Formula 1 has helped give Puma the hottest sneaker in the world.

The red Puma Speedcat was named the third hottest product overall in the Lyst Index for the third quarter of 2024, which covers the summer. It’s the lone sneaker on the list of ten products and the second most popular footwear entry, behind only the Alaïa Fishnet Ballet Flat at first overall. Two other shoes appeared in the top ten, with Ganni’s Mid Shaft Biker Boot and Clarks Original’s Wallabees at sixth and ninth, respectively. The only other product appearing ahead of the Speedcat is the Coach Suede Brooklyn Shoulder Bag.

Debuted in 1998 as a sneaker for Formula 1 races, the Speedcat was reconfigured as the Speedcat LS, short for lifestyle, in 2021. The heavier marketing push and latest OG relaunch from Puma, however, hadn’t come until this year. The red colorway singled out by Lyst is the best invocation of the shoe’s F1 roots and has been photographed on celebrities including Emily Ratajkowski, who’s also worn the sneaker a number of times in other colorways, and Dua Lipa.

All colorways of the Speedcat are sold out on Puma’s website, while limited sizes can be found through third-party retailers including Kith and End. Clothing. Lyst says demand for the sneaker grew by 532 percent in August, and its reports are informed by searches on and off its platform, as well as product views, sales and social media behavior.

The Speedcat’s ascent comes after years of low-profile sneakers, the most prominent being the Adidas Samba, trending — as well as a spike in popularity for Formula 1, which recently entered into a new partnership with Puma after years of the German brand aligning with individual teams. A$AP Rocky serves as creative director for Puma’s Formula 1 line, and many of his own Puma sneakers have carried automotive references.

Fireproof versions of the Speedcat were first made for Formula 1 drivers in 1998, with the sneaker going on sale to the public a year later without flame-retardant properties.

In 2024 Q1 and Q2, Lyst named the Miu Miu x New Balance 530 SL, another thin-soled sneaker, and the Loewe x On Cloudtilt 2.0 as the hottest shoes, respectively.

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About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

Puma is redoubling its efforts in basketball. The sports brand has launched its first-ever global campaign. The project features five Puma Hoops athletes and is titled, “FOREVER. FASTER. See The Game Like We Do.”

“Since the start we’ve always tried to tell the story of basketball through the lens of the player, seeing the game the way they do, both on the court and off the court,” Puma Basketball’s global head, Max Staiger, says in a statement. “This approach has allowed us to connect those unique viewpoints with disruptive product and storytelling —impactful to anyone around the game.”

In the campaign, Breanna Stewart, Flau’jae Johnson, Scoot Henderson, LaMelo Ball and Tyrese Haliburton appear individually on the court. They largely appear in some form of play with the exception of LaMelo who appears with one of his dogs.

“The campaign showcases the tenacious spirit we have for the game and the investment we are willing to make to show up as a powerhouse and continue carving our legacy, “Richard Teyssier, vice president brand and marketing for Puma says. “This dedicated campaign will continue to thread our message across the business and amplify our holistic vision for the brand.”

The campaign, which debuted globally this weekend, includes a hero brand film. It also is simply the latest move in strengthening the basketball business. Earlier this month, the company announced its deal with Haliburton, its most accomplished signee in the NBA. In addition, earlier this year the company announced that star designer Salehe Bembury had inked a partnership to design the company’s next signature silhouette. In addition, Ball’s MB.02 sneaker is one of the top three bestselling basketball shoes on StockX.

This all comes after the German company rejoined the sport in 2018.

Rihanna was one of more than 8,000 guests at Moncler’s The City of Genius event held in Shanghai, China over the weekend — but she was still easy to spot in a glossy red catsuit and sharp black heels.

Rihanna modeled one of her partner A$AP Rocky‘s creations made in collaboration with Moncler. The superstar looked fierce as ever in a skin-tight shiny jumpsuit in a captivating cardinal red hue. The one-piece garment featured a zipper in front and a mock neck collar; keeping with the rosy color scheme, she modeled an off-the-shoulder look with a puffer layer, a nod to Moncler’s signature item.

