June Ambrose, the American creative director of the basketball division at the German sporting goods manufacturer Puma, will leave the company at the end of 2023. This means that her three-year contract, which began in 2020, expires.
Announcing her departure on the social network Instagram, Ambrose thanked her for her enriching experience with Puma. She also expressed appreciation for the international audience who appreciated her contribution. “I believe life is a sport and we play to win. Thank you to the people around the world who see my continued contribution and feel I see you too,” Ambrose wrote. “The next chapter will be just as influential as the last. The ‘Juniverse’ is growing and the journey continues.”
During her time at Puma, Ambrose made a significant impact on the brand by introducing women-focused products and co-branded collections. She knew how to cleverly combine the areas of performance, fashion and functionality. With a background in styling and costume design, she played an instrumental role as creative director when the brand returned to New York Fashion Week in September 2022. On the runway, she showed off unconventional combinations, such as a tuxedo jacket with sweatpants or a hoodie with a ballgown skirt held together by a padded parka.
Ambrose’s time as creative director coincided with the height of the athleisure trend, which blurred the lines between sportswear and everyday fashion. Under Ambrose’s leadership, the brand contributed significantly to this cultural shift by launching its first basketball collection in 2021. In an interview at the collection launch, she emphasized that she was inspired by fearless and iconic female basketball players, highlighting their diverse roles off the court as wives, sisters, daughters and friends.
Puma has not yet responded to a request from FashionUnited.
This article originally appeared on FashionUnited.uk. Translated and edited by Heide Halama.