Thebe Magugu x Pantofola d’Oro capsule inspired by Street Soccer

Thebe Magugu x Pantofola d’Oro capsule inspired by Street Soccer, the capsule collection evolves and expands into apparel for FW26.

Ascoli Piceno / Florence – January 2026 – At Pitti Uomo 109, Pantofola d’Oro celebrates 140 years of history, reaffirming its DNA: a football heritage intertwined with Italian craftsmanship and a cultural vision that speaks to the present. In this context, the collaboration with Thebe Magugu is renewed and evolves, expanding for the FW26 season to include, alongside footwear, an apparel offering.

“For 140 years, football has always been the beating heart of Pantofola d’Oro. It is not just a sport, but culture, identity and connection. The vision of Thebe Magugu translates all of this into an authentic and deeply human language. With FW26 we celebrate our anniversary by looking to the future, uniting footwear and apparel in a project that speaks of inclusion, style and sharing,” said Kim Williams, CEO of Pantofola d’Oro.

The capsule revolves around the aesthetics and values of Street Soccer, a social and cultural phenomenon capable of generating belonging and redemption—a universal language that crosses continents and personal stories.

“Football is a unifying phenomenon. In South Africa it is a true social remedy: people of every class, race and belief share joy and pain together. That’s why I consider it a global cultural indicator. Doing this with Pantofola d’Oro makes the project even more meaningful,” said Thebe Magugu.

The FW26 evolution introduces essential winter tracksuits, conceived as contemporary uniforms: pattern-free garments that are functional and enveloping. The colors echo the palette already presented last June at Pitti Uomo, with references to the warm tones of the savannah, reinforcing the narrative coherence of the collaboration.

On the footwear side, the 540 model remains the protagonist. Derived from a technical football shoe and reinterpreted in a lifestyle key, its slightly retro, streamlined silhouette is enhanced by suede and a Vibram x Pantofola d’Oro rubber sole, while the lacing that wraps under the sole recalls the brand’s football archive. The model is offered in multiple colorways, for both men’s and women’s wear.

Pantofola d’Oro also renews its know-how with the garment-dyeing technique applied to the upper, used on the 540 and Superleggera models: pastel tones on crust calfskin for a delicate, slightly vintage effect.

The Thebe Magugu x Pantofola d’Oro FW26 collection will be presented at Pitti Uomo 109, an opportunity to celebrate a significant anniversary and to tell the story of a project that, inspired by Street Soccer, confirms fashion as a space for dialogue between culture, identity and social vision.

The History of Pantofola d’Oro, the historic Made in Italy luxury footwear maison, celebrates 140 years of excellence with the re-edition of an icon: the Superleggera Classic. The name “Pantofola d’Oro” was coined by John Charles, the Welsh top scorer of Juventus, who, upon putting on the shoes, exclaimed: “They’re more comfortable than my slippers!” It all began with Emidio Lazzarini. The son of shoemakers from Ascoli Piceno, before taking over the family business he was an athlete who had traveled the world. Noticing that his wrestling shoes featured studs and very hard leathers, he began using the softest materials available, achieving immediate success. The best Italian footballers went to him to have their shoes made to measure. But Pantofola d’Oro is not just about football. Lazzarini transferred the same care and artisanal skill to other sports as well: rugby, then tennis, basketball, golf and cycling. When sport became increasingly business-driven and Lazzarini’s craftsmanship suffered, Kim Williams and Massimo Ubaldi took a chance on the brand, reviving it with two football shoe models from 1950 and 1956, adapted for leisurewear. The response was unexpected. Suddenly, those shoes appeared in the windows of the world’s most beautiful stores. Tradition became trend. The legendary Superleggera evolved into the Superleggera 2.0 (weighing just 175 grams), projecting football into a new era where quality and speed merge. Lighter and more comfortable than this is impossible. Dedicated to footballers—and beyond.

About Thebe Magugu, Considered one of the most compelling creative talents of recent years, Thebe Magugu was born in Kimberley, a small mining town in South Africa, and lives and works in Johannesburg. Raised in an all-female family, he describes his garments as a constant ode to women. He studied Fashion Design, Fashion Photography and Fashion Media. At the core of his brand, founded in 2016, lies the desire to inform through stories and crafts. Each collection is inspired by disciplines such as Geology, African Studies and Gender Studies. He won the International Fashion Showcase 2019 with the British Fashion Council and the LVMH Prize 2019.