Limited Edition PUMA SUEDE Launched in Celebration of Tommie Smith's Legacy
PUMA has recently launched a limited edition of the iconic Suede silhouette to their
brand ambassadors, athletes, and key partners – created to commemorate Tommie
Smith’s legacy and his fight towards universal equality.
The Suede was first
worn during the 1968 Summer Olympics, Tommie had his shoes next to him on the podium
as he rose his fist, standing up for justice and equality – considered as one
of the most iconic and symbolic moments in sporting history. From that day
forward, the PUMA Suede became an icon; a shoe made to last for all time.
This year PUMA
moves to a new focus and rebirth of the Suede, kicked off with a limited
seeding of premium Suedes in honor of the continued legacy of both Tommie and
the shoe. Only 307 numbered pairs were created for this exclusive seeding, an
homage to Tommie’s number during the Olympics.
Each pair
includes a certificate of authenticity signed by Tommie Smith with the pair
number on both the shoe and certificate. These pairs were made in Italy with
the finest premium leathers, materials made to last a lifetime.
"One of the first shoes I wore was the PUMA Suede, I just
liked it,” reminisced Tommie Smith on his partnership with the German
sports brand. “To me, the historic chapter of the PUMA shoe was the personality
of the people that wore it and the notoriety that it brought to me by
helping my family out, and now, I'm part of that family – that's why I put it
on a high mark."
“I've been with PUMA for over 50 years, because I view that
company as a family, and not someone who gave me shoes to run. And the shoes
that I ran in you saw on the victory stand, and that was a social positive for
me, to run for something that would grow later on in a way that I could help
others as PUMA helped me move through that particular difficult
time.”
In
an interview with Tommie Smith by Highsnobiety.com, he discusses the meaning behind his symbolic stand, and how a
silhouette, like the PUMA Suede, can come to represent more than just a shoe.
This
is the first in a series of episodes which highlight trailblazers who have made
an impact in society and culture. The upcoming episodes will continue to
celebrate the decades of cultural heritage forged by the Suede, featuring an
exclusive conversation with Walter “Clyde” Frazier.
The
PUMA Suede has been an intrinsic part of history, and it will continue to be
for all time. Always available on PUMA.com, PUMA stores, and retailers
worldwide.
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