Photo courtesy of PUMA
The German sportswear house brings back the Speedcat silhouette to mark the beginning of its Fall/Winter campaigns
Defined by its sleekness, padded figures, bold patterns, and the various emblems of historic teams that have sped through its race tracks, motorsports has cemented its own unique identity in the many subcultures that comprise fashion. Inherently, its style codes represent a fast-paced lifestyle that is both brash and fearless, with garments that speak toward the daredevils that call the asphalt tracks their own.
For many decades, PUMA has embedded itself into this fashion subculture, with the roaring engines of Formula One (F1™) cars being a familiar sight for the sportswear house. Over the years the label has equipped race suits and driving shoes for some of the biggest names in the sport, including Alfa Romeo, Scuderia Ferrari, and Mercedes AMG-PETRONAS F1 Team respectively.
With its roots tracking back to the late 90s, the lifestyle iteration of the PUMA Speedcat is based on fireproof racing footwear worn by Grand Prix drivers throughout the 80s and 80s, and took the fashion and sneaker world by storm. The silhouette allows the shoe to blend into different subsets of fashion, with its low-profile enabling it to rest perfectly atop baggy or skinny denim bottoms, skirts, or even as a way to add pops of color toward more formal dresses and suits.
In Germany, the PUMA Speedcat was worn in a nude color by its global brand ambassador, Rosé of BLACKPINK. She paired it with a cropped maroon PUMA jacket and black high-waisted shorts. Across the Atlantic, model Emily Ratajkowski was observed in Manhattan donning the Speedcat in both red and black colors. The red OG trainers were matched with a crochet dress, while the black was combined with a pink chore jacket and wide-leg cargo pants. At Paris Fashion Week, the shoes were spotted among attendees showcasing the sneaker’s adaptability in various fashion ensembles.
In paying homage to the house’s legacy with F1™, PUMA kicks off its Fall/Winter collection with the release of the Speedcat in an updated version for the auto racing classic. The unveiling of the “Speedcat OG” serves as a preface to the larger collection of garments PUMA will be unveiling throughout the season, bringing back the shoe’s hallmarks toward a more fashion-forward audience.
This June 29th, the piece of footwear debuts with more premium material. Titled “Ultra Suede,” the Speedcat OG is updated with a smooth, napped finish, while also being bestowed a logo in gold folio that rests upon the shoe’s tongue and heel tab. Embroidery of the sportswear house’s puma motif is stitched onto its toe box, while its midsole is given a new makeover in the form of a Softform+ footbed, making the shoe more wearable for longer periods of time due to its more comfortable fit. Despite these changes, the Speedcat OG still retains its codes that have turned the shoe into a fashion statement beyond its F1™ roots, with its low to the ground profile and heel allowing the shoe to still be as agile and dynamic as the racers who wear it.
From the 29th of June, the “SPEEDCAT OG” will be available exclusively in Atmos Philippines, located at 3rd Avenue, One Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The sneakers will be launching on the Puma website on July 13.
