Last weekend, the PUMA Creative Camp 2023 took place. On Saturday, July 15, 2023, creatives gathered at The Unbound in Amsterdam to be inspired. With talks by Ron Simpsons, Guillaume Philibert, Rakesh Kanhai, and Jay-Way and a unique workshop, the second edition of PUMA Creative Camp was also a success.
Sneakerjagers was also present this year and reported live via Instagram. In this recap, we take you back to last weekend.
PUMA Creative Camp 2023
In 2022, PUMA introduced the Creative Camp, an initiative where creatives from all walks of life unite and share their passions. With the Creative Camp, PUMA aims to inspire young people and give them the space to express their creativity, as well as connect with each other.
The event took place at The Unbound, Amsterdam, located in a nature reserve far away from the busy world. So this year's motto 'Slow down to speed up' was very applicable in this peaceful setting.
Organized in collaboration with Kult & Ace, the event had room for sixty creatives who could sign up in advance.
Morning program
The program started in the morning. Around 10:00 am, the first young people trickled in and a set table was ready with snacks, drinks, and the day's program. The first connections were made and after a brief introduction, the first talk by creative entrepreneur Ron Simpsons began.
With his talk, Ron wanted to inspire the attendees with the different ways of personal branding. The interactive talk shook up the group and the atmosphere was good right away. After the talk, Ron was available for questions, comments, or a good conversation. Defano Holwijn was present during the day as a presenter and led the program.
After Ron Simpson's talk, lunch was ready and everyone gathered on the patio. With sandwiches, salads, drinks, and ginger shots, there was something for everyone. During lunch, there was plenty of time to connect with each other, an important aspect of the PUMA Creative Camp.
Afternoon program
After lunch, the afternoon program began. The next talk scheduled was by Rakesh Kanhai, Creative Director and founder of Prestige Worldwide. Along with rapper Jay-Way, Rakesh talked about creating a 'flow state'.
Together, the group explored how to find rhythm in the way we create and what it takes to stay in that flow.
After the talk, there was a short break and Defano introduced the next guest speakers. In the next talk, Olivier Teepe, artist and photographer, and Bogomir Doringer, Curator & Head of Education and Research NXT Museum, talked about the possibilities of artificial intelligence (AI).
The talk provided room for questions, discussion, and input from the creative youth. After all questions were answered, there was a short break and everyone was provided with snacks before the workshop started.
Workshop
Perhaps the highlight of the day; the workshop by Filling Pieces founder Guillaume Philibert. Before the workshop, Guillaume talked about the start of Filling Pieces and how the design process goes inside. He explained how you go from a concept to a product and then led into the workshop.
In the workshop 'Turning Concepts Into Products', the creatives then got to work on their own. Everyone was given their own PUMA silhouette and allowed to design it in their very own way. The table was full of scraps, materials, tools, and details that could be used to customize the PUMA sneakers.
Under the guidance of Guillaume Philibert, everyone worked in pairs to create their own design. Sneakers were cut open, painted, and given a new midsole. This led to unique designs, each with its own story. The duo with the best sneaker design had a chance to win a unique PUMA prize.
End of the day
After the workshop, it was time for dinner. During dinner, Guillaume Philibert and Defano Holwijn deliberated and chose the winners to be announced after dinner. With an elaborately set table and a DJ providing a relaxing atmosphere, everyone sought their seats.
The day ended on the terrace by Defano and Guillame. The winners were announced and received their prizes won. The evening ended in thunderous applause for all attendees. PUMA Creative Camp 2023 was a great success and we at Sneakerjagers cannot wait for the next edition.
Check out the photos from the day below. On a last note, we would like to thank PUMA for this unique day!
