About Nolengwa

As a lifelong observer of shoes—sneakers in particular—I started to feel like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day. Everything looked the same. A rerun of soles and shapes, dressed up in different names. Don’t get me wrong, I love the classics—they’re classics for a reason. But I’m also drawn to the unexpected, and wired with the kind of audacity that makes you act on instinct and try something different. So I asked myself: what’s missing stylistically? Then it hit me. It’s not about what’s missing—it’s about what could be missing. The tongue. The tongue on a sneaker was never essential—just expected. By removing it, we created something more original, sexier, and liberating. Because in fashion, rules are meant to be reimagined. What started as a sketch in my South Beach apartment grew into a full design journey—from tech packs, to the fashion-forward streets of Medellín, to the skilled hands of artisanal shoemakers in León, Mexico. Now it’s here. Nolengwa. A sneaker that’s chic, cool, and effortlessly wearable. One that’s high-quality and feels sexy without trying too hard. One that’s made to tastefully stand out—just like the women who wear it. -Andy GuzeRead their story