Gabriel Unigwe in BIRKENSTOCK SS25
A summer of movement, freedom, and effortless style — captured in Cape Town

Cape Town served as the scenic canvas for a new lifestyle feature starring Nigerian creative GABRIEL UNIGWE, styled and produced by independent fashion platform THE BEAU GUIDE, in a visual story that celebrates freedom, travel, and timeless style.

This seasonal editorial spotlights a pair of BIRKENSTOCK EVA silhouettes — the BOSTON EVA and ARIZONA EVA in the refined EGGSHELL tone — styled against the vast coastal beauty of the Mother City. The imagery captures barefoot elegance and a sense of grounded movement, with BIRKENSTOCK styles anchoring every step.

Crafted from one-piece molded EVA, these lightweight silhouettes are water-resistant, easy to wipe down, and perfect for beach settings — blending durability with the timeless, structured aesthetic BIRKENSTOCK is celebrated for. Whether oceanside, in the city, or somewhere in between, the EVA range offers freedom of movement without compromising on elegance.

“There’s a simplicity to these shoes that mirrors the way I want to live — light,grounded, and always moving,” says Gabriel Unigwe, who styled his looks with clean layers and neutral tones to reflect his nomadic spirit.

Shot as a visual travel diary, rather than a traditional campaign, this story is an ode to summer movement, personal style, and the quiet confidence of everyday wear. With a focus on lifestyle and location, it reflects the kind of effortless dressing that’s both practical and beautiful

Shop the latest BIRKENSTOCK styles online at www.bashafrica.com and in BIRKENSTOCK stores across South Africa.
BAZ LUHRMANN’S EPiC: ELVIS PRESLEY IN CONCERT SPECIAL SCREENS EXCLUSIVELY IN IMAX CINEMAS FOR ONE WEEK ONLY, FROM 20 FEBRUARY

