THE PUMA MOSTRO AT THE RUNWAYS OF BERLIN FASHION WEEK

A weekend full of turbulent events, surprising shows, and international guests–that was this year’s Berlin Fashion Week. And amidst all the hustle and bustle, one shoe completed the runway looks of the three Berlin-based brands GmbH, Lueder, and Richert Beil while drawing all eyes to it: the Puma Mostro.

Named after mostro, the Italian word for monster, this sportive shoe appears almost otherworldly with its spiky, a little bit alien-like sole and asymmetrical strap closure. So, a quarter decade after inventing the Mostro in 1999, Puma browsed a bit in its archives and revived it to bring it back to the world’s streets. Years after its initial launch it is once again the talk of the town, especially as a key element of creative, quintessentially Berlin streetstyles seen on show guests and of the unique looks on the runway during Fashion Week.

The Mostro combines the aesthetic of the 60s sprinting spikes and the 80s surfing shoes, while having an overall typical early 2000s look that reflects the diversity of Berlin’s streetstyles and the city’s distinct designers. This quite wild mix of different vibes makes the Mostro stand out and easy to style in quite many very different ways, so–how do the Berlin Fashion Week guests style the Puma Mostro?

Alina Kossan for example, who is standing in front of the Kant-Garagen, about to head to the Lueder show. She styles the cream-colored Mostro sneakers elegantly with wide-leg pleated, grey trousers, a cream-colored shoulder-accentuated top, and gray leather gloves that add a subtle biker touch to her outfit. Her idea behind the styling? “I wanted the shoe to stand out a bit, so I chose loose-fitting pants that don’t completely cover it and fall casually. And I thought a structured top would complement the shape of the Mostro nicely, and right now, I’m really into leather gloves with cut-off fingertips.”

Toni Dreher and Maureen Adim are also wearing the Puma Mostro, both happy to wear sneakers at Berlin Fashion Week after high heels were the norm at Copenhagen’s Fashion Week a few days earlier. At the historic Fichtebunker, where the Richert Beil show is taking place, their outfits reflect the dark, dramatic aesthetic of the location. Maureen wears a layered, cream-colored top that, combined with the sneakers, creates a laid-back streetstyle–one that works just as well for Fashion Week as it does for everyday wear.

Also, Berlin- and London-based artist Blazey, writer Valentina Vapaux, singer Paula Della Corte and many more styled the Mostros in their very own way, visiting the shows of the striving Berlin designers. And how did the designers themselves interpret the Mostro on their runway?

Dystopian but subtle at Richert Beil

Berlin-based designer duo Jale Richert and Michele Beil invigorated the Fichtebunker for their new collection. The cold stone walls of the location that’s under construction underlined their dark and pensive Autumn/Winter runway show MUTTER, confronting the exhaustion of a mother who suffers under societal pressures to perform and a self-destructive drive for perfection. Intense sound design and the rough, oppressive tower-like location met heavy fabrics and black latex. The Puma Mostro softened the clean, straight lines of the clothing and subtly added a touch of structure to the looks. Richert Beil also integrated some delicate moments through fine, semi-transparent clothes and beautifully staged flowers on the models’ bodies. At MUTTER, the models themselves and their looks told a story and invited the viewers to reflect on motherhood, family, and finiteness.

Futuristic and heroic at Lueder

Designer Marie Lueder and her eponymous fashion brand have collected many fans from Berlin and beyond who love her for her eccentric designs inspired by medieval armor. Washed jeans, a fascinating large palette of grey, the use of fake fur accessories, and metal accents make her collections highly recognizable. Lueder’s garments seem to be shields, protecting the people who wear them, and the Puma Mostro’s silhouette seamlessly complemented the structured garments and expressive shapes on the runway. In some looks, the shoe stood on its own, while in others, it blended into flamboyant legwarmers with a strong utility aesthetic. The motorsport-inspired Puma Speedcats with its sleek silhouette and snug fit also made its way onto the runway. Just as popular as the Puma Mostro for 2000s streetwear, the Speedcat is also enjoying a resurgence.  

The entire show felt like a futuristic action movie with the models embodying fearless heroes as they walked beneath hovering drones–the models’ confident, energetic walks on the runway and the driving bass supported this impression.

Neat and sophisticated at GmbH

Berlin Fashion Week’s Sunday evening reached a highly anticipated climax with the GmbH runway show. Founded nearly a decade ago in Berlin by Benjamin Alexander Huseby and Serhat Isik, the brand quickly developed a unique way to combine Menswear streetstyles and high-class craftsmanship. At Kant-Garagen, the designers unveiled an elegant collection featuring exquisitely tailored suits and coats, form-fitting knitwear, and relaxed, classic pieces crafted from luxurious fabrics. Similar as seen at this year’s Saint Laurent show in Paris, GmbH styles the elegant suits with over-knee leather boots, and the models’ slicked-back hair completed the look. Some looks had a subtle sporty touch, with the Puma Mostro peeking out from beneath wide-legged trousers. The sneakers harmonized well with the overall aesthetic, creating an interesting contrast against the runway, which was framed by historic, ornate chairs and flowing white fabric drapes.

GmbH’s presentation of their Autumn/Winter collection not only captured Berlin’s signature fusion of sophistication and casualwear but would also seamlessly translate to the runways of Milan and Paris with its elegant, classy moment.

The Puma Mostro is available in various styles, including a green/brown or black/white camouflage design, nearly knee-high boots for women in black and white, and more coming soon.