WATCH: Engen Xtreme Kouture brings fashion to the spinning arena

Engen Xtreme brought together fashion and motoring culture at Heat on the Street on October 10th at Kwamagesh Spinning Arena. The company unveiled its Engen Xtreme Kouture fashion collection, which pays tribute to South Africa's mechanics, spinners, and petrolheads. The collection showcases how waste materials can be transformed into stylish items.

Created by South African artist and fashion designer Carlo Gibson, the collection features garments made from reused lubricant bottles, bottle caps, and recycled corporate clothing. Engen aims to celebrate the people who keep the country's motoring industry moving through these designs.

Melissa Graham, Engen Lubricants marketing manager, explained that the project acknowledges the fashion, identity, and attitude already present in garage culture, rather than attempting to make garage clothing fashionable. The collection demonstrates the connection between fashion and car customization, as clothing allows individuals to express their personalities.

Sustainability is a crucial aspect of the project, as it gives discarded materials a new purpose. The initiative is part of Engen Xtreme's Beyond Oil platform, which explores recycling and creating value beyond its products. Gibson also encourages consumers to make more thoughtful choices when purchasing clothes, such as selecting items that last longer.

The collection supports local skills and jobs, with a fashion design intern gaining practical experience and local seamstresses helping produce the garments. Heat on the Street provided an ideal setting for the collection's launch, as spinning encompasses more than just cars and driving skills; it also brings together music, fashion, creativity, and personal style.

Engen Xtreme Kouture aims to recognize the people and communities behind this popular motoring culture, highlighting how fashion can celebrate local identity while encouraging recycling. The designs will be featured at various events and collaborations across South Africa throughout 2026 and 2027. Ultimately, Engen Xtreme Kouture combines spinning and fashion while demonstrating how discarded materials can find new life.