Puma Suede

Puma Suede is a line of shoes produced by Puma, with the first model released in 1968. The shoe is notable for being the first sneakers to use suede which at the time of its release was still considered a luxury material.[1]

Puma Suede
TypeSneakers
InventorPuma
Inception1968 (1968)
ManufacturerPuma
AvailableYes
Websiteabout.puma.com

Overview

The idea of the Puma Suede came from the fact that the majority of sneakers at the time were all made of canvas and all mainly looked the same with no real originality. It also wouldn't be until 1969 that the Adidas Superstar, the first sneaker made out of leather, would be released. Puma decided to create a shoe to change the idea of what a sneaker would look like. The sneaker was designed by Heiko Desens and was released as an alternative to the Puma Basketball.[2]

Tommie Smith (center) and John Carlos (right) showing the raised fist on the podium at the 1968 Summer Olympics.

The same year of its release, the sneaker gained notoriety after U.S. Olympian Tommie Smith decided to take off his shoes and put them on the podium and raise his fist alongside John Carlos to protest racism and injustice against African Americans in the United States.[3]

The Puma Suede would see its in popularity increase in the 1970s when Puma decided to collaborate with basketball player, Walt Frazier, who was a fan of Puma shoes. They worked with him to create a special basketball version of the shoe called the "Puma Clyde", which was named after Walt Frazier's nickname, Clyde. The shoe was released in 1973 and helped boost the sale of the shoes.[4] The 1980s saw the shoe become popular with the rise of breakdancing and see many b-boy groups wear the shoes thanks to it built quality making it easy to dance in that style.[5]

Today, the shoe is still worn by many celebrities and athletes and continues to play a prominent role in modern fashion.[6]

References
  1. Flynn, Laura (2018-09-13). "Politics, Power, Rihanna: A Colourful History of the PUMA Suede". Acclaim Magazine. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  2. Scrafton, Lewis. "We Spoke to the Designer of the PUMA Suede on Why It's One of the Most Influential Sneakers of All Time". Complex. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  3. "History of suede". Puma. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  4. "END.'s Puma Clyde OG Pack Celebrates 50 Years Of An Icon - Sneaker News". Sole Retriever. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  5. Soar, Kev (11 December 2020). "Why the Puma Suede Is a Sneaker for All Time". Highsnobiety. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  6. "PUMA celebrates the return of Suede with the new Classic XXI". nss magazine. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
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