Summary:
- Super Yaya and Puma release a new sneaker collection via Zalando.
- The project includes canvas and patent leather versions of the Speedcat.
- Model Alek Wek fronts the campaign shot in a dance studio.
Zalando teams up with Super Yaya and Puma to rework the classic Speedcat sneaker. Super Yaya founder Rym Beydoun mixes her Ivorian and Lebanese heritage to design the shoes. The Central Saint Martins graduate brings a fresh perspective to the sportswear staple. You will find two distinct releases within this collection.
The first drop arrives exclusively on the Zalando platform on April 16 2026. This version features a canvas upper inspired by Mudra Afrique dance movements. Beydoun offers three color combinations for this style. You choose between black and white, blue and green, or brown and almond. A tonal polka dot pattern sits inverted on the Puma formstrip. The neutral palette suits daily wear. The designers also include an extra pair of contrasting laces to change the appearance.
The second drop releases on April 30 2026. You find these pairs on Zalando before the shoes arrive at the Super Yaya website and Dover Street Market Paris. This release shifts to a patent leather construction. Beydoun presents this sophisticated option in plum and black colorways. An embossed polka dot pattern covers the shoe. Super Yaya first introduced this specific pattern during their Spring Summer 2025 clothing collection. The glossy finish provides a formal alternative to standard footwear.
Beydoun designed the shoes to sit between contrasting ideas. The designer wanted a product balancing sport and chic aesthetics. She wore Puma Speedcats during her childhood in the 1990s. Her personal connection drove the design process.
South Sudanese-British model and activist Alek Wek fronts the visual campaign. The photography team shot the images inside a dance studio. The art direction pulls from the Mudra Afrique visual language. The first set of photographs takes a documentary approach to capture natural poses in color and black and white. The second set shifts to a highly constructed editorial style.
Zalando connects 62 million active customers with over 7000 brands across 29 markets. The Berlin-based technology platform started in 2008. Super Yaya operates between Beirut and Abidjan. The brand focuses on West African culture and local artisan techniques. The design team centers their practice on the reinvention of cotton fabrics rooted in local popular culture. Beydoun uses these materials to offer new interpretations of everyday garments. Puma maintains a massive archive of sportswear silhouettes dating back to 1948. The German company employs over 20000 people globally. This three-way partnership brings an independent womenswear perspective to a massive global audience.
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