Steve Madden South Africa showcased its upcoming summer season range at a stellar event held in Cape Town last night.
The see-and-be-seen occasion which was held at Ocular, located at the Zeitz MOCAA Museum at the V&A Waterfront, was attended by South Africa’s fashion A-listers, influencers, socialites and celebrities.
Guests were treated to a ‘walk in Central Park’ sunset fashion show which showcased Steve Madden’s recently launched SS22 Spring/Summer apparel collection, along with next season’s footwear range.
With its first African store in Fourways, Johannesburg, the iconic USA-born Steve Madden brand hit the South African retail market in 2013. The brand has expanded to 14 retail stores nationwide to date. But the local team players have their sights on market share in Africa, and in-line with their growth strategy of exposure via key locations on the continent, Steve Madden has extended its footprint to include Namibia.
Speaking at the launch, country manager, Michelle de Fonseca said that the brand’s focus is on their online offering which delivers across Africa, as well as stand-alone stores in identified cities throughout leading markets in Africa. “Our vision is to continue our successful retail expansion with 20 stand-alone stores earmarked for the end of 2023,” she said.
Commenting on the season launch and fashion show, De Fonseca said; “Steve Madden is synonymous with have-to-have shoes and we are the most admired and sort-after footwear brand in SA. We’re trend-setters in the footwear, bags and accessories market, and we are now very excited to be branching out into men’s and ladies’ apparel too with the same edgy-ness/ Steve Madden signature of our shoes.”
The event kicked off with a fashion showcase of the latest footwear and apparel, culminating in the reveal and announcement of this season’s collab with South African powerhouse Bonang Matheba, the Steve Madden Bonang Matheba Holiday Select Collection. The brainchild of the collaboration, Steve Madden SA’s Marketing Manager Tumelo Mmusi said that the association is ‘history in the making’. This is the first time that Steve Madden International has aligned with talent in Africa and this partnership confirms Steve Madden’s commitment to the South African and African market.
The Steve Madden Bonang Matheba Holiday Select Collection contains a range of go-to holiday styles selected by Bonang herself. “If ever you wanted to join forces with a brand, says Bonang, I think every person on the planet would select Steve Madden.”
Speaking on the USA and South Africa partnership, New York based Ian Funk, President of International Sales who was in Cape Town for the event remarked, “Our team is captivated by South Africa and the opportunities that lie ahead. The collab with Bonang has excited us, and we look forward to building and creating magic together.”
Top brands that have partnered with Steve Madden for the launch include Lift Airlines, Home Suite Hotels, House of BNG, SoHo and Mac Cosmetics.
