The PUMA South Africa team said, let’s turn the Castle of Good Hope into an eerie, dystopian mostroverse with an avant garde sonic experience, distorted reflections feeding back into projections on suspended screens and plastic sheeting, shoes hanging from the ceiling, mesmerising red lights that make you feel like you are not just observing the but living in the monster’s mind. Talk about a multisensory stimulation.
Our editors Anastatia and Renaè were invited to fly down to Cape Town to attend the PUMA MOSTRO LAB Experience where culture and community intersected to celebrate the iconic silhouette. Needless to say, “they had a time last night!”
As soon as they landed they were welcomed at the PUMA Seeding Lounge at Milck Studio in Woodstock where they explored the latest iterations of the Mostro and related PUMA apparel in an exclusive design space.
The sneaker is named after the Italian word for monster, the sneaker debuted in 1999 and gained cult status with its bold, boundary-pushing design which expressed the spirit of the Y2K era. As fashion turned futuristic in the early 2000s, the Mostro’s sleek profile and alien-like design made it a perfect fit for both sneakerheads and avant-garde fashion circles.
If there is one thing to note about the guests in attendence is that they know how to style themselves. It was fun to see everyone’s unique taste play out when styling the different variations and colourways of the The Mostro which gained renewed attention through an appearance at New York Fashion Week last year and at Paris Fashion Week in January 2025. A hybrid of two worlds: the 1960s sprint spike and 1980s surf shoes, the Mostro set the tone for a new era in lifestyle footwear when it hit the scene in 1999. It gained cult status thanks to its unconventional look, often seen on the feet of trendsetters and style rebels.
“The uniqueness of Mostro provided an ideal opportunity for PUMA to create an unforgettable experience merging sneaker culture with fashion and design,” said Brett Bellinger, PUMA South Africa Marketing Director.”
“The bold and attention grabbing Mostro appeals to trend enthusiasts. Those creative expressionists who keep evolving, who like to keep their look current and are never afraid to stand out. These pioneers of play are innovators, unafraid to make bold, trend-setting style statements.”
The PUMA Mostro OG, Mostro Perf, UR Mostro, Mostro Leather, Mostro Fey and Mostro Boot are currently available at PUMA.com, PUMA retail stores, Shelflife, Archive, and Sneaker District. Price R2399. From June 2025 the Mostro will see a wider distribution including Sportscene and Office.
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