🏎🪽Art Meets Speed: Slawn Transforms Motorsport Aesthetics While Labubus and Sonny Angels Fuel the Collectible Hype
Kultural Kaleidoscope #4
👋🏻👋🏾 Welcome back to Kultural Kaleidoscope, your essential pulse check on the vibrant intersections of pop and subculture, marketing, and collaborations across diverse industries.
Guess who's back? After a little one-month hiatus (oops!), we're beyond excited to reconnect and dish on all things pop culture! Even though our creative outlet was taking a breather, we were still living our best lives over on Instagram (As we have witnessed with Eva’s Greece Workation 😁 🇬🇷).
Our stories have been packed with daily peeks and behind-the-scenes antics.
Seriously, if you're not following, you're missing out on all the fun!
When Canvas Meets Carbon Fiber: Slawn Redefines Motorsport Art 🏎🏁
The recent collaboration Olaolu Slawn x VCARB HUGO F1 Collaboration wasn’t just a race but a groundbreaking fusion of art and motorsport. Let’s delve into this from Kwezi’s lens, this is truly an unprecedented event!
Nigerian-British artist Olaolu Akeredolu-Ale, known as Slawn, imprinted his signature artistic imprint, rooted in Yoruba heritage and London's urban culture, onto the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls (VCARB) F1 car for the 2025 British Grand Prix this past weekend. This bold move extended to driver merchandise and a limited-edition capsule collection, making his unique vision accessible to a wider audience.
The artist has clearly been charting an ambitious course recently. This fills us with immense excitement for the future of cross-cultural collaborations. After showcasing his designs at the FA Cup Final in Wembley and releasing his own Nike Air Max sneaker only a few months ago, this versatile artist seems to be just "getting started" with his ambitious projects. His venture into Formula 1 underscores a fearless willingness to infuse his distinct aesthetic into unexpected arenas. This is not just a marketing spectacle; it is yet another powerful statement on the future of cross-cultural collaborations.
The Oloalu Slawn x VCARB HUGO F1 collaboration stands as a very vibrant testament to creative synergy which offers a thrilling glimpse into a future where art, culture and commerce intersect in an increasingly dynamic and meaningful way whilst also allowing for the fans to actively engage in this through the merchandise transforming them from passive spectators into ambassadors for all involved parties. This indeed proves that drawing inspiration from disparate fields can lead to dynamic innovation.
The hype around collectible figures is huge: What Labubus and Sonny Angels are all about 🪽
Let’s talk about collectible figures - more specifically Labubus and Sonny Angels, two cult objects that have their origins in East Asian (pop) culture. Sonny Angels, first made in Japan in 2004, have delighted collectors globally. Labubus, created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung in 2015, gained popularity after collaborating with the Chinese toy company Pop Mart and appearing with various celebrities.
Both figures impress with their cute look, which is part of the “Kawaii” trend, an aesthetic of Japanese youth culture. A famous example of this is Hello Kitty.
Many buyers (or rather collectors) use the figures as accessories, they decorate their handbags with them. However, Sonny Angels are also offered as decorative items called “Sonny Angels Hippers”, for example, which can be attached to smartphone cases. The aim of it all is often to own a complete collection, especially with rare figures.
Both figures are sold in blind boxes, adding an element of surprise that fuels the excitement of collecting. Artificial scarcity and exclusivity drive the hype, with prices varying widely based on rarity and edition. Limited and rare figures often command high resale values. The community surrounding these collectible figures is global, organizes swap events and is extremely active on social media, which has fueled the hype incredibly.
I (Eva) find the hype fascinating, especially in Europe where it’s gone “mainstream”, though many - especially in Germany - don’t seem to get the trend. For me, it looks like a fun, creative outlet as long as you don’t overspend. My friend Annika Baur (shout-out at this point - she educated me on the subject in the first place) has been wearing a Sonny Angel for ages. It's always suited her and her vibe perfectly: fire fits, bold, individual nails. Now Annika has got me to the point where I'll probably order a Labubu or Sonny Angel soon. Simply because they're cute and artsy.
👟 Bad Bunny x Adidas Kick Off Global Hiring Ahead of Record-Breaking World Tour
The Bad Bunny x Adidas collaboration (badbunnyadidas.com) stands out as one of the most successful and creative partnerships in sneaker culture. Launched in 2021, it has resulted in multiple highly coveted releases. Now, both parties are hiring: on Monday, Adidas posted on LinkedIn (see post) that they are seeking individuals fluent in both Spanish and English to join the brand for Bad Bunny’s first concert residency in Puerto Rico.
Following the residency, a 56-date world stadium tour is planned. The tour will kick off in November in the Dominican Republic and is scheduled to conclude in Belgium on July 22, 2026. Notably, Bad Bunny is the first Latin artist to sell out stadiums in European hotspots such as Poland and France.
🦁 Lionesses Score with Style: Bazanetti Unveils Exclusive Jewellery Collection
The England Women's National Football Team, famously known as the Lionesses, has unveiled a stunning jewellery collection in collaboration with bespoke London jeweller, Bazanetti! Launched just in time for the UEFA Women's Euro 2025, where the Lionesses are set to defend their title in Switzerland, this limited-edition collection offers fans a unique way to celebrate their pride.
Crafted in oxidised 925 sterling silver, the four distinct designs reinterpret classic English football motifs (the Three Lions), the Lionesses themselves, and the iconic rose that has an elegant Art Nouveau aesthetic. Pieces like the "Lionesses band" and the "England ten roses signet ring" subtly blend sporting passion with sophisticated wearable art, featuring intricate details and an "our pride" writing. This collaboration perfectly captures the enduring brilliance and camaraderie of the team, extending their cultural impact beyond the pitch and into a realm of timeless style.
📱Our TikToks of the Week:
👋🏻👋🏾 That’s it for today’s edition. We hope you enjoyed our fourth edition Kultural Kaleidoscope! Please share your feedback by replying to this e-mail.
Until Kultural Kaleidoscope – Spectrum Spotlight #2
In Spectrum Spotlight, we share exclusive interviews with creative minds that inspire us - alternating between Germany and South Africa. We talk about their unique ideas and challenges that shape our cultural landscape. The Spectrum Spotlight are separate small sub-issues of the newsletter.
While we had planned to feature an interview with the founder of a cool German and South African fashion brand in Spectrum Spotlight #2, unforeseen circumstances prevented it from happening. But don’t worry, we’re already working on exciting alternative interviews that you won’t want to miss!