Latest news with #Haines
The Citizen
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Former ‘Isidingo' actress on how Sri Lanka beats a similar drum to Africa
Jessica Haines, who now lives in Sri Lanka, is returning to South Africa to debut her play at the Hilton Arts Festival in KwaZulu-Natal. Actress Jessica Haines is bringing her play to this year's Hilton Arts Festival. Picture: Supplied Former Isidingo and Home Affairs actress Jessica Haines, who now lives in Sri Lanka, is returning to South Africa to debut her play at the Hilton Arts Festival in KwaZulu-Natal. 'Sri Lanka has been a creative renaissance for me,' Haines says. Haines has been living in the Asian country with her family for several years. She is coming back home to debut her play, Once Upon a Teacup, at the Hilton Arts Festival. Established in 1993, the festival is annually held on the Hilton College campus each year in August and runs for four days. Sue Clarence and Geoff Thompson founded the Hilton Arts Festival while they were attending the National Arts Festival in Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown). Co-founder and organiser of the festival, Thompson died last year, with his memorial service held just a few weeks before last year's edition. This year's edition will be held from 8 August to 10. ALSO READ: WATCH: Youthful 'Afropocalypse' wins Gold Ovation Award as National Arts Festival comes to a close Haines on Sri Lankan stories Haines said Sri Lanka's capital city Colombo has a cultural edge and charge that she finds inspiring. 'It beats a similar drum to Africa – the stories are extracted from the natural world, the heat, the moon, the sea, the seasons, bejewelled elephants, big bats, the monitor lizards, the beautiful butterflies and the intoxicating colour,' she said. 'Their stories are ancient, spiritual and rather scary. They tell elaborate tales, using masks, exaggerated gesture and exquisite costumes to enrapture, terrify and mystify their audience.' Last year Haines returned to the stage with Once Upon a Teacup, a story that she wrote while studying shadow theatre under Norbet Gotz and the Theatre Der Schatten in Bamberg, Germany. 'Once Upon a Teacup begins on a farm in KZN and I hope audiences will recognise the many character archetypes that I bring to life,' she shared. The play is directed by South African James Cuningham. 'The production explores the journey of a young girl named Violet who grows up in Africa. The play explores the notion and power of imagination and the toll it takes under pop culture constructs, social media and the inevitable pressure of growing up. 'Violet's mental health is compromised and she soon finds herself in a dark and unpredictable place, only to be rescued by the concept of home and the memories of her childhood.' Once Upon a Teacup made its debut earlier this year in Sri Lanka. ALSO READ: 'Tebello — The Night Piece' : A German-SA collaborative effort that engaged the audience Bringing the play home Haines, who grew up in KZN, says she hopes the story reawakens the inner child in everyone who watches it. 'Once Upon a Teacup begins on a farm in KZN and I hope audiences will recognise the many character archetypes that I bring to life. 'I'm hoping that the story reawakens the child in everyone, the lost ability to play, create and fully invest in the colourful and crazy world of our imagination, which is so often diluted by the pressure and fast pulse of adulthood. My job as an actor is to step inside and dismantle the human condition.' Haines has a strong connection to Hilton College. 'My grandparents were teachers at the school, my father and all his brothers went there, my brother, my husband Richard Walker, all his brothers, my father-in-law and my nephew all attended Hilton so I will feel very much at home at the festival,' she shared. The play will be performed on 9 and 10 August. NOW READ: WATCH: Modise Sekgothe, a poet equipped in the exercise of digging deep and baring himself naked
Malaysian Reserve
7 days ago
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Snoafers become footwear's hottest trend
Brands bet on snoafers as comfort meets street style IN THE world of fashion hybrids, there are skorts (shorts that look like skirts), jeggings (leggings made of stretch denim) and shackets (shirt-jackets). The latest style mash-up: Snoafers. One of the biggest trends in footwear combines the cushioned sole of a sneaker with the upper of a loafer, for a comfortable business-casual shoe that is meant to be worn anywhere. Although their divisive appearance initially generated backlash, snoafers have emerged as a viral breakout category for major sneaker brands including New Balance Atheltics Inc, Hoka and Puma SE, selling out quickly and landing on online marketplaces at wildly inflated prices since last year. Joining the trend late is Nike Inc, which recently introduced its Air Max Phenomena, created through the company's Serena Williams Design Crew apprenticeship programme. Prior to its release last month, the US$155 (RMRM728.50) snoafer was listed on StockX LLC for as much as US$500, fuelling buzz for the sportswear giant after a year-long sales slump. In a US$457 billion global footwear market loaded with sneakers, 'customers are looking for something different,' said resale marketplace, StockX senior marketplace director Drew Haines, which has seen an influx of shoppers vying for the latest snoafers. Sneakerheads seem to be more open to unconventional silhouettes developed by a wider selection of brands, he said, an encouraging sign for footwear designers eager to experiment and stand out from the competition. When trends in fashion arise, they historically tend to have short lifespans — something that has become more pronounced in a culture driven by social media, forcing companies to constantly innovate to stay ahead. 