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.