Cate Mongillo is a Germany-based sneaker artist, footwear marketing consultant, and freelance creative, formerly the Global Product Manager at adidas Womens. She’s cultivated an IG following for her custom sneaker reworks and AI designs, typically infusing classic silhouettes with bubbly, sparkly elements of blatant femininity. She’s brought her bedazzled POV to brands like Complex, Puma, and NTWRK, transforming everything from Ben & Jerry’s cartons to stalks of lavendar.
Luckily, Cate had a few minutes to speak on what she’s up to (and into) lately.
Name: Cate Mongillo
Age: 27
Zodiac Sign: Gemini
Where are you from, and where are you right now?
I'm from Rovereto, a small town near Lake Garda, Italy. I’m currently living in Germany, where I moved four years ago to work at the adidas global HQ.
What’s your first memory with streetwear?
It all started with a pair of Nike Huarache Mid Run Premium Iridescent in 2016. When I was studying in Paris I saw them on a girl queuing at the supermarket (apparently a year after their release). I immediately fell in love and spent the next week, day and night, searching the internet for literally the last pair. I wore them all the time for a year straight. People were stopping me in the streets of Paris to tell me how cool my shoes were, and that’s when I realized there was a massive sneaker community out there. In 2017 I started an internship in the adidas Running product marketing team working on UltraBOOST (back when no runner was wearing it, only hypebeasts lol). My last job in adidas Originals womens only strengthened my connection with culture and its history, where I went deep into researching archive and especially the influence of basketball heritage.
If you had to compress your personal style into one outfit, what would it be?
Some vintage unique finds, like my UFO parachute pants, together with a Marine Serre top (love her values as a designer and love the moon in general). A jacket stolen from my boyfriend, brothers, or mum’s wardrobe. Vintage Dior Parabole 2 sunglasses. Never boring sneakers. Anything that shines (diamonds, crystals, Swarovski, etc.) to round up the look.
You can only wear three shoes for the rest of your life — what are they?
Puma Mostro Alto, triple black (2000s)
Adidas_1, white/gold (2004)
ASICS x Kiko Kostadinov x Hysteric Glamour Gel-Quantum Lylia, pink/silver (2022)
Streetwear style icon: Aaliyah and Bad Bunny
Your last (or favorite) Instagram follow:
@benulus. She is so original! But also Simi and Haze Khadra, have been following them since 2017 and their fits never disappoint.
What’s your biggest creative or career milestone so far? What’s your biggest creative or career goal right now?
Being featured by Puma as part of their Slipstream launch. It was my first gig as a small artist after I left corporate at the beginning of 2022. One goal I have right now: finding and maintaining a consistent rhythm in the creative output.
What’s your dream collaboration? Either with yourself, or between brands/people you love.
A Rihanna Fenty x Puma Mostro Alto is what I dream of at night.
What are you currently working on?
A drop for the NTWRK App. I took a small break from making customs, so I’m excited about this comeback. Also planning my move to the US, which is a full time job haha
When do you feel the most empowered?
When I work on projects with a purpose or I'm surrounded by inspiring & crazy (in a good way) people.
What needs to change about the current streetwear landscape, to make it more inclusive?
Evolution is necessary in order to grow, nothing is static. And it’s the same in streetwear. More people still need to detach themselves from that morbid idea of streetwear as it was in 2010 or even 2018 and be more inclusive of different sub-aesthetics and energy expressions. We need less judgment, more openness. With that said, I believe that the soft and nurturing female energy should be given the space to express itself more, while keeping the same shared values with the rest of the streetwear community.
What woman in streetwear/sneaker history would you like to see get her flowers?
EVERY HARDWORKING WOMAN OUT THERE.