According to the PUMA and Nandos, the RS-Xtra Ho pays homage to Nando's famous sauce, features a printed chili form strip, the Nando's PERi-ometer® with heat levels.

The heel cup references the colours of Nando's sauces. The PUMA logo is fired up in the Nando's font — which is based on the hand-painted signwriting of artist Marks Salimu. There are also Nando's signature Barci Cockerel and an insole paying homage to the iconic sauce bottle, all wrapped up in Nando's vibrant colours.

"PUMA wanted to celebrate Heritage Day in South Africa by partnering with an iconic local brand that could help us capture the essence of what it means to be South African. Bold. Fiery. Somewhat audacious and eternally optimistic. Who better to announce as our partner than Nando's, the brand that has been a part of the social and cultural fabric of South Africa since 1987," says Brett Bellinger, PUMA SA's marketing director.

"Their social commentary and cultural insight have been as hot as the sauces that have made them famous worldwide, and as a brand, they've authentically tapped into popular culture. This, backed by their continued investment in creative talent in the region, makes this collaboration something extra hot. As we head towards summer, we know the limited-edition RS-Xtra Hot has got the sauce to be the season's most coveted sneaker," Bellinger adds. 

According to PUMA, the original RS franchise traces its origins to 1984 when PUMA set out to create a revolutionary new technology. The PUMA RS (Running System) was the world's first wearable sports product and the world's first smart shoe. The RS's built-in computer aggregated data, translating it into metrics that allowed runners to become faster, more efficient and more competitive.

Since 2018, the RS family was modernised and reinvented, with the addition of new styles for the street like the:
  • RS-X
  • RS-X3
  • RS-2K
  • RS-Fast
  • RS-Connect
  • RS-Dreamer
  • RS-X Efekt
  • RS-X Drift, and
  • RS-X 3D.

This season, PUMA has collaborated with The Smurfs and SpongeBob, releasing limited-edition PUMA RS-X styles. Now PUMA continues to build on the RS legacy through its collaboration with South Africa's, and arguably the world's, most loved flame-grilled chicken brand, says PUMA. 

Nando's is steeped in a storied history. The brand started back in 1987 when the first restaurant opened in Rosettenville in Johannesburg. Today they have over 1 200 outlets in 22 countries and sell their sauce in more than 30 countries. They have come a long way, but they have never forgotten their humble beginnings and the true core of their brand: the people, says the brand. 

Jessica Wheeler general manager of marketing of brand, strategy and communications at Nando's, says, "This has been an incredibly exciting collaboration in an important month for the country and for us as a brand. To encapsulate the fiery spirit of South Africans is something we strive to do daily through our marketing activity and to reflect in our stores and our menu, but to have that embodied in a sneaker is just next level."

"Nando's resonates deeply with the spirit of creativity, and we believe that creativity can be a force for good and for change. Now we are offering South Africans the opportunity to literally, walk that talk. This sneaker has been designed and manufactured with incredible attention to detail and meticulous craft," Wheeler adds. 

"As we unveil the RS-Xtra Hot, we hope that the people of South Africa will embrace it with the same affection. We, the people of Mzansi are fiery, and this sneaker is a celebration of that unmatched flavour," concludes Wheeler. 

With the sneaker concept first cooked up in South Africa, the PUMA X Nando's RS-Xtra Hot will be released in limited quantities in:
  • South Africa
  • the United States, and 
  • the United Arab Emirates, all happy homes to Nando’s Casa restaurants.

The PUMA X Nando's RS-Xtra Hot (R1999) will drop on Heritage Day, Monday, 24 September 2023, at:
  • PUMA.com
  • PUMA Retail Stores
  • Sportscene
  • Side Step
  • Shelflife
  • Shesha
  • Superbalist
  • The Cross Trainer
  • Sneaker District, and
  • Colt45 by Al Capone.
For more information, visit www.za.puma.com. or www.nandos.co.za.