Most of us are by now familiar with Maps Maponyane: local A-lister, actor, model and South Africa’s best-dressed man title holder. One look at his Instagram account and you’ll notice no shortage of adoring fans complimenting him and his sense of style.
This summer, Maps has been working with Spree.co.za, selecting his favourite menswear pieces available from the retailer, to add to his EDIT online.
Now, weeks into the partnership, Spree is proud to reveal the expansion of the relationship that sees Maps flex his designer muscle and collaborate with the online retailer to design and locally produce his first fashion label: The MapsXSpree Collection.
Each item in the collection is Maps’ interpretation of a classic menswear summer staple. “My main focus for the range was on versatility and practicality of the items. Being able to layer and play around with them – shirts tucked in, or out – keeping things adaptable so that men can make their look personal”, comments Maps while discussing the range.
Now men around South Africa can easily share in Maps’ recognised sense of style. “I wanted to be able to develop a label that interprets elements of my own sense of style in an accessible way and that talks to those that have shown interest and are following my journey: this was my main aim with the collaboration. Spree gave me a unique opportunity of bringing menswear fashion that I love and think will be really great this summer to men around the country.”
“We are excited to have Maps as our first menswear collaborator on a unique privately developed label”, says Chris Viljoen, Fashion Director at Spree. “Recognised as an influential and fashionable South African man, his brand lies closely with where we are taking the Spree Menswear department in 2016.”
Key pieces of the collection of summer essentials for the urban South African man include the unique pleated shorts and trousers, printed tees and a summer bomber.