It’s been quite a year for Rhuigi Villaseñor hasn’t it?
After starting the year being appointed the Creative Director of Swiss label Bally, the designer has been shortlisted as one of eight finalists for the 2023 Woolmark Prize for his work with his label RHUDE.
This, alongside a myriad of collaborations with various household names (including McLaren and Lamborghini), and you could say it’s been a pretty fruitful 12 months, too.
As it goes, Rhuigi isn’t finished there, as he and Puma have united to celebrate the “New York State of Mind,” with a limited capsule paying homage to the city’s five boroughs.
Rhuigi — who himself is West Coast-based — has looked to honor New York’s style codes with Puma, honing in on American classics with collegiate notes, like on faux-leather down jackets.
Puma’s epochal touch has been realized on an accompanying pair of Suede sneakers, which have been decked out in premium black leather, with textural details and reptile debossing on the heel.
The collection — which is set to land online December 17, 2022 — arrives alongside a campaign featuring real New Yorkers, who allow the world to see the beauty and individuality of New York City that only a local can experience.
Liv is an artist who can also dribble two balls at the same time, Yang Xiao Di a Chinese juggling master that has performed with Big Apple Circus and the National Circus Project, and Jared Crawford a bucket drummer, industrial percussionist and composer.
On reflection, there’s probably no better way for Rhuigi to round out a pretty wild year than with a wholesome collaboration. That being said, if he’s crowned Woolmark Prize 2023 winner, that could well be the cherry on the cake.
