VEJA partners with Magliano to deliver a reworked version of the Panenka, merging vintage football references with a spirit of offbeat tailoring. The unisex silhouette draws from classic cleats, then stretches those codes into expressive territory where sport becomes a canvas for experimentation.
SNEAKERS
At the center of the redesign stands the folded tongue layered over the upper, referencing traditional football boots. Crafted from a single perforated piece, the flap introduces asymmetric lacing that shifts the shoe’s structure. Three interchangeable lace options encourage a graphic interplay of color and line. Laces cross the upper with both purpose and looseness, reinforcing Magliano’s approach to tailoring, where construction often carries a deliberate sense of tension.
In an exclusive statement to DSCENE, Magliano reflects on the intervention: “The Panenka was already an iconic design mastered by Veja. We intervened with modular elements that add a poetic layer of gesture to the shoe, reinterpreting this sport with goofy technologies and a retro look. Laces tie functionally and not, creating a playful dimension. On the upper tongue we worked in a graphic way, reimagining Magliano as a football club.” The idea of a fictional club transforms the sneaker into a coded uniform, balancing irony with reverence for sport heritage.
The collaboration arrives in three colorways that define its attitude. A deep black version with cream accents sharpens contrast. A white edition with black detailing emphasizes graphic clarity. A pearlescent pink silhouette pushes the model into bolder territory, amplifying its hybrid identity. Each option supports the interplay between athletic reference and tailored disruption.
Material responsibility remains central to the project. In comments shared exclusively with DSCENE, VEJA co-founder Sébastien Kopp emphasizes longevity as a core value. “We love shoes who age well. Shoes are often better worn out than brand new. And this kind of sewn leather can age super well.” The Panenka’s leather construction follows this philosophy, designed to evolve with wear and develop character over time.
Kopp also underscores VEJA’s sourcing framework: “Our traced raw materials are a prerequisite to work with us. We can develop new things, but it always goes through our sourcing team, from Marni, to Rick Owens or to Magliano today. And brands are calling us for this: a high quality and high transparency.” The collaboration operates within that structure, ensuring that experimentation in form aligns with traceable materials and controlled production.
Reflecting on VEJA’s broader positioning, Kopp adds, “We are also a well distributed brand all over the world, that does not reach mainstream like the big brands. You have to look for VEJA. You have to look for the way we work because VEJA does not make advertising. We believe in collective intelligence. It is a different journey.” Within that journey, Magliano’s intervention reframes the Panenka without erasing its foundation.
By foregrounding the Magliano logo, VEJA shifts the visual hierarchy of the sneaker, honoring the Bolognese brand’s identity while granting the Panenka a new character. Football heritage, modular detailing, and responsible sourcing intersect in a collaboration that treats the cleat not as nostalgia but as a structure open to reinterpretation.
