PUMA was founded by Rudolf Dassler, who first rose to sportswear notoriety when he and his brother Adolf jointly formed the company Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik (Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory) in 1924.
Fast-forward four years and the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics saw most German athletes sporting Dassler spikes. Eight years later American icon Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the Olympic Games in Berlin while sporting the brothers' shoes. Despite their shared success, however, the relationship between the brothers deteriorated, and the two parted ways in 1948. Adolf went on to create adidas, while Rudolf formed PUMA.
PUMA's now-famous logo was originally chosen by Dassler as a symbol of speed, strength, adaptability, perseverance, and dexterity. Named one of the world’s most valuable sports brands by Forbes, the Bavarian-headquartered group maintains its pioneer status in the footwear and fashion industry.
Thanks to the help of a revolutionary football boot, a World Cup marketing stunt featuring Pele, close relationships with a long list of the world's best athletes, and endorsement deals with leading artists such as J. Cole and Rihanna, PUMA has rightfully earned its place as one of the biggest companies in sneaker culture.
To help you navigate some of the best releases from PUMA in 2021 alone, we've compiled a list of our favorite PUMA sneakers below.
Shop the best PUMA Sneakers of 2021 below
PUMA Suede Classic XXI
Suede Classic XXI
PUMA
The PUMA Suede is one of the very few sneaker models that has managed to transcend trends and taste. The iconic model has over 50 years of history behind it, appearing on the feet of style icons, famous basketball players, and cultural heroes. Why? This shoe's minimal aesthetic, low cut, and buttery soft suede upper offer wearers a tremendous amount of versatility. You can wear this with a tracksuit or a tailored suit. Though there are a multitude of variations, this gray colorway is cleaner than most, adding a little more timelessness to an already classic shoe.
PUMA Clyde Airbrush
Clyde Airbrush
PUMA
In 1971, PUMA gave the legendary basketball player Walt "Clyde" Frazier his own signature shoe, a sneaker that would go on to be highly coveted on and off the court. A few generations and 390 colorways later, the PUMA sneaker is still considered one of the best signature basketball shoes to this day. This modern-day version trades in the OG suede body for a crisp white leather upper and bright orange PUMA Formstrip. Both are callbacks to Frazier's time as a New York Knick.
PUMA PWRFrame Op-1 “Cyber”
Pwrframe Op 1 Cyber Sneakers
PUMA
The Puma PWRFrame OP-1‘s sleek black body is covered with digitally-inspired design references. The PUMA sneaker also includes PWRFrame technology — a new cushioning and support system upon which the sneaker is built. The shoes feel futuristic. You can wear these confidently today in New York or in Neo-Tokyo in 2077.
[sublime]Black Fives x PUMA Suede Classic[/subline]
Black Five Suede Classic
PUMA
PUMA has teamed up with the Black Fives Foundation, a non-profit whose mission is to research, preserve, showcase, teach, and honor the pre-NBA history of African Americans in basketball. Here the brand has redesigned the Suede Classic with raw pure suede, natural dyes, and graphics that date back 50 years. The handwritten lettering is also a nice touch.
PUMA Ralph Sampson 70
Ralph Sampson 70
PUMA
The Ralph Sampson is a refreshed silhouette, originally created for the towering NBA legend. Dawning a retro colorway, the use of premium suede and mesh gives the already immaculate shoe a flash of texture. PUMA knows how to breathe new life into a historic sneaker.
Rhuigi Villasenor x PUMA Suede
Rhuigi Villasenor
PUMA
Rhuigi Villaseñor's take on the Suede has emerged as one of our favorite modern iterations of the classic silhouette. The RHUDE founder and creative director has designed a shoe that feels a little more premium than the sneaker's OG cousin. The low includes a wavy mix of leather and suede and is topped off with a hint of faux crocodile leather on the heel.
PUMA RS-Dreamer "J. Cole"
RS-Dreamer "J. Cole"
PUMA
J.Cole's signature shoe is actually very dope. The PUMA sneaker is understated but radiant, coming in black with a flash of pastel colors across the midsole. Rappers don’t always have the best sneaker collabs, but the North Carolina native has managed to bless us with a sneaker that is almost on par with some of his best bars.
PUMA Future Rider "Super Mario 64"
Future Rider "Super Mario 64"
PUMA
If you haven't noticed already, PUMA has upped its collaboration game, creating shoes that pay homage to important cultural moments and that pull on those nostalgia heartstrings. Tastefully done, PUMA has created a sneaker that features everyone's favorite Italian plumber. If you still can't get enough of Super Mario 64, you'll have a hard time turning these down. We don't blame you.
PUMA Court Rider "Rugrats"
Court Rider "Rugrats"
PUMA
A Rugrats-inspired sneaker may leave you scratching your head in confusion. However, these somehow work. The Puma Court Rider mixes design cues from PUMA's iconic Future Rider with a color palette directly pulled from the 90s show. On the court (this is a basketball shoe after all), the sneaker has excellent traction, ankle support, and shock-absorbing bounce. Adult Tommy Pickles would be proud.
AKA BOKU x PUMA RS-Connect
RS-Connect
AKA BOKU x PUMA
French artist AkaBoku has infused his child-like art into PUMA's RS-Connect, creating a bright chunky summer-ready sneaker. The bold colors, graphics, and chubby midsole are a hit.
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