Summary:
- Fashion brand Maryse Seigu launches its third collection "CANGUIO S/S 25", honoring Marlene Canguio, the first Guadeloupean woman to compete in the Olympic Games
- The 13-piece collection features athletic-inspired pieces including tracksuits, jerseys, and accessories that blend Caribbean heritage with urban fashion
- A special launch event "IT'S BETTER IN THE CARIBBEAN" will take place in New York on May 23, with online sales beginning May 29
Paris-based fashion brand Maryse Seigu has unveiled its third lookbook titled "CANGUIO S/S 25", paying homage to Marlene Canguio, the first Guadeloupean woman to participate in the Olympic Games. The collection serves as a tribute to Caribbean sporting heritage, particularly focusing on the Lesser Antilles region where athletic traditions have shaped local culture.
Maryse Seigu bridges the gap between the Caribbean islands and the rest of the world, focusing on locations where the Afro-descendant diaspora holds significant influence. The brand has built its identity around visual storytelling that explores diasporic narratives and Caribbean cultural heritage.
Marlene Canguio, born in 1942, was a French athlete who specialized in hurdles and long jump. She won five French champion titles: the 80 metres hurdles in 1963 and 1964, the long jump in 1967, and 100 meters hurdles in 1969. She competed in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games and was the first Antillaise to represent France at the Olympics. Tragically, Canguio passed away in January 2025, making this collection a posthumous tribute to her legacy.
The lookbook was photographed in a wooden living room setting, drawing inspiration from Mark Rothko's final paintings from 1957 to 1969. The aesthetic explores themes of dislocation and belonging that resonate with diasporic experiences, particularly those of Caribbean athletes who have crossed geographical and cultural boundaries.
The collection reimagines Maryse Seigu's signature silhouettes with 13 pieces that blend athletic functionality with street style. Key items include the "Perec Windbreaker," named after Marie-José Pérec, another celebrated Afro-Caribbean athlete, and the "Viv Jersey", referencing cricket legend Viv Richards. The line also features "Ottey cotton sweatpants", four new hat designs, an "It's Better in the Caribbean" beach towel, and pieces featuring a new graphic design called "CARIBBEAN DREAMS".
The pieces are designed to capture what the brand describes as the energy of Caribbean outdoor courts, athletic fields, and beach activities, while also reflecting the urban intensity of cities like Paris, New York, or London. This dual aesthetic aims to represent the experiences of Caribbean diaspora communities living between island traditions and metropolitan environments.
Accompanying the collection is a short film directed internally by the brand, featuring the clothing in motion against the backdrop of a jet-ski journey across Karukera waters—a reference to the indigenous Taíno name for Guadeloupe.
The "CANGUIO" collection will be available for purchase online at maryseseigu.com starting May 29, 2025. This release continues the brand's mission to assert Caribbean voices in global fashion conversations while maintaining deep connections to its cultural origins.
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Kristin Kaye
Insatiably curious about human expression, she immerses herself in literature, theater, art, and dance. Her academic journey led to degrees in Modern Literature, where she delved into The Furioso, and Historical Sciences with a focus on Contemporary History. Her studies took her to the prestigious Erasmus University Rotterdam, broadening her international perspective.
Her passion for culture isn't confined to personal enjoyment—it spills onto the pages of various publications. There, she explores not only artistic endeavors but also civil rights issues and the myriad ways human culture manifests itself. For her, writing about these topics isn't just a profession; it's an irresistible calling that stems from her deep-seated fascination with the human experience.