Written by Renaé Mangena
It has been a while since I last put together a Fashion Dossier. Life has been wonderfully eventful, and in many ways, the industry has shifted too. Brands seem to be investing less in traditional product launches and editorial rollouts, and more in creating meaningful, real-world experiences that allow audiences to engage with fashion in more immersive ways.
So, we’re returning on a quieter note, one centred on thoughtful design, considered collaborations, and the reimagining of familiar archetypes. This edition looks at ASICS’ collaboration with Wiffy Griffy on the GEL-CUMULUS™ 16, a project that breathes new life into an established silhouette. We also explore the arrival of Applied Art Forms at Vault on Bree, where the Amsterdam-based label is now available exclusively in South Africa.
From Nigeria, we turn our attention to Omo Eko by SEVERENATURE, a collection deeply rooted in the cultural zeitgeist of contemporary Lagos, drawing inspiration from the streets where the brand was born. Finally, we look at STUDIOOO’s Kkerele pop-up, an intercontinental cultural exchange that demonstrates how retail can become a space for storytelling, community, and meaningful engagement with fashion beyond the product itself.
Applied Art Forms at Vault on Bree
Amsterdam-based fashion label Applied Art Forms has officially entered the South African market through an exclusive retail partnership with Vault On Bree in Cape Town. Renowned for its architectural approach to contemporary menswear, the brand combines influences from military uniforms, workwear, and archival garments with refined craftsmanship and modern design. Its arrival introduces South African consumers to a globally respected label that values thoughtful design, functionality, and cultural exchange. Inspired by the ethos of its Amsterdam flagship, the new home at Vault On Bree extends beyond retail, creating a space where fashion, design, and community intersect. As Applied Art Forms continues its global expansion, its Cape Town launch marks an exciting new chapter in connecting with Southern Africa’s creative landscape.
The latest Bafana Bafana football jersey has just been released, as imagined by Adidas. This is a story told in three chapters. By immersing ourselves in the culture, we explored the intersection of football, heritage, and creative expression, alongside Kasi Flavour10 and Wanda Lephoto. Chapter One: The Streets Zulu-inspired and rooted in everyday life, where tradition and contemporary sportswear move as one. Chapter Two: The Church. A space rarely associated with football, yet central to South African identity. Here, the jersey becomes a symbol of belief, not in religion, but in country, in pride, and in what lies ahead. Where tradition meets setting, and faith meets football.
A ASICS' collaboration with Wiffy Griffy
ASICS’ has collaborated with Wiffy Griffy on the GEL-CUMULUS™ 16, a project that breathes new life into one of the brand’s most established silhouettes. Rather than treating the archive as something static, the collaboration demonstrates how familiar forms can be reinterpreted through a contemporary lens, balancing technical innovation with a distinct creative perspective. Wiffy Griffy’s intervention introduces new textures, colour palettes, and visual narratives that honour the original design while inviting a new generation of wearers to experience it differently. It is a reminder that some of fashion’s most compelling ideas are not always born from creating something entirely new, but from thoughtfully reimagining what already exists and allowing heritage, functionality, and experimentation to coexist.
Omo Eko by SEVERENATURE
SEVERENATURE, dropped their collection deeply rooted in the cultural zeitgeist of contemporary Lagos. Drawing inspiration from the streets where the brand was born, the collection reflects the rhythm, resilience, and complexity of one of Africa’s most dynamic cities. The collection captures the lived experiences, visual language, and everyday energy that define Lagos, translating them into garments that feel both deeply personal and globally relevant. It is a body of work that celebrates the intersections of heritage, youth culture, and contemporary fashion, reminding us that some of the most compelling design emerges from an intimate understanding of community, identity, and home.
STUDIOOO's Kkerele pop-up,
The STUDIOOO’s Kkerele pop-up brings us an intercontinental cultural exchange that demonstrates how retail can become a site for storytelling, dialogue, and genuine human connection. The pop-up reimagines the role of physical retail by bringing together designers, artists, and audiences across geographies through a shared appreciation for craft, culture, and contemporary design. It creates space for conversation as much as commerce, inviting visitors to engage with the histories, processes, and communities that shape the work on display. In doing so, Kkerele reminds us that fashion extends far beyond the garments themselves, it is an ecosystem of ideas, relationships, and cultural memory, where every object carries the imprint of the people and places from which it emerged.
H&M x WARDROBE.NYC
H&M celebrated the launch of its new designer collaboration with WARDROBE.NYC – the luxury essentials label founded by editor and stylist Christine Centenera and designer Josh Goot – during Haute Couture fashion week in Paris. Welcoming friends and fans of the brand, guests included Teyana Taylor, Audrey Nuna, Absolutely, Adéla, Marina Ruy Barbosa, Laura Harrier, Lily Chee, Olivia Neill and Mia Regan – each dressed in the new collection.
The WARDROBE.NYC H&M collaboration draws on nearly a decade of archives to distill the brand’s vision into a tightly edited offering of its most enduring silhouettes. The collection will be available from 6 August at Sandton City and online from Superbalist.