With her hair piled atop her head, she accented the catsuit with a matching red lip, oversized sunglasses and a single-strand diamond necklace. Both catsuit and puffer featured the logo for AWGE, A$AP Rocky’s creative agency. Stylists Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn were responsible for her look.

A bold heel seemed the natural choice to complement Rihanna’s daring outfit. The superstar changed up the color scheme with a pair of black patent leather heels; the shoes featured a super sharp elongated pointed toe and an upper with an oval-shaped outline. The back portion, or quarter of the shoe, covered some of the heel but was notably cut slightly lower than that of the typical black pump.

While this mule-adjacent silhouette made the shoe stand out, other classic features included a sloped sole and a stiletto heel. The style strongly resembled Amina Muaddi’s forthcoming Anok Mule, which Rihanna herself debuted in September in a shade referred to as “custom butter satin.”

At Selfridges in London last month, she paired the gold shoe with an off-the-shoulder robe-inspired dress made of a fuzzy fabric. Now in October, she could very well be modeling the style in another colorway — especially with her heels bearing the peach outsole and interlocking “AM” logo of the brand.

Rihanna has been in the mood for red lately. Alongside Puma, the entrepreneur recently released the newest colorway of the Fenty x Puma Avanti sneaker, with this version known as Club Red.

The makeup mogul is known for her fashion sense, and designers often give her the first pick of their latest designs. Earlier this month when celebrating the rapper’s birthday, she wore an updated version of Gianvito Rossi‘s Montecarlo style. The Montecarlo silhouette was released previously by Gianvito Rossi, but Rihanna’s version is from the brand’s resort 2025 collection and won’t be in stores for a few months and she was seemingly the first celebrity spotted wearing the design.

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Rihanna’s Best Shoe Moments in 2024 So Far

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Formula 1 will head to Las Vegas late in November for a night race that includes the Strip, and to prepare for the occasion Puma is bringing a collection with “Neon Energy.”

Purple graphics define the Formula 1 x Puma “Neon Energy” collection, which includes a new version of the Trinity sneaker that commonly appears in the F1 capsules. Black and purple dominate the sneaker, the upper of which is made of leather of mesh. A purple IMEVA midsole works in conjunction with a SoftFoam+ sockliner for comfort, while a Formula 1 rubber tag hangs atop the white-trimmed Formstrip. Additional pops of color then come from a neon red heel pull and lace tips.

In addition to the sneakers, the “Neon Energy” collection features a range of apparel and accessories with pink lightning bolts that include T-shirts, a crewneck sweatshirt, shorts, padded vest, sweatpants and hat.

Puma has worked with individual Formula 1 teams since 1999, but the 2024 season is its first as the supplier for the entire racing class. A$AP Rocky is the creative director of Puma’s Formula 1 line, and the partnership’s first sneakers came through a capsule featuring the Futurecat Motorsport and CA Pro that released in the spring.

Ahead of last year’s inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, Puma vice president of Marketing Allison Giorgio told Footwear News: “Motorsport has been one of the most important categories in Puma’s history. We have a legacy of developing technical apparel that meets the highest FIA [Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile] standards and has been worn by the world’s greatest F1 teams. It’s been exciting to be a part of its evolution and growth globally over the years and get the chance to continue driving innovation forward.”

A press release says the Formula 1 x Puma “Neon Energy” Trinity sneaker and accompanying apparel are out now on Puma’s website and select stores, but the gear hasn’t yet appeared online. Keep an eye out on Puma’s website for the collection to drop soon.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

The newest version of Rihanna’s Fenty x Puma Avanti sneaker, which the artist and entrepreneur teased multiple times over the last several months, released at long last on Oct. 17. The new colorway called Club Red can now be purchased from Puma.com, the Puma app, Puma stores and retailers globally.

The creative campaign features Romeo Beckham, the 22-year-old son of David and Victoria Beckham, wearing the shoe with jeans and a tank top.