'I do think brands are going to start to take some of these risks… to produce and release products that are outside of the traditional scope,' Haines said. 'Whenever they do that, it seems to really resonate.' New Balance began selling its snoafer, the 1906L, in September and is credited with popularising the silhouette. 'We've been blown away by how the 1906L has been embraced — not just by sneaker fans, but by a broader audience,' said New Balance design manager Charlotte Lee. 'It's opened up a new design space for us and we're definitely planning to explore that further.' That includes new colours and materials expected to be released soon. New Balance did not provide sales figures, but the shoes quickly sold out online in the US and Lee said demand has remained strong beyond the initial drop. 'We wanted to challenge the perception of loafers,' she said. By fusing the performance of a sneaker with the 'dressier' look of formal footwear, the 1906L is 'a product that fits how people actually live and move.' Shoppers vying for the latest snoafers, a sneaker-loafer hybrid gaining traction in the RM2.2t footwear market Hoka, known for its running shoes, is currently sold out of its all-gender Speed Loafer, which retails for US$185. Puma debuted its Sophyr loafer last year and is still sold out in multiple sizes. Nike-owned Converse is also getting in the game, unveiling its All-Star Coinloafer in the US in June. Different variations of the shoe have been offered in Japan as early as 2022, according to Women's Wear Daily. The hype hasn't let up: Online searches for New Balance's 1906 L have increased 3,700% on StockX since the first quarter last year (1Q25) — months before its release. Kelly Baartman, 27, bought a pair of Rich Oak 1906Ls from a shoe store called Archive in June and said she loves the formal-meets-athleticwear versatility of the shoes. 'I love wearing a sneaker and I love wearing a loafer,' the content creator from South Africa said. 'To see that concept come together, just based on my personal style, I was like, 'Oh, this is literally perfect.'' Angel Edme, a content creator from Brooklyn, said she loves when brands try new things. 'It was something different,' she said of her 1906Ls, which she wears to run errands and attend creator events. 'It was something fresh and it was something playful that I can possibly mess around with and find new ways of styling.' Even big apparel companies are taking note. 'The loafer is 100% making a comeback in every single form,' Gap Brand president and CEO Mark Breitbard, said in an interview with Bloomberg. He said Gap takes into account what shoe styles are trending when the company designs its jeans, to ensure its clothes will look good with what shoppers are wearing on their feet. — Bloomberg This article first appeared in The Malaysian Reserve weekly print edition
Fashion Network
01-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
From loafers to sneakers: why snoafers are dominating 2025 footwear trends
In a $457 billion (£333.6 billion) global footwear market loaded with sneakers, 'customers are looking for something different,' said Drew Haines, senior marketplace director at resale marketplace StockX, which has seen an influx of shoppers vying for the latest snoafers. Sneaker enthusiasts appear more receptive to unconventional silhouettes being developed by a wider array of brands, he said—an encouraging sign for footwear designers eager to experiment and differentiate themselves in an increasingly saturated market. When trends in fashion arise, they often have short lifespans—something amplified by a social media-driven culture—forcing companies to continuously innovate to stay relevant. 'I do think brands are going to start to take some of these risks… to produce and release products that are outside of the traditional scope,' Haines said. 'Whenever they do that, it seems to really resonate.' New Balance began selling its snoafer, the 1906L, in September and is credited with popularising the silhouette. 'We've been blown away by how the 1906L has been embraced—not just by sneaker fans, but by a broader audience,' said Charlotte Lee, a New Balance design manager. 'It's opened up a new design space for us, and we're definitely planning to explore that further.' That includes new colours and materials expected to be released soon. New Balance did not provide sales figures, but the shoes quickly sold out online in the US, and Lee said demand has remained strong beyond the initial drop. 