Puma Relaunches Speedcat Sneaker in Classic Black and Red Colorways

Michele Perna

Puma has announced a 2024 relaunch of the Speedcat racing sneaker, offered in classic black and red colorways.

The new release features a low top and suede finishing, available in black and red colorways in reference to F1 racing teams. The new version of the shoe also includes an embroidered cat detail on the toe in addition to gold logos on the tongue and above the Formstrip. The Puma Speedcat will be available in additional colorways later in the year.

The Speedcat was originally designed for race car drivers, with the first lifestyle version released in 1999. It was inspired by the fireproof footwear of Grand Prix drivers competing in the 1980s and 1990s. The original Speedcat remains Puma’s best-selling shoe to date.

The new release is launched in partnership with the female-focused brand Naked Copenhagen through a women-led campaign, with stylist and creator Sierra Rena serving as its face and muse. Per Puma, “the campaign honors what it takes to be a female leader.”

Puma describes Rena as someone “who embodies fearless self-expression, an attitude built on the pioneers before her, and a determination to inspire future generations positively. Honoring the legacy of the Speedcat, the campaign presents the silhouette as a symbol of empowerment and innovation.”

On June 19, Naked Copenhagen’s Paris store will host an exclusive pre-release event in Le Marais, where the Speedcat will be available in addition to nakedcph.com and Naked Copenhagen stores in Copenhagen and Arhaus.

Beginning June 29, the shoe can be purchased on puma.com. Global retailers including Kith, Atmos, END and SNS will also carry the product.

From partnerships with Walt Frazier to Rihanna, Puma has been a mainstay of the industry for the better part of a century. The footwear company celebrated its 75th anniversary last year; read more about the history and evolution of the German brand here, including the company’s relationship to F1 racing.