Rihanna herself recently modeled the shoes with a slouchy gray suit. As ever, the Fenty CEO looked effortlessly stylish — her ensemble incorporated athletic elements into a business formal silhouette for an easygoing but chic aesthetic. She wore a high-waisted wide-leg trousers and a blazer in a stone gray hue with a green and white striped soccer jersey. She previously modeled the sneaker over the summer, when she wore the new colorway to a soccer game between Manchester United and AC Milan.

In addition to a red backdrop and white Formstrip, the Club Red Avanti features gold Fenty x Puma branding, adding a subtle flash to the design. The upper features oil-treated leather and a lace closure in addition to the identifiable fold-over tongue. The shoe is marked at a price of $150 and will be offered for all ages.

The Fenty x Puma Avanti was showcased in an FN cover story in September 2023, when Footwear News was allowed an exclusive first look at the campaign. Rihanna told FN, “Football is a universal language that brings people together from all over the world, all walks of life, and I wanted to pay homage to that.”

The Puma Avanti dates back to 2001; the style took inspiration from the 1998 Jil Sander King sneaker, which combines elements of the 1978 running sneaker Easy Rider and the 1968 king football boot. Since their first collaboration on the Avanti model in 2023, Puma and Rihanna have dropped several colorways including black and white, chrome, Dark Myrtle, Club Navy, and pony-inspired options made of calf hair.

Rihanna’s Best Shoe Moments in 2024 So Far

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Puma Hoops believes it has made the ultimate game day basketball shoe.

The athletic giant has released the All-Pro Nitro Elite, a tech-loaded basketball shoe ready for any court. With its release, Puma Hoops has also unveiled a new innovation: Nitro SQD foam.

Nitro SQD is a full-length, nitrogen-injected foam internal midsole that Puma stated was created to offer superior responsiveness and cushioning. A softer foam for cushion, the brand explained, is surrounded by more rigid foam for stability.

Aside from Nitro SQD foam, the All-Pro Nitro Elite features several other Puma innovations, including its Pwrplate carbon fiber shank that is built into the insole for torsional rigidity, as well as its lightweight and breathable Ultraweave engineered woven upper with multi-zoned materials for targeted support.

Also, Puma included a heel counter Formstrip on the Nitro SQD, which the brand described as an electroplated external TPU heel counter that was added for explosive side-to-side movements. The shoe is completed with high-abrasion outsoles for quick cuts.

The Puma All-Pro Nitro Elite is available now via Puma.com, the Puma app, the brand’s New York City flagship store and at Dicks Sporting Goods. It released in a full size run and retails for $250.

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About the Author

Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

Emily Ratajkowski, who understands the art of curating a stylish off-duty look, walked her dog in New York City on Oct. 8 wearing a pair of brown Puma Speedcat sneakers — which have already been declared as the “it” sneaker of 2024.

Ratajkowski mastered the comfy-cute aesthetic in a pair of slouchy black sweatpants from Hymne, which feature the brand’s “dart” design in front. A pair of Hymne sweatpants in a hue called light grey heather is marked at a price point of $265.

Ratajkowski kept it casual with a mustard yellow athletic T-shirt which she wore underneath a cream colored button-down jacket; she wore this layer with the sleeves rolled up, emphasizing her aura of effortlessness. A noted fan of a beanie, she accessorized with a black knit cap in addition to yellow-rimmed sunglasses and hoop earrings.

Ratajkowski rounded out her look with a pair of Puma Speedcat sneakers, a style she’s reached frequently for in recent times. She owns the shoe in multiple colors, including black and red versions, both of which she took out for springtime jaunts in April. The supermodel has now revealed she has a brown iteration in her wardrobe.

Puma is re-releasing the archival colorway referred to as Haute Coffee-Frosted Ivory in the coming days; it will be available to order on Oct. 12 at 10 a.m. EDT. Alongside another archival colorway called Team Light Blue-Club Navy, the Archive Speedcat sneakers will retail for $100. They feature a suede upper with a leather Puma Formstrip in addition to the company’s cat logo branding.

