Anyone who knows even a tiny bit of sneakers know that the scene is currently littered with smatterings of Off-White this and Off-White that at every corner you peek. It’s glaringly obvious that the scene here is driven by hype, and is steering attention away from other brands that truly deserve more credit, underrated brands such as PUMA. With that, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best PUMA collaborations which we personally feel has been slept on.
PUMA x Santa Cruz Skateboards
To commemorate the Puma Suede’s 50th Anniversary, Puma collaborated with Santa Cruz Skateboards once again and they really didn’t disappoint. Dubbed the ‘Screaming Hand’, Santa Cruz’s signature logo is embroidered around the heel area on both sides with additional details including a stylized Formstrip to depict sound waves and energy coming out of the ‘Screaming Hand.’
PUMA x BAPE
BAPE has always been one of the big players in the streetwear scene globally which makes sense that Puma, another big player in the footwear industry decided to pursue this collaboration. Puma worked with BAPE to rework on one of their famous silhouettes namely the Blaze Of Glory, R698 and the Disc Blaze which features BAPE’s iconic camo patterns. The collaboration even included apparels to complement the sneakers. This pack definitely deserves more recognition and acknowledgment among sneakerheads, not only for the rarity, but also for how well designed it is.
PUMA x Staple
Jeff Staple, the founder of “Staple” brand, globally placed his mark in the streetwear scene when they first collaborated with Nike on a pair of SB Dunks back in ’05, but if you think his success is a one-time thing, think again. Staple brand collaborated with Puma three times and has not failed to keep sneakerheads excited for each and every release. The first release involved a Puma Clyde, the second release in 2016 was an encore where three more Puma Clydes and a pair of Blaze Of Glory was released while the third was focusing on Puma’s newer silhouettes such as the Tsugi Blaze, Tsugi Shinsei, Ignite Limitless and an updated version of Puma Suedes.
PUMA Blaze Of Glory x Sneaker Freaker
Inspired by sharks, Sneaker Freaker has partnered with Puma to release probably one of Puma’s greatest collabs to date, the ‘Shark Attack’. With nicknames of ‘Great White’, ‘Black Beast’ and ‘Bloodbath’ matching the colorways, it definitely makes it difficult for sneakerheads to resist from buying a pair. Besides nice colorways and great nicknames, the release comes with outstanding packaging as well which includes extra insoles, a lace bag with textured leather, extra laces, two shark tooth keychains and a padded square box. No explanation is needed why sneakerheads were rushing and queueing during release day for these.
PUMA Thunder Spectra
When the ‘Dad Shoe’ started trending, Puma joined the fun and introduced their latest silhouette which pays homage to PUMA’s past collaborations and silhouettes which resulted in the Thunder Spectra. Chunky midsoles, built with various materials and an eye-catching OG colorway, PUMA hit the G-spot to get sneakerheads hooked. Multiple colorways of the Thunder Spectra have surfaced since the first release, and from the looks of it, PUMA’s not done with the silhouette yet.
PUMA x Brooklyn We Go Hard (BWGH)
The first colorway released from Puma and BWGH’s first collaboration was the ‘Bluefield’ in 2013 and in 2014, Puma and BWGH proceeded with another collaboration to release another 8 different colorways. The uppers were mostly built using nubuck and suede, and some with chenille on the Formstrip. The successful release in 2014 led to another collaboration in 2015 with another 3 different colorways. The Paris-based brand managed to incorporate lifestyle elements into Puma’s sports derived DNA which was a great start to kick off Puma’s positioning as a lifestyle brand, which is their current direction with The Weeknd and Selena Gomez as their brand ambassadors.
Puma Disc Blaze x Ronnie Fieg ‘Coat Of Arms’
In the runners world, Ronnie Fieg’s collaborations are always highly-coveted as he emphasizes on premium materials and appealing colorways. For this collaboration between Ronnie Fieg and Puma, he implements his somewhat signature color-blocking with contrasting colored toe-boxes. The collaboration featured two colorways, Mint and Coral. Pebbled and perforated leather, perforated nubuck suede toebox, 3M speckled midsoles and easy-matching colorways, it was certain that this release was going to sell out during release day
