Archive Presents: A Homegrown Collaboration Led by Archive with Grasshoppers, designed by Ziyaad Samsodien
Championed Through Archive’s Artist Project, The Collection Is A Celebration of Heritage and Artistry
Archive proudly launches its new initiative, The Artist Project, on Thursday, 5 December 2024, at its flagship Archive Collective store, at 107 Bree Street store during First Thursday. Archive Collective transforms its flagship store into a hub of art, design, and community for a culture-marking First Thursday event to launch their first-ever product collaboration with local brand, Grasshoppers.
This platform celebrates, and champions local art, and creativity and will be introduced to the community through a visionary collaboration with the iconic Grasshoppers brand and local Cape Town-based artist Ziyaad Samsodien.
Designed by Ziyaad Samsodien of Flying Duck, the brand will anchor this collaboration with their Artist Project, a platform enabling, showcasing and celebrating local creativity.
Since its inception in 2016, Archive has continued to be a major contributor to the South African streetwear industry, living out its mission to be a platform for authentic expression of culture. The brand stands firm in its goal, cementing itself as a force in the space.
Archive x Grasshoppers x Flying Duck: A Celebration of Heritage and Artistry Designed by Ziyaad Samsodien
Archive’s mission unites Grasshoppers, a South African icon with a legacy spanning 58 years, with the talent of Ziyaad Samsodien, a 25-year-old illustrator whose inspirations encompass cartoons, internet subcultures, and the tapestry of South Africa’s landscapes. Drawing inspiration from the essence of Oudtshoorn, the birthplace of Grasshoppers’ craftsmanship, his work integrates influences such as the leopard tortoise shell, Knysna dwarf chameleon, and the Swartberg mountain ranges into his designs.
Each shoe and artwork tell a story, blending heritage with contemporary creative expression celebration of South African heritage. Facilitated by the design agency Flying Duck and Archive’s vision to build platforms for creative expression, this partnership merges Grasshoppers’ craftsmanship with Ziyaad’s creative perspective, breathing new life into the timelessness of a homegrown brand.
