Got major FOMO after seeing all the posts from the PUMA Mostro Lab event in Cape Town on social media? You’re in luck because Women’s Health was in attendance! And we’re here to give you a glimpse inside the party and show you how SA fashion icons are styling the sneaker set to take over the streets in 2025. Major fashion inspo, ahead!
The History Of The PUMA Mostro
This sneaker debuted in 1999 and gained a cult-like following and status. Thanks to its unconventional, bold and boundary-pushing design, which encapsulated the spirit of the Y2K era perfectly. Often seen on the feet of trendsetters and style rebels, it took the world by storm.
In the early 2000s when fashion started to go more futuristic, the sleek profile and alien-like design resonated with sneakerheads and avant-garde fashion circles alike.
Making an appearance at last year’s New York Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week in January, these edgy sneakers gained renewed attention. Now, after 25 years, the shoe is back to delight old fans and capture new ones. And the tribe of contemporary converts continues to multiply thanks to special-edition releases and sought-after collaborations.
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What Does The PUMA Mostro Look like?
It’s an extremely distinctive alien-like sneaker and one that’ll stand-out on the streets. A sculptural, edgy shoe, the Mostro has a low-profile shape and an avant-garde, spiked sole. It takes inspiration from two different worlds; the streamlined sprinting spikes of the ‘60s and the surfing shoes of the ‘80s. It’s like no sneaker you’ve ever seen before!
What Does Mostro Mean?
No, you’re not imagining things if you can’t quite figure out what the word means. It’s in a different language! The PUMA Mostro was named after the Italian word for monster. So cool!
Who Should Wear The PUMA Mostro Sneaker?
“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,” says Brett Bellinger, PUMA South Africa’s Marketing Director.
Which Famous People Have Rocked These Sneakers?
Over the years, the Mostro has graced the feet of many influential people including Madonna, Lenny Kravitz, Rihanna and most recently ASAP Rocky (his 3D printed Mostro was actually on display in the Mostro Lab for event goers to drool over!).
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Inside the PUMA MOSTRO Lab Immersive Experience
On the 7th of May, PUMA took over the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town creating their very own MOSTRO Lab. This invite-only takeover asked South Africa’s most fashionable to celebrate the iconic silhouette and style it to perfection. And boy, did they deliver!
“The uniqueness of Mostro provided an ideal opportunity for PUMA to create an unforgettable experience merging sneaker culture with fashion and design,” says Bellinger.
The Concept
PUMA created an immersive Mostroverse where you had the visceral sense you had been swallowed into the bowels of a living, growing, reacting creature. It was an eerie, dystopian atmosphere combined with a clinical experimental aesthetic and a soundtrack delivered by Markus Wormstorm, Ivan Turanjanin and Athi Maq. It was the perfect environment for an ultra-cool, ultra-futuristic shoe.
The Photo Op
The Castle’s historic water fountain provided a dramatic cinematic photo moment, complete with light-reflecting mirrors, thick, rolling smoke and Mostro tentacles that emerged from this mist
The Food
The food was curated and conceptualised by STUDIO H and perfectly captured the aesthetic. Food included black sourdough cracker stacks with neon pink hummus, yellow split pea dips served in pipettes, black charcoal bao buns and black and silver sesame shortbread with black sesame marshmallow. Plus, the drinks were served in suspended IV-style serum bags!
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The Activities
The Room Of Refraction
The MOSTRO MIND installation (aka the psychological core of the creature) was created by Cape Town artist Inka Kendzia. It featured reactive lighting, laser projection and ambient audio.
Cameras were also embedded in shrink-wrapped shoes hanging from the ceiling and captured real-time footage of the guests that was fed back into projections on suspended screens and plastic sheeting (as if you had now become part of the monster’s mind yourself).
The Room Of Reflection
Guests could receive tooth gems in a futuristic dental lab, complete with a dentist chair, clinical lighting and staff dressed in lab-coats, surgical masks and gloves.
The talented artists from Palm Black Tattoo studio were also on site to give guests who were brave enough, some specially-designed and on-theme tattoos.
You could also customise and transform your sneakers with gems, studs and laces.
The Archives
Guests could take a peek at iconic archive designs, including the striking metallic gold Mostro Alto Boot from 2005 as well as several other iterations from the early 2000s.
The latest collaboration drops were also showcased. We got to see the Mostro OG, Mostro Ecstasy, Mostro Camo, Mostro Mesh, Mostro Perf, Mostro Fey, the UR Mostro and the Mostro Boot Leather.
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How To Style The PUMA Mostro Sneaker
Scroll on for some serious style inspiration and hit the streets with a look that will turn heads and garner tons of compliments!
Shop The PUMA Mostro Sneaker
From underground cult classic to runway regular, the Mostro is no longer the monster in the shadows – it’s front and centre. And now you can rock a pair yourself.
The PUMA Mostros are currently available at PUMA.com, PUMA retail stores, Shelflife, Archive and Sneaker District.
