To celebrate
Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year in the United States (and a few other countries), PUMA
revisits two iconic footwear silhouettes - the Trinomic R698 and the Blaze of
Glory. Both shoe styles have been given an all-over black treatment with white
colour-blocked midsoles for the ultimate shelf and street wear appeal.
The Trinomic
R698 was born into a great tradition of revolutionary `90s PUMA performance
footwear. Trinomic cushioning technology changed the scene with its honeycomb
cells, which cushioned and supported athletes. The Trinomic R698 Black Friday has
the same smooth cushioning but also features a rich, leather-embossed PUMA
tongue logo for added luxury. The Trinomic R698 retails for R1899.
The Blaze of
Glory, which pays homage to New York City and its basketball culture, also
features a Trinomic-packed sole. Techy mesh has been added to the distinctive
athletic construction for the Black Friday version. The Blaze of Glory retails for R1899.
The
Black Friday pack is available today and can be found at PUMA SELECT stores in
Bree Street, Cape Town and Braamfontein, Johannesburg.
To highlight the true
potential of the R698 design, the latest Trinomic pack fully emphanises the
shoe’s iconic silhouette by blocking every panel in different material
executions.
The R698 was born into a
great tradition of revolutionary ‘90s PUMA performance footwear. Trinomic
technology changed the scene with its use of a hexagonal system in the sole
that compressed and rebounded load whilst the Trinomic honeycomb cells
cushioned and supported athletes. Thanks to its distinctive design, the iconic
shoe is now more often seen on the streets than on running tracks.
Each panel of the R698 in
the Kosma Pack is constructed from a different material, from mesh to soft
leather all topped off with a crackled premium nubuck. The new collection is being
released in three bold colours representing the mood and golden hues of Fall –
lead by the Inca Gold colourway followed by the High Risk Red and Black styles.
The Kosma Pack (R1499)
can be found at SELECT stores in Bree Street, Cape Town and Braamfontein,
Johannesburg from today (13 November2015).
PUMA started a project
that captures moments in the lives of Jack Parow, Riky Rick, Das Kapital, PH
Fat, Nonku Phiri, Nicci St Bruce and Rolo Rozay, while wearing PUMA’s Trinomic
R698, a sneaker rich in heritage.
Represent698, a dynamic
mix of interviews, video, imagery and social media activity, is an opportunity
for creative minds to explore what it is to Represent, and for artist, rapper
and producer Riky Rick it’s all about authenticity: “Anyone can make the
greatest hits in the country, but not everybody can know themselves and put
themselves into their music. That’s the most difficult part. I’m here to
Represent millions of kids, I’m somebody who has gone through what they are
going through.”
Authenticity’s twin
brother honesty is also the key for madcap musical artist Jack Parow: “It’s
important to be yourself and never pay too much attention to what people say.
You’ve got to stay true to your own thoughts and beliefs.”
Singer Nonku Phiri agrees:
“I tend to stick to my gut and do what makes me happy. I can only work from an
honest place.”
Mike from rap crew PH Fat
explains why teaming up with PUMA works for him: “They’ve got street and sport
culture covered; they’re the most artistically enabling brand.”
The PUMA collab is also
exciting for rapper Nicci St Bruce: “I like it when a brand can see you for
yourself, rather than trying to make you into who they would like you to be.”
While DJ and producer Das
Kapital welcomed the opportunity Represent698 provides to work with forward-thinking,
legitimate people: “It’s fun that something as simple as a sneaker style can
bring together so many unique people.”
But why all the fuss
about a sneaker? Take it from a guy who knows his stuff, Rolo Rozay of PUMA
SELECT: “The R698 is a sought after go-to shoe because the silhouette isn’t too
out there and it’s versatile - you can play around with the look.”
Originally designed as a
performance runner in the ‘90s, the R698 sped off the track to become
synonymous with urban street style and cement its place in sneaker history. Styles
to be found at PUMA stores nationwide, as well as selected sneaker retailers this
season are the R698 Basic Tech Sport Women’s available in glacier-white for R1
299 and the R698 Mesh–Neoprene available in black for R1 399. There’s also the luxe
R698 Allover Suede available in Italian plum, high-risk red, peacoat and black
for R1 399 and the R698 Fast Graphic Women’s available in black-and-white, with
coral details for R1 299.
As part of the
collaboration PUMA will be releasing limited Boss Zonke Football Club shirts by
Riky Rick as well as limited Parow Pythons Rugby Club jerseys by Jack Parow.
To find out more follow the
Represent698 crew on Twitter and Instagram, as well as the PUMA to join the
conversation.