13 February 2026 – Ladies and gentlemen… Elvis has entered the building. Music royalty is making its way onto the largest cinema screen from Friday 20 February, for one week only. The undisputed King of Rock ‘n Roll will flaunt his stuff for a full-on immersive IMAX® experience exclusively at select Ster-Kinekor cinemas, before releasing in more 2D cinemas across the country from 27 February.
Experience director Baz Luhrmann’s latest spectacle on the only screens that can capture its scope – IMAX. Described as somewhere between documentary and concert film,EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert is a unique work.
Featuring archive footage lovingly restored by Luhrmann from outtakes, archives, and unreleased content, cinema audiences can immerse themselves in the King of Rock ‘n Roll’s epic world on the only screens epic enough to fit it.
While researching footage for the 2022 smash hit film Elvis starring Austin Butler in the title role, the legendary film director, working out of an office in Graceland for 18 months, unearthed never-before-seen Super 8 personal video from the archives. Luhrmann also tracked down 59 hours of forgotten footage from Elvis: That’s the Way It Is, the film of Elvis’ legendary 1970 Summer Festival in Las Vegas, and his road concert film from two years later, Elvis on Tour.
“We found this audio of Elvis just talking very unguardedly about his life, which he never did,” Luhrmann said of his ‘aha’ moment. “We thought, ‘You know what? This is an opportunity.’” The result is EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, a 96-minute-long film that is part documentary, part live concert and, above all, a chance for Elvis to tell his own story in his own words for the first time.
In the words of Elvis: “I’d like to talk to you a little bit, ladies and gentlemen, about how I got in this business. There’s been a lot written and a lot said but never from my side of the story… The image is one thing, and a human being is another. It’s very hard to live up to an image, I tell you…”
Watch the trailer here
This cinematic concert film experience, featuring more than 70 musical pieces performed by Elvis, including covers of songs by various artists, is a must-see for all Elvis fans, both young and old! The period of the King’s career thatEPiC showcases includes footage that is so well-rendered that cinema audiences will feel as if they are part of the screaming audience while watching the film.
Watch it exclusively in Ster-Kinekor’s IMAX cinemas – Cradlestone, Eastgate, and Mall of Africa in Johannesburg, The Grove in Tshwane, Baywest in Gqeberha, and at Capegate, Blue Route and V&A Waterfront in Cape Town – from 20 February for one week only. From 27 February, the 2D cinematic release will also be shown at these sites, plus at the following Ster-Kinekor sites: Rosebank Nouveau and Sandton in Johannesburg, Garden Route Mall in George, Somerset Mall in Somerset West, and at Tygervalley in Cape Town.
When the scale moves faster than the body can adapt: hair loss in the age of GLP-1s
By Dr Kashmal Kalan, Medical Director, Alvi Armani
In 2023, global prescriptions for GLP-1 weight loss medications rose by more than 40%, with drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy moving from specialist clinics into everyday conversation. Alongside this surge, a new concern is appearing more frequently in consultation rooms: unexpected hair loss.
For many patients, the timing is deeply unsettling. After months of discipline and visible progress, they start to notice more hair in the shower, on their pillow, or in their brush. The immediate fear is that something has gone wrong – that the medication is damaging their body, that the weight loss has come at a hidden cost, or something more serious.
In most cases, the reality is more nuanced. At Alvi Armani, we are seeing a consistent pattern: hair loss following rapid weight loss is real, but it is rarely caused by GLP-1 medications alone, despite how often this link is assumed. Instead, it reflects how the body responds to sudden physiological stress.
Hair loss often arrives late
The most common diagnosis in these cases is telogen effluvium, a form of temporary shedding that occurs when a large number of hair follicles shift prematurely into a resting phase. The critical detail is timing – the hair does not fall out immediately but rather sheds months after the original trigger.
This delay is what makes the experience so confusing. By the time hair begins to thin, weight loss may already feel stable, lifestyle changes established, and the initial stress long past. But biologically, the body is only now expressing the shock it absorbed earlier.
In some individuals, this shedding also unmasks an underlying genetic tendency toward pattern hair loss, known as androgenetic alopecia. While rapid weight loss does not create this condition, it can reveal it sooner than expected. What begins as temporary shedding may gradually shift into more persistent thinning – a progression that is emotionally difficult precisely because it feels so unexpected.
Why the body sacrifices hair first
Hair is not essential to survival. When the body experiences stress – whether through rapid fat loss, hormonal shifts, illness, or nutritional restriction – it reallocates resources to protect vital systems. Hair growth is one of the first processes to be downregulated.
Importantly, stress-related shedding does not create a new condition. It accelerates what was already encoded in the body. The hair is not “breaking down”; it is responding to a shift in internal priorities.
The speed of change is critical. Gradual, steady weight loss allows the body time to adapt hormonally and metabolically. Rapid loss, particularly when paired with appetite suppression, elevated stress hormones, or inadequate protein intake, creates a perfect storm for hair disruption.
From a biological perspective, shedding is not a malfunction, but rather an adaptive response. But from a patient’s perspective, it feels personal, visible, and deeply unsettling.
Who tends to notice it most
Women often become aware of thinning first, partly because longer hair makes shedding more obvious, and partly because changes in density carry greater emotional weight. Individuals with a family history of hair loss are also more vulnerable, as are those who lose a significant percentage of body weight in a short period of time.
Nutrition matters more than most realise
Hair is metabolically demanding tissue. It requires consistent access to protein, iron, zinc, and a range of micronutrients to maintain its growth cycle. When intake drops sharply because of appetite suppression, restrictive dieting, or poorly supervised medication use, hair becomes collateral damage.
This is why medically guided weight loss is so important. GLP-1 medications can be powerful tools, but they must be paired with nutritional planning. The body can tolerate change; what it struggles with is deprivation disguised as progress.
Temporary or permanent?
For many patients, telogen effluvium resolves within six to nine months once the body stabilises. Hair regrowth is slow, but it does occur.
However, in those with genetic susceptibility, the episode may mark the beginning of more sustained thinning. This does not mean damage has been done, but it does mean the window for early intervention matters. The earlier changes are recognised, the more options exist to slow or stabilise progression.
When hair loss deserves attention
Shedding should not be ignored if it persists beyond three to six months, if overall density continues to decline, or if there is a strong family history of pattern hair loss. Hair changes are often the first visible signal that the body is struggling to adapt to internal stress.
Early assessment allows for accurate diagnosis, realistic expectations, and far better long-term outcomes.
A final thought on balance
GLP-1 medications have transformed the weight loss landscape, and for many people, they offer genuine health benefits. But transformation should never come at the cost of physiological stability.
Hair is not separate from health. It is one of its most sensitive mirrors. Protecting the body protects the hair. Sustainable change, guided by medical support, remains the most reliable way to achieve results that last – without unexpected consequences.
LUXURY JUST GOT A NEW ADDRESS INTRODUCING THE MAISON MARTELL
Johannesburg, South Africa — Maison Martell, the world’s oldest cognac house, announces the launch of Maison Martell, a cultural residence designed to embed itself within Africa’s most influential creative cities – and you, neighbours, are invited to visit.
Johannesburg marks the first chapter in March 2026.
More than a venue, this audaciously curated Maison is a considered space where French cognac heritage is reimagined through a distinctly South African lens. A first-of-its-kind experience in the country, each city will bring its identity to The Maison, ensuring that no two iterations are the same.
In every city, Martell partners with leading creative voices to reinterpret cognac culture through local expression, blending heritage with contemporary influence. The Maison experience brings together tastemakers across culinary, music, fashion, and design – reflecting the rhythms, textures, and stories unique to each city. The residence will serve as a stage for luxury immersive moments, including intimate musical performances, brilliantly curated chef-led collaborations, bespoke tastings, design-led installations, and art-driven experiences – each unfolding as a limited-time expression of culture and craft.
Each ‘room’ is designed to be discovered, turning each moment at The Maison into a collectible experience. This is luxury that lives in memory, where presence is the ultimate privilege and every detail is curated to linger long after the last pour.
“Martell’s philosophy of time, craft, and patience blends naturally with South Africa’s cultural economy, driven by creativity, collaboration, and influence. The Maison is where these worlds meet, creating space to slow down and experience luxury with intention,” said Tintswalo Baloyi, Category Director: Prestige & High Energy at Pernod Ricard South Africa.
In contrast to the city’s relentless pace, Maison Martell is designed around slow luxury – long lunches, late dinners, meaningful conversation, and precisely crafted cocktails. It offers a deliberate pause in a city defined by momentum, where luxury is measured in time, intention, and depth rather than spectacle.
Access to The Maison will be intentionally limited to offer an exclusive luxury offering. A small number of tickets will be released each day, preserving an intimate experience for those in attendance.
SAVE THE DATE
DATE 8-22 March 2026
VENUE: Montecasino, Fourways
TICKETS: Ticket go LIVE soon
Levi’s® Brand Debuts “Behind Every Original” Campaign With Super Bowl Film Highlighting Backstories and Backsides
San Francisco, CA (February 9, 2026) – The Levi’s® brand today launched “Behind Every Original,” a bold new global campaign that celebrates the people who push culture forward — with one cheeky twist. Debuting during the Super Bowl with the anthem film “Backstory,” directed by Kim Gehrig, the Levi’s® brand flips expectations by showcasing both celebrity icons and everyday Originals exclusively from the backside, letting them share their game-changing Levi’s® backstory.