'We wanted to challenge the perception of loafers,' she said. By fusing the performance of a sneaker with the 'dressier' look of formal footwear, the 1906L is 'a product that fits how people actually live and move.' Hoka, known for its running shoes, is currently sold out of its all-gender Speed Loafer, which retails for $185 (£135.05). Puma debuted its Sophyr loafer last year and is still sold out in multiple sizes. Nike-owned Converse is also getting in the game, unveiling its All-Star Coinloafer in the US in June. According to Women's Wear Daily, different shoe variations have been offered in Japan as early as 2022. The hype hasn't let up: online searches for New Balance's 1906L have increased 3,700% on StockX since last year's first quarter—months before its release. Kelly Baartman, 27, bought a pair of Rich Oak 1906Ls from Archive, a shoe store, in June and said she loves their hybrid versatility. 'I love wearing a sneaker and I love wearing a loafer,' said the content creator from South Africa. 'To see that concept come together, just based on my personal style, I was like, 'Oh, this is literally perfect.'' Angel Edme, a content creator from Brooklyn, said she enjoys it when brands take creative risks. 'It was something different,' she said of her 1906Ls, which she wears to run errands and attend creator events. 'It felt fresh and playful—something I could experiment with and style in new ways.' Even big apparel companies are taking note. 'The loafer is 100% making a comeback in every single form,' said Mark Breitbard, president and chief executive officer of the Gap brand, in an interview with Bloomberg. He said Gap takes into account what shoe styles are trending when the company designs its jeans, to ensure its clothes complement what shoppers are wearing on their feet. (Exchange rate: $1 = £0.73)
Fashion Network
01-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
From loafers to sneakers: why snoafers are dominating 2025 footwear trends
In a $457 billion global footwear market loaded with sneakers, 'customers are looking for something different,' said Drew Haines, senior marketplace director at resale marketplace StockX, which has seen an influx of shoppers vying for the latest snoafers. Sneaker enthusiasts appear more receptive to unconventional silhouettes being developed by a wider array of brands, he said—an encouraging sign for footwear designers eager to experiment and differentiate themselves in an increasingly saturated market. When trends in fashion arise, they often have short lifespans—something amplified by a social media-driven culture—forcing companies to continuously innovate to stay relevant. 'I do think brands are going to start to take some of these risks… to produce and release products that are outside of the traditional scope,' Haines said. 'Whenever they do that, it seems to really resonate.' New Balance began selling its snoafer, the 1906L, in September and is credited with popularizing the silhouette. 'We've been blown away by how the 1906L has been embraced—not just by sneaker fans, but by a broader audience,' said Charlotte Lee, a New Balance design manager. 'It's opened up a new design space for us, and we're definitely planning to explore that further.' That includes new colors and materials expected to be released soon. New Balance did not provide sales figures, but the shoes quickly sold out online in the U.S., and Lee said demand has remained strong beyond the initial drop. 'We wanted to challenge the perception of loafers,' she said. By fusing the performance of a sneaker with the 'dressier' look of formal footwear, the 1906L is 'a product that fits how people actually live and move.' Hoka, known for its running shoes, is currently sold out of its all-gender Speed Loafer, which retails for $185. Puma debuted its Sophyr loafer last year and is still sold out in multiple sizes. Nike-owned Converse is also getting in the game, unveiling its All-Star Coinloafer in the U.S. in June. Different shoe variations have been offered in Japan as early as 2022, according to Women's Wear Daily. The hype hasn't let up: Online searches for New Balance's 1906L have increased 3,700% on StockX since last year's first quarter—months before its release. Kelly Baartman, 27, bought a pair of Rich Oak 1906Ls from a shoe store called Archive in June and said she loves the hybrid versatility of the shoes. 'I love wearing a sneaker and I love wearing a loafer,' said the content creator from South Africa. 'To see that concept come together, just based on my personal style, I was like, 'Oh, this is literally perfect.'' Angel Edme, a content creator from Brooklyn, said she enjoys it when brands take creative risks. 'It was something different,' she said of her 1906Ls, which she wears to run errands and attend creator events. 'It felt fresh and playful—something I could experiment with and style in new ways.' Even big apparel companies are taking note. 'The loafer is 100% making a comeback in every single form,' said Mark Breitbard, president and chief executive officer of the Gap brand, in an interview with Bloomberg. He said Gap takes into account what shoe styles are trending when the company designs its jeans, to ensure its clothes complement what shoppers are wearing on their feet.
