June Ambrose‘s time at Puma has come to an end.
Ambrose — who’s known for styling Missy Elliott, P Diddy, and Jay Z — joined Puma in 2020 as the creative director for the Women’s Basketball category. On Thursday, the athletic company confirmed to FN that Ambrose’s contract expires at the end of this year and she will not be returning to the brand.
“What a beautiful experience it has been with the Puma family,” she wrote on Instagram. “I believe life is a sport and we play to win, thank you for those around the world that see, and feel my continued contribution, I see you too. The next chapter is as impactful as ever. The Juniverse is expansive and the journey continues.”
At Puma, Ambrose was able to push the brand to stay culturally relevant. In January this year, for instance, Puma and the famed stylist launched their first co-branded collection with the “Keeping Score” collab. The line celebrated both Ambrose’s storied career and her impact on hip-hop and fashion, as well as women as a whole and their victories. Her second collab came in March to celebrate Women’s History Month and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop via a 20-piece apparel, footwear and accessories collection that retailed from $30 to $200.
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As creative director, Ambrose’s goal was to empower and encourage women.
“I’m a disrupter. I’m not afraid to push the envelope and take risks because, as a leader, you have that responsibility,” she told FN onstage during the 2023 CEO Summit in May. “I knew that we wanted to mix performance, fashion and function. That was the key thing. I thought about the curvy lines of a woman’s body, but also thought about performance. The basketball short is more colorful and playful [than is typical], and it’s polarizing. It got the reaction we wanted. I took the kind of Home Shopping Network approach to it. I was in front of it. I wasn’t afraid to speak on behalf of these women.”