Why the backside? Because it’s the most iconic point of view of Levi’s® jeans. The arcuate stitching, silhouette and the Red Tab™ instantly signal originality. For over 150 years, Levi’s® jeans have been the uniform of cultural catalysts who step off the beaten path and shape what comes next in music, sport, fashion and art. They have been the uniform of the movements and moments that have changed the world and shaped culture — worn by the ones pursuing progress.
“One of the things I love most about the ‘Behind Every Original’ campaign is that it threads together a story only Levi’s® can tell,” said Kenny Mitchell, global chief marketing officer of Levi Strauss & Co. “This global campaign celebrates our place at the center of music, sports and fashion culture — as well as in the closets of fans across generations. It’s fitting to have it launch during the Super Bowl being played at Levi’s® Stadium, which has become a cultural moment in its own right, through the unifying power of sports.”
“Backstory” features Top Dawg Entertainment’s Grammy-winning Doechii, global superstar ROSÉ, reigning NBA MVP and Champion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Grammy- and Academy Award-winning and Emmy-nominated filmmaker, artist and DJ Questlove, model and cultural voice Stefanie Giesinger, and Disney-Pixar “Toy Story” character Woody, among other Originals. Every frame is a celebration of the backside in all its denim-covered glory: strutting, dancing, moving and, above all, living in their Levi’s®. The film captures the irreplicable swagger of those creating what comes next while honoring the icons who came before them — from the effortless cool of George Michael’s “Faith” era to a modern reimagining of the iconic “Born in the U.S.A.” album cover. Rooted in real cultural moments Levi’s® has authentically lived through, the story spans generations and invites everyone to see themselves reflected in the brand.

