The Puma Speedcat OG, a sneaker designed for motorsports but became a cultural and stylistic phenomenon on the streets in the early 2000s, has returned.
Puma’s involvement in motorsport began in 1984, when Armin Dassler, the son of the brand’s founder Rudolf Dassler, decided to bring the new German driving star Stefan Bellof to Puma. For him, they designed the first driving shoe and established a style that they have maintained for decades.
In 1998, Puma introduced the Race Cat, a fireproof model designed specifically for F1 drivers, and a year later, the Puma Speedcat, a lifestyle version adapted for urban use, hit the streets. Away from the racetracks, the Speedcat developed its own style and became an icon for various social groups, initially associated with motorsport, though the motorsport aesthetics eventually evolved into their own style.
During the 2000s, the Puma Speedcat’s close-to-the-foot silhouette, lo-profile styling, and multiple colorways represented a generation obsessed with speed. Since then, every time trends looked for speed, they rediscovered a Puma Speedcat. Motorsports has evolved from a sport to a stylistic reference, which Puma leads with brazenness.
FOOTDISTRICT’s latest editorial features the Puma Speedcat on its home, where it established a legacy of speed and style.
The Puma Speedcat’s first two colorways, black and red, will be available on June 29 at FOOTDISTRICT.