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Vans Names SZA as Its First Ever Artistic Director

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Vans is a skateboarding shoe company, known for original action sports footwear, apparel and accessories. The brand announced a multi-year partnership with the Grammy winning singer SZA, naming her as its first-ever artistic director. She’ll be responsible for reimagining campaigns and co-creating exclusive product collections.

SZA expressed gratitude and, in a press release, said “In Vans I feel free, I’ve been wearing Knu Skools and other styles for years, they’ve always had an ethos I connect with”. She went on to say “As Artistic Director, my mission is to show that joy, community, creativity, and fashion are all still intersectional. That humanity, culture, and connection are still the access points. They stand where I stand, and I’m honored to invite a whole bunch of people to stand off the wall with us”.

The first artistic director for Vans

Vans and SZA came together in a campaign to showcase the original brand anthem. In the collaboration, she wears one of her favorite Vans footwear styles, the Knu Skool in Black and White. Originally released in 1997, SZA’s updated version comes with a 3D side stripe, subtle design updates for comfort and style.

The brand film campaign was shot in the Scottish Highlands, blending nature’s beauty with human expression. The choice of location reflects SZA’s artistry, the imagery wasn’t the typical sneaker ad, it was more like a cinematic experience, bringing the brand’s identity into a clearer picture.

Updated version of Knu Skool

Vans chose SZA for this role at a time when the brand is working to stand out again in the busy sneaker market. As Artistic Director, she’ll  help shape how Vans connects with people around the world. They can expect campaigns and creative ideas that feels new and counters the usual sneaker ads.

For SZA, the role offers a platform to merge both her music and fashion on a global scale, expanding her influence beyond music.

Final Thoughts

SZA showcasing the Knu Skool in Black and White

This partnership is beneficial to both SZA and Vans. Together, they have the potential to set better style trends at the same time creating new market strategies for the brand.

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Toke Makinwa Shares Graceful Pregnancy Reveal

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Toke Makinwa  just announced the biggest project of her life — she’s about to become a mummy.

In the most awe-striking way, the media personality and style icon shared a short, serene video on Instagram announcing that she’s expecting a child. The clip captures exactly how she feels at the moment — at peace. She’s seen in a flowing yellow gown adorned with delicate floral details, with a single yellow flower tucked into her soft curls adding the perfect touch. She gently cradles her baby bump in a peaceful garden setting, while the slow pace and peaceful mood of the video glows with warmth, joy, and poise.

The background music speaks of miracle and grace, perfectly fitting for such a moment.

Captioning the post, she wrote:

The biggest project of my life, the highest calling ever.
You are the God who will put his reputation at risk to save.
God is never late, and God can be trusted.
I have worn many hats over the years but this one trumps it all…

The sweetest part was her message to her baby, whom she calls “My bug.”
The reveal has drawn a wave of love from friends, celebrities, and fans.

We’ve seen Toke take on many roles, as she points out in her caption, but we can’t wait to see her as a mummy.

 

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How Bemi Orojuogun Caught the World’s Attention

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In the busy streets of London, one woman quietly stands out. At a bus stop, she smiles warmly as the city moves around her. This is Bemi Justina Orojuogun, better known as the “London Bus Auntie.” What started as a simple daily routine has grown into a social media sensation and led to opportunities with well-known fashion brands.

Bemi’s story began far from the streets of London. She was born in Ilaje, Ondo State, Nigeria, and moved to the UK more than 33 years ago. Life in London was steady but private until a personal loss changed her perspective. After her husband passed away, she promised herself she would keep finding joy in life. That promise gave her the idea to record short videos of herself at bus stops, moments of simple happiness she wanted to share with others.

The idea was simple. She stood in her everyday clothes, sometimes adjusting her headscarf or coat, smiling as the buses passed. Her videos quickly drew attention. One clip alone got over 40 million views, and Bemi had built a small community of people checking in just to see if she’d “catch the bus” that day.

Her growth didn’t happen overnight. She posted day after day, rain or shine. People started sharing her videos, making their own versions, and even timing the buses to match her clips. What began as a quiet personal habit became something others wanted to be part of.

Brands soon noticed her appeal. In late 2024, French fashion label Jacquemus reached out. Their campaign fit naturally with her style: no scripts, no fancy outfits, just her, the bus, and a simple sense of style. The campaign drew attention and helped her grow even more online.

Earlier this year, British fashion house Burberry featured her in their “Back to the City” campaign. Bemi appeared alongside other rising models in iconic London spots with double-decker buses in the background. The collaboration showed that she could work with major brands while staying true to herself.

Today, Bemi is still just who she’s always been. While most online buzzes fade quickly, Bemi has built her success by showing up consistently, keeping things simple, and turning ordinary moments into something memorable. And it all started with one woman, a smile and determination

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Hennessey Teams With Tems To Empower African Women In Music With Leading Vibe Initiative

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Temilade Openiyi known as Tems has just collaborated with the Hennessey Teams to launch her own powerful initiative – Leading Vibe Initiative(LVI) in her hometown, Lagos.

This was held on the 8th and 9th of August, 2025 in Lagos and it has already made history.

Tems

Tems

This initiative was born from her self-taught and inspired by her groundbreaking work in the music industry. Tems have decided to use this initiative to empower women, especially to do more in and out of the music industry, and globally (beyond Africa)

This collaboration between Hennessy with the grammy award winning Artist and global icon, marks not just a new beginning but a powerful movement for Tems and Leading Vibe Initiative(LVI)

Leading vibe initiative

The first leading vibe initiative participants

The just launched initiative is here to stay and it’s mostly rooting for women who are ready to break boundaries, embrace and groom their voice, carry themselves with pride and joy, and move without fears.

The initiative is here to support, connect and amplify women in music and across Africa. It is here to offer mentorship, training, industry access, and premium community for women in music.

This is beyond a platform – it is a movement set to break odd boundaries and see women become more.

Tems outfit to the Hennessy collaboration signing

Tems outfit to the Hennessy collaboration signing

Its aim is to raise the next generation of female artists, songwriters, producers, and more – to empower women, their voice, strength and crown their efforts without minimal price.

This initiative itself is inspiring and it’s here to play a wonderful role in seeing that women in the industry and beyond are rewarded for their efforts. It is endearing seeing a woman rooting for women and ready to groom their voice beyond just a stage and see them take the mic to the global stage.

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