Puma
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
Cara Delevingne Premieres Puma’s ‘#DoYou’ Campaign Film
Delevingne was speaking on female issues as a part of the campaign.
Puma Raises Full-Year Target After Q2 Sales Rise 16%
The sportswear company said it now expects sales to grow between 12 and 14 percent this year.
Rihanna Brings Fenty Back to New York Fashion Week
The singer has shown her collection in Paris for the last two seasons.
More Tanneries Sponsor Applied DNA’s Leather Traceability Project
Applied DNA Sciences’ leather traceability project is gaining momentum. The supply chain security company…
Puma Still Fighting Forever 21 Sale of Alleged Rihanna Knock-offs
The brand is headed to an appeals court after a California judge dismissed a majority of its infringement…
Study Examines Forced Labor Risk of Footwear Brands’ Leather Supply
Adidas, Nike, Puma and Timberland earned high marks in a new study that examined the forced labor risk of…
WWD Law Review: The Activewear Battle Rages, and What ‘Made in’ Means
The major activewear brands continue to battle it out in courts - with mixed success - while Kering became…
Puma & Sophia Webster Plan a Dance-Inspired Collaboration for Fall
Puma and quirky British accessories designer, Sophia Webster, join forces for a dance-inspired footwear…
Extreme Times Call for Extreme Sports for Viewers, Wannabes and Daredevils Alike
Goat yoga, Flyboarding, ultra trail running, wing walking and drone jumping aren't the run-of-the-mill…
Forever 21 Can Keep Selling Alleged Knock-offs of Rihanna Fenty Shoes
Puma lost a bid to get allegedly infringing shoe style off Forever 21 shelves while an infringement suit…
Sophia Webster Links With Puma on Footwear Collaboration
The collection will drop in stores in September.
Sita Abellan Opens Up About Her Insane Instagram and Avoiding All Rules
"I just enjoy taking pictures of me. I don't care."
WWD Law Review: Trademarks, Patent Trolls and Copyrights
Recent legal activity has involved so-called "genericide," the concept of patent trolls and the ongoing…
Forever 21 Says Rihanna’s Puma Designs Are ‘Classic,’ Up for Grabs
The fast-fashion retailer said Puma's infringement claims don't hold up given the lack of originality in…
Usain Bolt Joins Puma to Premier Netfit Technology
Puma debuted a revolutionary new technology in a star-studded event with Usain Bolt, the fastest runner in…