Our Top 5 PUMA Suede Releases of All Time
Our retrospective on some of the finest releases from the German sportswear giant now turns to that understated low-top classic that is the PUMA Suede.
Launched in 1968 as a track and field kick as well as a court trainer, its OG street colorway was a rich, royal sapphire blue. However, the silhouette inadvertently came to global attention when Tommie Smith took them off to ascend the podium after winning the 200 meters gold in 1968. Alongside fellow American Olympic medal winner, John Carlos, Smith then raised his black-gloved fist in a show of defiance, strength, and solidarity with the Black Power movement that instantly became an iconic image of the era. Of course, this moment’s importance transcends any sneaker, but it’s worth noting that Smith ran to victory wearing those shoes.
However it wasn't until New York Knicks legendary point guard Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier customized the shoe with a wider platform and, in the process, created the first custom basketball sneaker, the Clyde, that the sneaker began to gain some serious attention. Both the Clyde and the Suede developed cult followings in the 1980s when they were adopted by New York’s b-boy and hip-hop circles (it even gets a starring role in The Get Down's plot). Around the same time, it made its way across the pond, becoming a sneaker of choice for UK football casuals, but the apparent exclusivity to US retailers of the modified Clyde earned the Suede silhouette a third moniker in Europe: the States.
This rich history has meant the PUMA Suede is one of the all-time sportswear icons, as well as a firm streetwear essential. Find out which collaborations and editions made the cut.
PUMA by Rihanna Suede Creeper
Rihanna’s first major project with PUMA caused a small storm when they were released in September last year. Hailed as an instant classic, they debuted through a simple monochrome pack of two silhouettes, and our first look came via a superbly executed, pared-down shoot with RiRi and her pal Travis Scott. Part of the appeal, as ever with the Suede, lies in its simplicity: utilizing the Suede design for the upper, Rihanna then extended the sole into a statement bulky unit, enhanced with a gum colorway (which, to be fair, makes every sneaker look dope).
Solange x PUMA "Word to the Woman” Pack
The understated sister to the pop megastar, Solange Knowles’ PUMA collaboration continued into 2015 with a suitably pared-down, hyper-style conscious pack of tonal PUMA Suede silhouettes. Fresh on the pastel tip, the St Heron collective’s head designed the "Word to the Woman" pack as a collection of women-only silhouettes and enlisted the help of 15 other women, each trailblazers in their respective fields, to help showcase the collection. As for the sneakers themselves, they were a masterclass in full tone sleek simplicity with uppers subtly perforated or texturized in patterns that changed per the colorway.
Solebox States x PUMA
One of the strongest and simplest PUMA Suede collaborations came when the German sportswear icon joined forces with Berlin sneaker store pioneers Solebox way back in 2012. The three-colorway pack, in gray, black, and tan, uses the PUMA State silhouette as a canvas for the premium suede upper while the iconic lateral Form Swipe is worked in replica snakeskin. Originally founded by Hikmet Sugoer in Berlin, Solebox is behind some of the sneaker world’s strongest collaborations – and this one falls squarely in that bracket.
Sneakersnstuff x 10-gruppen x PUMA Suede
Turning North and in a powerful meeting of creative minds, PUMA teamed up with the Stockholm sneaker store, Sneakersnstuff, to celebrate the legendary outlet’s 15th anniversary. However, considering the locale, arguably the collaboration wouldn’t be complete without a bit of Scandinavian design thrown in for good measure. To that end, Sneakersnstuff – which now boasts stores in London, Paris and Malmö – enlisted the talents of Swedish design group 10-gruppen for a three sneaker drop utilizing original textile designs created by the design group. Silhouettes, Tom, Birgitta, and Ingela, referenced the three remaining members of the original 10 who started the group back in the 1970s with the aim of revolutionizing the design, production, and sale of industrially designed furniture, objects and fabrics. Genuine pieces of exemplary design for your feet.
Suede Anniversary Sapphire
It wouldn’t be very Highsnob of us to miss these off our list. And while there’s certainly an element of nostalgia involved with this one, it’s also down to the fact they are, quite simply, a dope pair of kicks. Straight up. PUMA’s Anniversary Sapphire Suedes came out to mark the silhouette’s 45th anniversary in November 2013. The premium upper is worked in a rich, plush sapphire blue that references the OG colorway of the first Suede release and which is, as coincidence would have it, also the traditional color symbolizing 45th anniversaries. Tonal leather accents on the heel and tongue, together with a contrasting laser-etched "Sapphire" logo, rounds out the well-appointed drop. Oh, and they were made in Japan for an added layer of premium quality.