PUMA released the latest addition to its Trinomic R698 range
– the delectable R698 Soft Pack, which features the richness of a plush suede
upper with subtle perforations for a lightweight finish in a choice of grey,
pastel pink, black or teal.
Originally designed as a performance runner in the ‘90s, the
shoe sped off the track to become synonymous with urban street style. Since its
debut, the Trinomic R698 has been re-issued in several iterations with a host
of celebrated collaborations that cemented its iconic position in sneaker
history.
The new R698 Soft Pack employs all the classic features
you’d expect including the hexagonal Trinomic system technology to ensure
maximum comfort. Yet for the Soft Pack the style has been downplayed, stripping
the runner back to its original design to create a super clean and simple shoe.
The R698 Soft Pack is now available and retails for R1 599
and drops through PUMA SELECT stores in Bree Street, Cape Town and
Braamfontein, Johannesburg, as well as Shelflife.
Check out the dope sneakers at #FirstThursdays later today!
PUMA revealed a
special collaboration with two renowned
Italian labels – LC23 and BACKDOOR. Dedicated to true footwear connoisseurs
this Made in Italy release uses the
finest materials and craftsmanship for a refined take on PUMA’s running classic
– the R698.
The PUMA ‘Made in
Italy’ R698 remains true to the original silhouette and is enriched with
material elaborations. LC23 founder Leo Colacicco worked with PUMA designers to
incorporate a soft premium textile material, typical of their Italian Oxford shirts.
BACKDOOR decked out the midsole with the brand’s colours, finished off with
their stamp on the Trinomic logo that fastens the laces. A hand-sewn label on
the tongue represents the triple collaboration.
LC23 was founded in 2011 by Leo Colacicco, an industrial engineer with a
weakness for fashion who started the label sourcing handmade apparel from his
hometown in Apulia, southern Italy.
BACKDOOR is a sneaker concept store
in Bologna started in 2007 by Marco Evangelisti and Jacopo Pozzati. The store
is one of Italy’s foremost resources for fashion, lifestyle and contemporary
brands.
The PUMA ‘Made in Italy’ R698 will retail
for R1 799 and are exclusively at Shelflife from 30 July 2015.
PUMA has unveiled the
Sakura Project, its eagerly anticipated collaboration with one of the most
established influencers in the world of sneakers, New Yorker Ronnie Fieg.
Inspired by centuries old
Japanese art and culture, Fieg has used Japanese Ornamental Cherry Blossom
trees, Sakura in the design for this SS’15 collaboration, which lands in
limited distribution and features two sneakers - PUMA’s hero silhouette from
the Trinomic family, the R698, and the RF698 Mid.
The R698 archive runner
acknowledges PUMA’s performance heritage, but with updated execution of colour
and materials the sneaker transforms into a modern classic and is a clear
indication of what will be the focus silhouette for the coming season.
The distinctive deep reds
of the Cherry Trees are infused across the rich perforated suede of the toe as
well as the midsole of the R698 and fade into lighter shades of pink,
expressing the range of Sakura colours in nature.
The RF698 Mid takes
design DNA from its ‘little brother’ the RF698. This Mid Cut comes with a inner
sock booty constructed in tech neoprene and is finished with a 3M covered strap
and rich colours for the full effect of the Sakura.
The PUMA x Ronnie Fieg
Sakura Project collection will be available globally in April 2015.
PUMA has released its
latest Fast Track collection, the nostalgic Perf Pack featuring the R698 and
The States, two of the best selling sneaker silhouettes in PUMA’s rich history.
Originally designed as performance sneakers in the ‘80s (The States) and the
‘90s (the R698), they quickly shifted from the track and court to the streets.
The States debuted as
Suede and quickly rose to fame with the ‘80s dawn of b-boys and hip-hop beats
which took over New York City. Often spotted in a much sought-after blue and
white colour combo, the classic suede was re-christened ‘The States’ after its birthplace.
The R698 was born into a
grand tradition of revolutionary ‘90s PUMA performance footwear, featuring
Trinomic technology in the sole which changed the scene with its use of a
hexagonal system. Being seen as the sneaker to wear, the R698 quickly became
synonymous with street style.
Perf Pack R698 and The
States land in three colourways: black and light grey highlighting the third
colour, a deep and intense electric blue. PUMA utilises rich materials across
both styles with a soft and smooth nubuck and a perforation texture across both
silhouettes.
The R698 will retail for
R1999 and The States for R1799. The Perf Pack can be found at PUMA SELECT
stores in Bree Street, Cape Town and Braamfontein, Johannesburg.
