A tribute to UK sneaker customizer “Rob L”, PUMA teamed up with this devoted Clyde historian, collector and artist to develop the sought after “Archipelago Clydes”.First noting the presence of Clydes in the book “Spraycan Art” back in 1988, Rob L became obsessed with PUMA Clydes and Suedes. He soon started collecting as well as customizing them in a unique way.
Rob L’s hand painted Archipelago Clydes bubbled up in the sneaker media as one of the most sought after sneakers in 2007. Featuring the distinct Rob L pattern and technique, which Rob started to develop by coloring sneaker suede uppers in panels with Pantone marker pens. As coloring with marker pens worked out to be patchy on big areas, he perfected his technique by breaking it down to smaller patches of color and into very organic looking shapes. The “archipelago” pattern was born, named after the Greek word which is used to describe a collection of small islands.
The perfection of this “factory finish look” technique – in the sense that it has the feel of factory produced item rather than a traditionally hand customized shoe – is meant to startle the onlooker and is also born through a desire to produce an item which loses the “home made” feel of traditionally customized sneakers. It rather stems from a Hip-Hop philosophy or approach of taking an existing product and re-mixing it to create a totally unique product. With the release of the RobL Clyde, effectively Rob L’s original model now becomes a sample, not a custom.
The original blue-atoll colorway & a triple white version have been reproduced as a complimentary gesture to Rob L on his distinctive “Archipelago” design. The shoe also features a slightly padded tongue which is designed to make the laces sit wider apart – an improvement on the old “jelly-roll” technique of stuffing rolled up socks under the tongue to achieve a bigger shape. Other details include a smooth and soft nubuck upper with a raised pattern screen-print and the Rob L stamp in the sockliner and FOT. 500 pairs per colorway will be available world-wide.
Solebox will have them in stock as of June 21rst.
More images after the jump.

2008 Puma will be releasing the Poison Dart Frog Clyde pack, inspired by the Amazon frog. The pack consists of three colorways of the Clyde featuring a striking array of colors and patterns, hinting at the inspiration behind the pack. Metallic colors, stingray leather and other materials make this a very special release. As of February 29th Puma will be releasing one shoe out of the three every 4 weeks. Pics via Oishi via Hypebeast.
Check out more pictures of the pack after the jump.

We have reported extensively about the soon to drop Puma x Yo! MTV Raps collections. Now Puma launched a website dedicated to the initiative. From now until the launch date, September 15th, they will update the site with new videos. Now they already have a Big Daddy Kane backstage video on there. Check it out…

http://archive.puma.com Mark your calendars for the launch of the collections – there will be a limited edition collection consisting of collaboration with Big Daddy Kane, Dr. Dre & Ed Lover, Doug E. Fresh and MC Shan and another collection entering all US Puma stores, that we already showed you!

Last in this collaboration project to be honored is MC Shan. The only Clyde to come in the classic suede upper, this is for sure also one to check out. But we have to admit, out favorite piece is the MC Shan collaboration has got to be the hat. It’s great to see Puma going into such details. It’s the kind of product that is hard to sell, but at the same time it makes this collaboration much more complete and authentic.
MC Shan can be credited as one of the most remembered B-boys back in the day. He broke through in 1983 as part of his cousins Marl’s Juice Crew All Stars. His classic hit “The Bridge” provides inspiration for the shoe. The sneaker features the Queensborough Bridge in gold embroidery on the body of classic Suede’s. Mixing pairs was Shan’s trademark look, and to pay homage to him, PUMA has designed the shoes in 2 different colours – one red, one blue, with a white patent leather PUMA form stripe, “MC” on the right tongue and “SHAN” on the left, a special YO! shoe lace, and the YO! logo on the back of each heel.  The look is completed with a red, white & blue zip-up top and red bucket hat, honoring the original PUMA track jacket and hat featured on Shan’s album cover ‘Down by Law’. A red-shirt depicting MC Shan striking a pose completes the set.
Also coming to stores September 15th. Make sure to check out after the jump the sneakers, the clothing and the sick hat.

The next in the line-up to be honored are Dr. Dre and Ed Lover. Puma created both sneakers and apparel for this collaboration. In the line-up of this Puma x Yo! MTV Raps collaboration this is probably the cleanest sneakers.
Doctor Dre and Ed Lover’s Clydes feature a white on white pattern of the popular YO! logo, multi-colored laces (including a special YO! lace), a snake skin PUMA form-stripe, and their names tagged on the back of each heel; Dre on the right and Lover on the left.  The tongues further commemorates the “YO! MTV Raps” era with “1988” on the left shoe; the year that the show started, and 1995 on the right shoe; the year the show ended. The lime and purple sock liner is taken from the hard-to-get Forever Fresh Clyde, which marked the first collaboration between PUMA and “YO! MTV Raps.”  A hoodie & T-shirt with the unmistakable “Yo! MTV Raps” and Doctor Dre & Ed Lover logos complete the look. 
Coming to stores September 15th. After the jump detailed pictures of the sneakers, the hoodie and the t-shirt.

The Puma Clydes out of the 96 Hours premium collection were just released at Sold Out. The horse hair, premium leathers and small details such as the leather tag on the sneaker, really make it stand out. Other little features are the bag and box the shoe comes in. They are now available for 150 Euros.
Check out detailed pictures of the pack after the jump.

Here a preview of one of the most exciting Puma collaborations to hit stores soon. They continue the Yo MTV Rap collaboration and this time worked on overall three sneakers for the pack.
The first one comes in a dark red tone, commemorating M.C. Shan and features a gold Queensborough “Queens” Bridge embroidery around the back heel. It also has a custom Yo MTV Raps tongue tag and inner lining.
The second collaboration comes with an all black suede upper and commemorates Big Daddy Kane. It also features golden embroidery – on this one chains. It also has the custom tag and inner lining.
The last and probably most clean sneaker in this collaboration in the third one, commemorating Dr. Dre and ED Lover. It comes in all white with a neon green lining and “1995″ and “1988″ tags on the tongues.
We don’t know whan the pic will be released, but we will keep you posted. Pictures of all sneakers come from Sneaker Freaker Issue 10. You can check them all out after the jump.