Salehe Bembury's Getting Stuck Into His Puma Hoops Partnership
Earlier this week it was announced that Salehe Bembury had joined forces with PUMA Hoops, but that’s not all the Big Cat had been cooking up. During his visit to PUMA House – the brand’s base throughout the Paris Games and the location where this new partnership had been announced – Bembury was spotted wearing a specially made, custom version of one of PUMA’s NITRO tech-packed runners. The pair came decked out in PUMA’s energetic ‘Fireglow’ colourway, which spans all of their performance-geared product throughout the Games. It also featured a wavy sole unit consistent with Bembury’s fingerprint detail, which is recognised as his design signature across his products and collaborations.
The combination of the wavy-patterned design and comfy cushioning makes the pair look plush AF, but we’d expect that from PUMA's NITROFOAM. An ever-evolving mainstay of the Big Cat’s performance tech (PUMA are making strides in increasing its responsiveness pretty much year on year), the material is made from nitrogen-infused foam, which gives the shoes a bouncy feel underfoot. It’s not limited to running shoes either – NITRO is also a firm feature in PUMA’s basketball line. Trust Bembury to get that wear test time in as he gets to work.
Look what the Big Cat dragged in! PUMA Hoops have tapped creative polymath and Versace alumni Salehe Bembury to spearhead their signature basketball category. Tasked with finding their next signature athlete as well as designing their debut silhouette, Salehe will have his hands full in his new role, which will mark the first time he has partnered with the historic brand.
‘My designs are a platform for storytelling and cultivating community; an opportunity to breathe new meaning into a product. While my work has been known to cater to the outdoor space, a space I recently developed an intimate relationship with, my partnership with PUMA Hoops will allow me to tell a more deeply rooted personal story,’ shares Bembury. ‘As a 90s kid from New York City, I’ve played basketball my whole life and have a deep history, emotion and nostalgia for the sport. I’m excited to leverage this collaboration as a catalyst to introduce an untold side of me and engage a new community.’
PUMA Hoops have made significant hustle plays in the basketball division in recent years. Coming off the bench in 2018 after a 20-year hiatus, PUMA quickly inked deals with a squad of high-profile athletes, including poster boy LaMelo Ball. It was a significant coup for the brand, with the 2020 Rookie of the Year still boasting one of the most popular sneaker lines on the hardwood.
The Big Cat wasn’t sleeping on the WNBA either. PUMA signed superstar Breanna Stewart in 2021, before releasing her debut signature sneaker, the Stewie 1, the following year. It was a significant milestone for both PUMA and Stewart, as it was the first signature shoe for a WNBA star in over a decade. Before Stewart, the last WNBA player to have a signature shoe was Candace Parker with adidas.
As always, keep it locked to Sneaker Freaker for updates.