Fashion
A$AP Rocky’s New Clothing Line Made a Splash at Paris Fashion Week
Dominique Charriau/Getty
A$AP Rocky rocked Paris Fashion Week, holding his first fashion show in the French capital on Friday.
The rapper-turned-designer unveiled his inaugural ready-to-wear collection with his creative agency AWGE in April, but that was just a primer for the high-octane performance in Paris.
Titled “American Sabotage,” the new line sits at the intersection of art and activism with the 30 looks exploring Rocky’s idea of “ghetto expressionism.” Created in collaboration with young designers Bede Marchand, Joshua Jamal, and Coucou Bebehe, the oversized garb was plastered with phrases like “Political Satire” and motifs such as the bald eagle and the American flag.
The secret, invite-only show, which took place at Hotel de Maison, was just as provocative with “protestors” carrying “Don’t be dumb” signs and unreleased tracks from Rocky’s upcoming album blasting through the speakers. Rocky also made quite a statement, walking the runway wearing a bomber jacket emblazoned with his own mugshot and a pair of giant Ray-Ban sunglasses. Rocky opted for the Mega Wayfarer shades, while the models wore the previously unseen Mega Balorama and the Optical Olympians.
The edgy AWGE garments were styled with newly released footwear and accessories from Rocky’s Puma collab. Some kicks that have yet to be released also graced the runway, as celebs such as Rihanna, Pusha T, Loewe designer JW Anderson, and Rimowa president Alexandre Arnault looked on.
The limited re-issue of the OG Inhale shoe from 2000 was one of the most interesting pairs on the runway. Hand-picked from the Puma Archive by Rocky himself, the Inhale dropped in red last May but will released in several colors this coming fall. These styles include custom embroidery, hand-buffed hits on the upper and midsole, and frayed edges. The models also walked in classic Puma Speedcats, which are currently available in red and black via the Puma website.
In addition, the AWGE show marked the return to the runway for the Mostro and Mostro 3.D sneakers. The kicks, which debuted at New York Fashion Week in February, combine an iconic ‘90s silhouette with modern tech. In fact, the runway exclusives are Puma’s first fully 3-D-printed footwear. The unconventional design features a signature spiked sole, which reportedly drew Rocky to the style. The black and white Mostro launches July 13, while selected Inhale and Mostro 3.D styles are set to launch this September. Don’t expect the American Savage x AWGE Men’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection to be that easy (or cheap) to acquire.