Pomellato to Stage Paris Exhibit
Puma
- Founded
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October 1, 1948
- Founder(s):
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Rudolf Dassler
- Headquarters:
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Herzogenaurach, Germany
The Puma brand was born on October 1, 1948, when Rudolf “Rudi” Dassler registered the brand name with the German Patent and Trademark Office.
Dassler was already a celebrated shoemaker. Twenty-eight years earlier, he and brother Adolf “Adi” Dassler opened a footwear factory in their hometown of Herzogenaurach, Germany. Their products soon became popular with elite runners, including Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin wearing Dassler spikes. The Dassler brothers’ breakup following World War II is one of the most legendary stories in athletics — and one of its biggest rivalries. Adolf went on to found Adidas. Both sports giants remain based in Herzogenaurach.
For Puma, its first big success came in 1950 with the Atom football/soccer boot, marking a long heritage in the sport. Its most iconic style, though, is the Puma Suede, which launched ahead of the 1968 Olympics, where it was famously worn by Tommie Smith. For a time, the sneaker was called the Puma Clyde in honor of Walt “Clyde” Frazier. Then in the 1980s, it became the Suede and was adopted by New York’s b-boy crews and West Coast skateboarders, cementing its universal appeal. Puma scored another hit in 2016 when it unveiled the Fenty x Puma Creeper with brand partner Rihanna, earning it the FN Shoe of the Year award.
Puma
Short Takes: KidSuper Designs World Cup Cleat for Christian Pulisic and Fair Harbor Teams With Athletic Brewing
Quick hits from the menswear world.
A$AP Rocky’s Sold-Out, 3D-printed Puma Mostro Is Back as a Mule
The style will be available in two colorways starting on May 21.
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The plateless Deviate Pure Nitro arrives as a competitor for the Adidas Evo SL and Asics Superblast 3.
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She paired the shoes with a light blue set.
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The original shoe debuted in the early 2000s as part of the Puma Complete franchise, a series of vividly…
How Harrison Ford Ended Up in Air Jordan 3s and More Sneaker Moments From ‘Shrinking’ and ‘Running Point’
Costume designer Allyson Fanger spoke to FN about the presence of sneakers in the two comedy series.
Blackpink’s Rosé Stars in Puma’s New H-Street Sneaker Campaign
First introduced as a lifestyle model in 2003, and reworked for 2025, the H-Street draws inspiration from a…
Shuffle Board: Solbari Builds Wholesale, TrueCommerce Eyes Growth
Australian brand Solbari enters the wholesale market while TrueCommerce appoints its next CRO to support its…
Formula 1’s Fashion Fever at the 2026 Miami Grand Prix Weekend
A look at the presence for major brands at the Miami race weekend.
Puma CEO Says Company Is Off to a ‘Very Solid Start’ in 2026 as Stock Ticks Up on Turnaround Progress
In footwear, Nitro running and Hyrox-related products are doing well, while low-profile silhouettes are…
Doing Away With Discounting: Puma’s Inventory Management Pays off in Q1
Inventory takebacks and liquidation sales saw the German sportswear brand perform better than expected in the…
These Three Sneaker Brands Are Gaining Visibility on Social Media
Mizuno, On and Onitsuka Tiger are sneaker brands gaining trust and authority through social visibility, says…
Shuffle Board: Puma Continues Hiring, Boohoo Parent Group Names CTO
Puma hires two more leaders amid the German multinational retailer's turnaround while Debenhams Group names…
Ahluwalia’s Newest Puma Collection Is a ‘Love Letter’ to African Football Ahead of World Cup
Designer Priya Ahluwalia gives FN a behind-the-scenes look at the new capsule.
Puma Hires New Wholesale and Sportstyle Leaders as It Continues Turnaround
Bertrand Blanc as Puma's new VP of global wholesale and Laurent Fricker is the new VP of sportstyle.