The story of the prints
The story of the prints
Our unique prints
At Puka Wear all prints are designed by our founder Maya Santimano. Each print has a story connected to to Mayas roots and her heritage from Mozambique, India and Sweden.
PAPAYA
PAPAYA is designed by our founder Maya who has her roots in Mozambique. When she was a little girl she lived in the capital Maputo. Everyday she ate ripe mangos, guavas and of course, papayas. One of her nicknames became Maya-Papaya. This print was created with the inspiration of her father, her roots and her second home, Mozambique.
The PAPAYA print has become our signature print loved by many. We completely love seeing you wearing your papayas in your everyday life, making the world a little bit more colorful, one legging at a time.
Shop Papaya
The PAPAYA print has become our signature print loved by many. We completely love seeing you wearing your papayas in your everyday life, making the world a little bit more colorful, one legging at a time.
MAMANI
MAMANI means mother in the local language spoken in southern Mozambique. The print was designed by Maya with inspiration from the print culture found in West Africa with its vibrant colors and contrasts.
MAMANI sticks out on its own but we love to style it with even more colors for those days you’re just feeling a little extra everything.
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MAMANI sticks out on its own but we love to style it with even more colors for those days you’re just feeling a little extra everything.
ZAVALA
Zavala is a town in southern Mozambique. When Maya designed this print she was inspired by something that Mozambique has an abundance of, palm trees. Since Maya loves the prints to feel alive, she created an illusion of movement along the leg.
The Zavala print quickly became one of Puka Wears favorite prints and today, many years later, still is!
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The Zavala print quickly became one of Puka Wears favorite prints and today, many years later, still is!
Limited time
SATU
SATU was born from a colorful collaboration, weaving together the souls of Puka Wear and somatics- and yoga teacher Satu Tuomela @satuyoga. Both Pukas founder Maya and Satu are colorful figures who in their own way embody BE YOUR COLOR
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Papaya Terra
Our most popular Papaya print has been with us since the start. It is part of our history and our identity. Now we are welcoming the same print but in earthy warm colors, drawing inspiration from the red thick Mozambican soil.
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LIRA
"Lira” is a family name originating from Mayas Indian side of the family. The print was created to symbolizes the contrasting cultures Maya grew up in; Sweden, Mozambique, Goa, Portugal.
With its more calmer yet distinct print, Lira has become one of our most loved prints and is the print most used as everyday wear.
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With its more calmer yet distinct print, Lira has become one of our most loved prints and is the print most used as everyday wear.
SAWA
SAWA means “good” in Swahili. This print was designed by our founder Maya when she continued to explore the African print culture. In this particular design she was inspired by the more graphic elements. Sawa is the versatile print! Wear your Sawa with sneakers, sandals, boots or even heals! Whatever makes you BE YOUR COLOR even more.
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XEFINA
XEFINA, pronounced ‘chefina’, is an island off the coast of Maputo, capital of Mozambique. The uninhabited island has a dark history as it served as a prison island for political prisoners during the Portuguese colonization of Mozambique. Our founder Maya chose this name to spread more knowledge about Mozambican history.
Xefina is the perfect spring print! You can almost sense the flower buds are about to emerge just by watching this print.
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Xefina is the perfect spring print! You can almost sense the flower buds are about to emerge just by watching this print.