Fashion Network
01-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
From loafers to sneakers: why snoafers are dominating 2025 footwear trends
In the world of fashion hybrids, there are skorts (shorts that look like skirts), jeggings (leggings made of stretch denim), and shackets (shirt-jackets). The latest style mash-up: snoafers. One of the biggest trends in footwear combines the cushioned sole of a sneaker with the upper of a loafer, for a comfortable business-casual shoe that is meant to be worn anywhere. Although their divisive appearance initially generated backlash, snoafers have emerged as a viral breakout category for major sneaker brands including New Balance, Hoka, and Puma, selling out quickly and landing on online marketplaces at wildly inflated prices since last year. Joining the trend late is Nike, which recently introduced its Air Max Phenomena, created through the company's Serena Williams Design Crew apprenticeship program. Prior to its release last week, the $155 snoafer was listed on StockX for as much as $500, fueling buzz for the sportswear giant after a year-long sales slump. In a $457 billion global footwear market loaded with sneakers, 'customers are looking for something different,' said Drew Haines, senior marketplace director at resale marketplace StockX, which has seen an influx of shoppers vying for the latest snoafers. Sneaker enthusiasts appear more receptive to unconventional silhouettes being developed by a wider array of brands, he said—an encouraging sign for footwear designers eager to experiment and differentiate themselves in an increasingly saturated market. When trends in fashion arise, they often have short lifespans—something amplified by a social media-driven culture—forcing companies to continuously innovate to stay relevant. 'I do think brands are going to start to take some of these risks… to produce and release products that are outside of the traditional scope,' Haines said. 'Whenever they do that, it seems to really resonate.' New Balance began selling its snoafer, the 1906L, in September and is credited with popularizing the silhouette. 'We've been blown away by how the 1906L has been embraced—not just by sneaker fans, but by a broader audience,' said Charlotte Lee, a New Balance design manager. 'It's opened up a new design space for us, and we're definitely planning to explore that further.' That includes new colors and materials expected to be released soon. New Balance did not provide sales figures, but the shoes quickly sold out online in the U.S., and Lee said demand has remained strong beyond the initial drop. 'We wanted to challenge the perception of loafers,' she said. By fusing the performance of a sneaker with the 'dressier' look of formal footwear, the 1906L is 'a product that fits how people actually live and move.' Hoka, known for its running shoes, is currently sold out of its all-gender Speed Loafer, which retails for $185. Puma debuted its Sophyr loafer last year and is still sold out in multiple sizes. Nike-owned Converse is also getting in the game, unveiling its All-Star Coinloafer in the U.S. in June. Different shoe variations have been offered in Japan as early as 2022, according to Women's Wear Daily. The hype hasn't let up: Online searches for New Balance's 1906L have increased 3,700% on StockX since last year's first quarter—months before its release. Kelly Baartman, 27, bought a pair of Rich Oak 1906Ls from a shoe store called Archive in June and said she loves the hybrid versatility of the shoes. 'I love wearing a sneaker and I love wearing a loafer,' said the content creator from South Africa. 'To see that concept come together, just based on my personal style, I was like, 'Oh, this is literally perfect.'' Angel Edme, a content creator from Brooklyn, said she enjoys it when brands take creative risks. 'It was something different,' she said of her 1906Ls, which she wears to run errands and attend creator events. 'It felt fresh and playful—something I could experiment with and style in new ways.' Even big apparel companies are taking note. 'The loafer is 100% making a comeback in every single form,' said Mark Breitbard, president and chief executive officer of the Gap brand, in an interview with Bloomberg. He said Gap takes into account what shoe styles are trending when the company designs its jeans, to ensure its clothes complement what shoppers are wearing on their feet.