The Speedcat style has been around for more than a quarter century, having first been created as a fireproof shoe for Formula 1 drivers.

When she isn’t wearing Puma Speedcats with her go-to transitional weather jacket, Ratajkowski has shown love for a number of other sneaker brands. She’s worn black Reebok sneakers recently in addition to Oakley sneakers. See more of her footwear style below.

Emily Ratajkowski’s Shoe Style Evolution

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Coming off of a career year as the NBA’s leader and assists and being named to his first All-NBA Team, Tyrese Haliburton has locked down a new endorsement deal with Puma.

Puma confirmed the signing of Haliburton Tuesday after Boardroom reporter Nick DePaula first broke the news Monday. While terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, DePaula reported the Indiana Pacers star guard has signed a “massive multi-year” contract.

“I’m super excited to announce that I’ve joined the PUMA Family,” Haliburton said in a press release. “I look forward to being a part of their commitment to the next generation of basketball. PUMA’s vision and dedication to supporting athletes align perfectly with my goals, and I’m excited to represent the brand on and off the court.”

Prior to signing with Puma, Halburton had played in Nike sneakers for his entire career and largely favored shoes from the Kobe line. Puma made no mention in the announcement of a signature sneaker for Haliburton and said he’ll take to the court in the All-Pro Nitro.

“Since day one, we’ve always focused on the next generation of basketball at PUMA. Tyrese is not only defining his own generation, but also is shaping the future of the game for many more to come,” Max Staiger, global head of Basketball at Puma, said in the the release. “We’re extremely grateful for the opportunity to partner with Tyrese to continue working on our disruptive next-gen approach to basketball.”

Haliburton joins Puma months after Salehe Bembury‘s work on the brand’s basketball line was announced. Bembury was confirmed to be designing the next signature shoe for Puma Basketball and to be involved with recruiting athletes.

A campaign video announcing the addition of Halburton was creative directed by Bembury.

While the Pacers have yet to begin their preseason schedule yet, they did play a team scrimmage in front of fans Sunday. During the contest, Haliburton wore the All-Pro Nitro, and in his Media Day photos he opted for square-toed Prada dress shoes.

Haliburton joins a Puma roster that includes LaMelo Ball, as well as WNBA superstar Breanna Stewart and second-year NBA player Scoot Henderson — all of whom have their own signature sneakers. As difficult as it’ll be to surpass the popularity of Ball’s sneakers should he get his own, particularly among the youth, Haliburton will now be the most accomplished of NBA players representing Puma.

Coming off his second-consecutive NBA All-Star appearance, Haliburton was also named to the All-NBA Third Team. Over the summer, he played for the gold medal-winning Team USA men’s basketball squad at the Olympics.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

Puma is aiming to shed some light on one of the fashion industry’s most debated topics through a new educational content series.

In the new video series dubbed “#KnowYourStuff,” the German athletic brand will explore the differences between leather versus vegan leather, and the environmental impact of both materials. According to Puma, the idea for the series comes “in response to growing consumer demand for greater transparency from the fashion industry.”

Created in collaboration with Aishwarya Sharma, one of Puma’s “Voices of a Re:Generation” spokespeople, #KnowYourStuff aims to translate the complexities and progressions around the use of leather and its alternatives. Available to view on Puma’s YouTube channel and Sharma’s Instagram platform, the seven-episode story will roll out over the next two weeks.

“My goal with #KnowYourStuff is to educate and empower my audience and young people worldwide,” Sharma said in a statement. “Sustainability can be complex and the leather topic is embedded with sensitive themes, so I’ve taken care in making sure this is approached in an open and transparent way that inspires people to become informed about the materials they choose to wear.”

In the series, viewers can expect to see Sharma report on her fact-finding mission, encouraging audiences to #KnowYourStuff. Along her journey, Sharma will visit the Puma archive as well as witness behind the scenes leather processing first-hand in Thailand

Sharma will also show how she navigates different perspectives surrounding leather with guests, including leading Puma stakeholders and representatives from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). Key conversations include animal welfare and the use of leather as a byproduct of the beef industry, cattle farming and concerns around deforestation, the leather tanning process, new material innovations and industry challenges.

