiled a new store at the V&A Waterfront. This will allow visitors to browse the brand’s latest collections. The new boutique is a combination of fashion, art and local design, appealing to all fashion lovers.

The boutique opened on 30 July at Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre, replacing Louis Vuitton’s previous location at the V&A Waterfront. It is part of the French fashion house’s latest retail initiative, and located at shops 6256 and 6259B, Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre.

Photo: Instagram

All parts of the store are designed to reflect Louis Vuitton’s identity. You will find Warm wood finishes, gem stone and handcrafted textures paired with contemporary furniture. Floor-to-ceiling windows bring in natural light with customers having a good view of the harbour and Table Mountain.

The expanded boutique introduces good offerings. Shoppers can check out designer leathers, handbags, luggage, footwear, accessories, and fragrances. New collections of Women’s ready-to-wear have been added to the Cape Town store. This allows local customers to gain full access to all the brands collections.

Photo: Instagram

The boutique offers personalized luxury services. Customers can book private appointments with client advisers for one-on-one styling. There are aftercare services that help maintain and repair Louis Vuitton pieces. Those who want to buy beauty products enjoy smooth refill services.

The precinct boasts popular stores that sell premium designers like Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana. Louis Vuitton and these brands have made the Waterfront an appealing destination for everyone.

This investment shows how much confidence brands have in South Africa’s luxury market. The Waterfront welcomes millions of visitors every year. The presence of this boutique appeals among both tourists and local luxury shoppers.

With its great collections and excellent customer experience, Louis Vuitton’s new home shows Cape Town’s growing influence on the luxury industry.

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