James Brown’s “Get Up Offa That Thing” infuses joy and energy into the film’s soundtrack, with a nod to denim-clad behinds serving as an anthem for movers and change makers.
Shot over the course of six days in Los Angeles, Oklahoma City and London, the production team focused on casting real cowboys, construction workers, climbers and youth to ensure authenticity. The team also collaborated with Doechii’s choreographer Robbie Blue to craft her show-stopping dance moves that wrap up the spot.
“Behind Every Original” unveils the star cast following the Super Bowl in the form of quick-turn reveal films — punchy six-second clips that spotlight each icon, shifting attention to the movement and self-expression of each Original, rather than their fame.
The campaign extends across social, digital, in-store and out-of-home, living as part of a broader global story that unfolds more of the Originals’ backstories throughout the year with iconic Levi’s® products as the anchor. Photography captures the cast in raw, behind-the-scenes moments, putting on their Levi’s® denim and stepping out — visually echoing the personal journeys and backstories that shape each Original.
The campaign was conceived in creative partnership with TBWA\Chiat\Day LA.
Levi’s® denim is at the very heart of this campaign. From old-school cowboys to music video icons of the ‘80s to modern day moments, the styling spans the breadth of the Levi’s® brand’s legacy. Doechii sports Low Slim Boot cut jeans, while Rosé dons Loose Boot cut jeans with a Relaxed Fit Trucker. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can be seen in 578® Baggy jeans and a Relaxed Fit Trucker, while Questlove rocks his 505 Regular Fit jeans. Stefanie Giesinger brings it home in her Ribcage Slim jeans and Super Soft Longsleeve Polo.
The range of styles and eras serves as a reminder that the Levi’s® brand has been behind some of life’s biggest (and smallest) moments for over a century. The team tailored denim to fit the authentic styles and personalities of the Originals, with certain custom pieces created for our ambassadors, including a custom denim jacket for Questlove and denim gloves for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
AFRICA’S BIG CATS TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT THIS FEBRUARY ON NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC WILD

Big Cat Month delivers four Sundays of power, survival and shifting dominance
Johannesburg, 30 January 2026: This February, National Geographic Wild (DStv 182, Starsat 221) turns its focus to Africa’s most iconic predators in Big Cat Month, with premieres airing every Sunday from 6 PM and 8:30 PM (CAT) with from 1 – 22 February 2026, as well as additional big cat themed programming. Big cats are creatures of strength, instinct and quiet beauty, yet many face growing pressure in a changing world. Through visually striking storytelling and intimate access, Big Cat Month follows lions, leopards and cheetahs as they navigate triumph, loss and relentless competition across some of Africa’s most dramatic landscapes.
Premiere programming includes:
Big Cat Planet – Sunday 1 February at 6 PM and 8:30 PM
Big cats may appear predictable, but survival demands flexibility. This powerful special reveals how their instincts remarkably shift under pressure, with African predators adapting their hunting styles, territories and behaviour as landscapes change and resources grow scarce.
Mashatu: Land of Leopards – Sunday 8 February at 6 PM and 8:30 PM
Filmed over three years at Botswana’s Mashatu Game Reserve, this documentary follows a mother leopard and her cubs fighting for survival in a harsh, drying environment. Advanced low-light and drone technology capture rare leopard behaviour as the family faces climate stress, shrinking territory and rising conflict within one of Africa’s most important strongholds for free-roaming leopards.
Killer Safari: Big Cat Battle Compilation – Sunday 15 February at 6 PM and 8:30 PM
Africa’s most intense wildlife encounters are brought together in this gripping compilation. From ambushes to narrow escapes, big cats clash with rivals and unexpected threats, revealing how quickly fortune can turn in the bush.
Savage Kingdom: Clash of Clans Compilations – Sunday 22 February at 6PM and 8:30 PM
The big cat drama returns in Northern Botswana, where peace never lasts and power is constantly challenged. As dominance shifts and rivalries reignite, the fight to protect territory and legacy drives every decision.
Additionally, National Geographic Wild will air big cat themed programming after every premiere, with highlights to look forward to including Malika: The Lion Queen, Soul of The Cat. Jaguar: Jungle Icon of Guyana, Serengeti Speed Queen, Diary of A Teen Leopard, Leopard Kingdom and The World’s Most Famous Tiger.
Big Cat Month airs exclusively on National Geographic Wild.