With just over two dozen posts on Instagram, Kalu Putik has become a true global phenomenon on social media thanks to videos where he transforms discarded materials into haute couture-looking looks.
The young creator from Ethiopia gained 5 million followers in just a few weeks by creating elaborate looks using tires, wires, plastic, cardboard and other waste, surprising users with videos that only reveal at the end that the pieces were made from scrap metal.
The combination of luxury aesthetics, creativity and improvisation quickly caught the internet’s attention, transforming Kalu Putik’s profile into a symbol of reuse and visual originality outside the major fashion centers.
The creator’s most popular videos rack up impressive numbers. The three most viewed publications alone exceed, in total, around 500 million views on Instagram.
The meteoric growth also led pop culture pages, influencers and profiles linked to the fashion universe to share the young Ethiopian’s content, highlighting the ability to create impactful productions from simple and discarded materials.
Speculation is already circulating on social media about the possible interest of international brands in Kalu Putik’s work, mainly due to the unique visual identity that he managed to build.
Kalu Putik literally takes a piece that anyone would throw away and turns it into something that looks like an underground fashion show. Absurd creativity, unique aesthetics and a level of customization that almost no one does today.
and outraaaa, the DM of the face is cheiaaaaa of proposal…— XY COMPANY (@MistIndie)
— Kalu Putik (@KaluPuticks)
Kalu Putik, a self-taught creator based in Addis Ababa, turns discarded materials into str!king, structured fashion pieces that stop scrolls in their tracks. No studio, no budget, just relentless consistency transforming waste into wearable art.
— CHIGO (@iamChigoo)
