PUMA Suede

Suede

In 1968, PUMA released a warm-up trainer called the Crack. One of the first sports shoes to use suede over canvas, it is also considered to be the brand’s debut lifestyle sneaker. In the 1970s, it acted as the basis for the stylish Clyde basketball shoe, but by the 1980s, the classy silhouette had become known as the PUMA Suede – a moniker which has stuck with it through its years as a cultural icon beloved by everyone from b-boys and hip hop stars to skateboarders and modern-day celebrities.

As its name suggests, the Suede features suede leather as its main upper material, the luxurious fabric covering the forefoot, quarter panelling, heel tab and eyestay. This makes it soft and flexible yet durable, while its flanks are decorated with leather Formstrips flanked by lines of perforations for added breathability. Plush suede also coats the cushy tongue, and a synthetic lining offers smooth comfort around the foot.

The foundation of the PUMA Suede is a stitched-in rubber cupsole that is sturdy, comfortable and supportive. Its outsole incorporates a coarse perimeter and a centre filled with a rubber grid that provides excellent grip. The traction is further enhanced by the X-shaped lugs that appear in each one of its squares, while its flat design offers firm stability underfoot.

With its refined, minimalist aesthetic and heritage style, the Suede exudes timeless appeal. Restrained in its branding, the upper displays a woven tongue patch with a Cat logo and PUMA wordmark, and the left flank glitters with golden foil PUMA Suede text. Another Cat adorns the cutout section in the heel, and more lettering has been embossed into the back of the textured midsole in a subtle piece of detailing.

Throughout the decades, the PUMA Suede has become an important part of multiple subcultures, effectively combining sports, music and fashion. From being an influential shoe amongst hip hop artists and breakdancers in the 1980s to helping skaters grip the board in the 1990s and becoming a fashion icon of the 2010s, the effortlessly stylish Suede has always endured.

To celebrate the Suede’s 50th anniversary in 2018, PUMA launched a year-long project that saw the release of 37 exclusive sneakers, each designed in collaboration with one of the brand’s creative partners and representing either music, fashion, street culture or pop culture – four areas closely linked to its storied past. Notable editions include two suave designs with luxury fashion house MCM, an eccentric black and white sneaker from legendary designer Karl Lagerfeld, a colourful shoe crafted by renowned visual artist Bradley Theodore and a mid-top version created with popular American rapper Big Sean.

Elegant and versatile, comfortable and durable, sophisticated and influential, the PUMA Suede has repeatedly crossed cultural divides to become a globally adored everyday shoe and one of the most important silhouettes in the history of sneakers.