“By openly discussing the complexities of the materials used in our products, like leather and its alternatives, we hope to foster a more informed and balanced conversation about sustainable clothing and footwear choices, which is essential for driving positive change,” Anne-Laure Descours, chief sourcing officer at Puma, added. “The #KnowYourStuff series is a testament to our commitment of transparency and our promise made during our ‘Conference of the People’ event to include the next generation as part of these important discussions.”

This program is all part of Puma’s “Forever.Better.” sustainability strategy. In its most recent report in March, Puma said that it reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 24 percent in 2023 compared to 2022, despite a strong sales growth.

“We are very proud of the progress we have achieved on our sustainability journey in 2023, particularly when it comes to the reduction of greenhouse gases,” Descours said in March. “We will not stop there, however, and continue to execute our Forever.Better. sustainability strategy and our 10For25 targets.”

While Puma has a long history with leather, dating back to the 1950s, the company said that today, leather accounts for approximately 4 percent of its footwear materials.

Puma’s 10For25 targets include sourcing 100 percent leather from certified sources and today the brand works with third parties, such as Leather Working Group, to ensure all leather is sourced from certified tanneries. Additionally, Puma said it consults animal protection organizations on a regular basis to review its animal welfare policy and actions.

A$AP Rocky took to the streets of New York on Thursday night to celebrate his latest motorsport-inspired collection of Puma footwear, apparel and accessories.

For the launch, the rapper hosted an intimate group of friends of the brand for a private collection preview, after which, Rocky led the crowd through the streets of New York to The Blond for celebratory cocktails. Along his Thursday night stroll, Rocky stopped traffic on Canal Street to snap some photos for fans and to pose in front of an ad for his latest collab.

Since Rocky joined Puma late last year as the creative director for the brand’s F1 partnership, the rapper has incorporated motorsport design elements across all of his offerings. And this drop is no different.

“[With Puma] we are going to take motorcross and motorsport and blend it all into one,” Rocky said at Thursday’s private preview. “I think I am the catalyst for that. So, this origin story starts like that. Right now, you are seeing a collection that looks like it has been worn by a man that has been working on his car all day. You can see the oil stains and the details, especially in the new Inhales.”

The rapper went on to call out other sports brands (without naming names) for their over-reliance on celebrity collaborations. “What they’re doing is over-saturating the market with unnecessary sh*t, y’all. That don’t excite anyone. And it doesn’t feed my soul or my spirit. Right now, I am just trying to do things that feel true to me, and I hope that y’all get it and that it manifests with y’all, too, and that you get my vision,” he said.

Rocky said his intention is to push the boundaries of footwear design, and he does so with the Mostro 3D, which originally debuted on Puma’s NYFW runway in February. To create the silhouette, the new A$AP Rocky x Puma Mostro 3D utilizes Carbon Digital Light Synthesis (Carbon DLS), a resin-based 3D printing process that uses digital light projection, oxygen-permeable optics, and engineering-grade materials.

Puma and Carbon’s 3D-printing process reimagines the recently revived archival sneaker as an alien slip-on. Spikes of varying sizes protrude throughout the perforated shoe, with a wider honey-comb pattern used around the ankle. The thicker spiked sole leaves a cavern at midfoot, and a spray paint-like finish gives the Mostro 3D its black and red look.

In addition to this highly anticipated 3D printed style, Rocky also debuted his take on the Puma Inhale sneaker, which has been re-engineered with custom embroidery inspired by car mechanics in the garage finishing their days with grease stains and dirt all over their clothes. Both the Inhale and full collection pieces feature a distressed treatment, authentic racing design details, and A$AP Rocky x Puma branding.

The collection is now available on Puma.com while supplies last, as well as select retailers globally including Kith, Dover Street Market, Maxfield, Sneakersnstuff, SlamJam, Nubian and more.

A Closer Look at the A$AP Rocky x Puma Mostro 3D Sneaker, PHOTOS

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