G-Star x Yay Abe: First South African Artist Collab Drops | Limited-Edition T-Shirt Available Now
G-Star x Yay Abe: First South African Artist Collab Drops
For the first time in its history, G-Star has teamed up with a South African artist for a limited-edition collaboration — and it’s already making waves in Cape Town.
G-Star Drops Its First South African Artist Collab with Yay Abe
G-STAR proudly presents its first South African artist collaboration, teaming up with Cape Town-based visual artist Russell Abrahams, known as Yay Abe. This limited-edition drop reimagines a G-STAR essential through a distinctly local lens, blending the culture of Cape Town with Yay Abe’s signature bold, expressive aesthetic.
A T-Shirt That Bridges Art and Denim
This t-shirt features Abrahams‘ distinct visual language – defined by bold figurative form and saturated colour. His approach to textile materiality bridges art and functionality, moving seamlessly between fine art and contemporary culture. Through his archetypal characters, he explores themes of identity, power and presence; bringing a distinctive creative depth to the limited-edition garment.
“This collaboration made sense because G-STAR and I approach our work from the same foundation,” says Abrahams. “Their legacy is built on construction and structural innovation. My practice is rooted in compositional architecture. There is a shared respect for form. The intention was to create something considered, not trend-driven, but able to exist beyond a season.”
Over a Year in the Making
Born from over a year of collaboration – together, G-Star and Yay Abe developed a new artwork anchored by a central, heroic figure, using denim as both symbol and statement. Translated from canvas to cloth, the composition retains the clarity, structure, and intention that define G-Star’s design philosophy, offering Cape Town a limited-edition capsule piece that stands confidently at the intersection of local creativity and global design.
Launch Event at Vault on Bree
The launch took place at Vault on Bree on 10 April – an intimate gathering for friends of Yay Abe x G-STAR. The limited-edition T-shirt will be available for purchase at Vault on Bree and online at www.g-star.com, Superbalist and Bash.
About G-Star
G-STAR is dedicated to the cloth, the craft and the culture of denim since 1989. It has a unique position as a progressive denim brand, creating the future of denim. G-STAR is driven by creativity, constantly turning ideas into denim, while consistently following their own distinctive path. The premium denim brand operates worldwide with a focus on the United States, Europe, Japan, and South Africa.
The brand has been working for decades with true originals such as Pharrell Williams, Marc Newson, Stephen Jones, Ottolinger, Thomasine Barnekow, Burna Boy, Maarten Baas, Anton Corbijn, Walter Van Beirendonck, and Rem Koolhaas.
About Russell Abrahams (Yay Abe)
Russell Abrahams, known as Yay Abe, is a Cape Town based artist working in bold, figurative language to explore joy, power and human connection. His practice sits between fine art and popular culture, using simplified form and saturated colour to examine identity in contemporary society. Through canvas, mural and collaborative projects, he continues to expand a visual world rooted in craft, presence and cultural dialogue.
Limited-edition t-shirt available at Vault on Bree, G-Star.com, Superbalist, and Bash.
