In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Puma Suede trainer the German sportswear specialists partnered up with Australian artist CJ Hendry to create a larger than life portrait of the iconic footwear.
A witness to history, as well as an essential item in any fashionable wardrobe.
An iconic Olympic moment, one of the first ever sporting endorsements, and the birth and development of an entire musical genre; the Puma Suede has bared witness to many defining cultural moments in history.
No sooner had the Puma Suede been released in 1968 than it was already thrust into the spotlight due to one of the most iconic and recognisable moments in Olympic history.
200m gold and bronze medalists Tommie Smith and John Carlos were on the podium after receiving their medals when the American national anthem played and they made their now infamous human rights salute by raising a gloved fist and taking off their Puma Suede’s, with Smith atop the podium briefly holding the trainer up in the air.
The Suede’s also hold another part in sports history in the 70’s, as long before Jordan trainers and LeBron sneakers there were Puma Clyde’s, as Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier became the first basketball player to have a shoe named after him, with the Clyde being a variation of the Suede.
Into the 80’s and this decade saw breakdancing and hip-hop enter the mainstream and Puma Suedes came along for the ride, with a connection to the B-Boy culture that still remains.
More recently The Suede has continued its development to become one of the most-loved shoes in history. During the '90s and '00s, they have become the shoe of choice for creative types everywhere.
From punk rockers to street artists, it seems that Suedes have struck a chord in individuals the world over.
Take a look at the brief timelapse video of contemporary artist CJ Hendry creating her anniversary masterpiece below, and to shop our collection of Puma Suede’s please click HERE.