Michelle Riley.
2. Heliot Emil Season Two
Intro to Heliot Emil x PUMA, SS2025.
For our second collaboration with Heliot Emil, we continued to build upon our established design ethos from working together in Season One; focusing on a minimalistic approach, intriguing and unexpected garment construction, emphasis on ergonomics and a stealth overvall look. We wanted to continue the momentum of building progressive yet technical products, where functionality wasn’t always obvious but hidden amongst the black-on-black details. This collection was built for those who appreciate refined detailing and aren’t afraid of pushing the boundaries of shape and silhouette within technical product.
Our inspiration stemms from non-traditional sculptures and functional trail and outdoor gear, with a focus on being distraction-free yet pushing the design boundaries as far as possible. Our theme was to emphasise the feeling of “lightness”; to show this via ultralightweight material selections, laser-cut perforations where needed for breathability, and bonding where necessary to prevent irritation.
The collection was also heavily inspired by origami, creating eccentric shapes without seaming via bartacking and draping techniques to create depth within the garment. The Graphic Design language is minimalistic, inspired by Brutalism and numeric systems that communicate details without the use of words.
Graphics & Direction by Florian Tripoteau.
Sketches by Michelle Riley and Michael de Geus
Technical Sketching Details by Michelle Riley.
Sketches and Technical Details, by Michelle Riley.
The complete collection, illustrations by Michelle Riley.
The complete collection is a uniform, an aesthetically-aligned collection that is built for the quiet minimalist, those who endure adventures in solitude. The pieces that stand-out and reveal the Origami-inspiration include the Men’s Tank and the Technical 3L Vest, which were constructed via an overlapping technique, connecting to panels via bartacks and hidden bonded seams, will bonded “pill-like” shapes on the backside. The Ripstop Jacket offers wind-resistance and water-repellent features within the material, and the ultra-lightweight piece can be worn as a midlayer or as the outermost layer for warmer days. Technical 2-1 Shorts provide comfort, stability and multiple pocket storage solutions, and the Women’s Tank features a cropped silhouette with laser-cut “mesh” perforations at the back where breathability is necessary. Overall the collection is highly functional, durable, minimalistic and performance-friendly, with design codes rooted in Heliot Emil’s and PUMA’s respective DNA’s.
*Please note my tech packs are considered PUMA property and are strictly non-disclosable. All Right’s are Reserved. Photography rights by Bogdan Shirokov and PUMA.
A massive thank you to everyone who was involved in the Apparel product creation for this collaboration, it was a beautiful team effort:
Julius Juul - Co-Founder & Creative Director, Heliot Emil
Michael De Geus - Designer, Heliot Emil
Judith Casasús - Junior Designer, Heliot Emil
Ferdinand Krug - Senior Partnership Management, PUMA
Gordon Petersen - Lead Product Line Management, PUMA
Michelle Riley (me) - Senior Apparel Designer, PUMA
Florian Tripoteau - Senior Graphic Designer, PUMA
Rae Gordon - Senior Material Developer, PUMA
Hugh Lau - Senior Manager Development, PUMA
Peter Tam - Manager Development, PUMA
Sally Ghaly - Senior Creative Producer and Project Manager, PUMA
Bogdan Shirokov - Photographer