PUMA X NANDO’S: AYASHISA AMA RS-XTRA HOT

Words by Jamal Grootboom | Images: Supplied

Global sneaker and apparel brand PUMA joined forces with South Africa’s spicy restaurant franchise Nando’s for the hottest drop this year. Welcome the limited edition PUMA x Nando’s RS-Xtra Hot.

Available on Superbalist.com, PUMA dug through their archives and reimagined the '80s classic PUMA RS, adding Nando’s sauce to the mix for a unique pair of kicks. Drawing from Nando’s signature PERi-PERi sauce design, the RS-Xtra Hot incorporates a chilli on the strip and the PERi-ometer® while the heel cup takes colours from the various sauces

Speaking about this out-of-the-box collaboration, PUMA SA Marketing Director Brett Bellinger said they wanted to celebrate Heritage Day in South Africa with a local brand that would “capture the essence of what it means to be South African” by highlighting characteristics such as the country's boldness, fiery nature and eternal optimism.

Sharing why PUMA decided to work with Nando’s, Brett stated that the restaurant franchise's social commentary and cultural insight “authentically tapped into popular culture” which led to the brand's worldwide success is what made Nando's the ideal partner for this collaboration.

The PUMA RS range of sneakers stands tall as the world’s first wearable sports product and smart shoe in 1984. This technology revolutionised the running shoe with its built-in computer-aggregated data that translated this information into metrics for runners to analyse.

Since then, the RS family of shoes have been modernised and reinvented and the RS-Xtra Hot is the latest addition to the range.

Speaking about the collab, Nando’s GM Marketing: Brand, Strategy & Communications, Jessica Wheeler said: “This has been an incredibly exciting collab in a really important month for the country and us as a brand.”

She continued: “Nando's resonates deeply with the spirit of creativity, and we really do believe that creativity can be a force for good and a force for change…As we unveil the RS-Xtra Hot, we hope that the people of South Africa will embrace it with the same affection. We, the people of Mzansi, are fiery (read dope), and this sneaker is a celebration of that unmatched flavour.”