{"id":188201,"date":"2026-01-22T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/?p=188201"},"modified":"2026-03-23T15:58:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T14:58:18","slug":"a-shoe-that-outlasts-trends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/sportstyle\/a-shoe-that-outlasts-trends\/","title":{"rendered":"SUEDE: a shoe that outlasts trends"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n Home<\/a>\/\n Sportstyle<\/a>\/\n SUEDE: a shoe that outlasts trends\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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A SHOE THAT OUTLASTS TRENDS\u00a0<\/h1>\n
How the\u00a0SUEDE\u00a0has shaped culture since 1968 \u2013 and why Paris 2026 marks a new starting point<\/div>\n
22. Januar 2026 <\/div>\n\n
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Hardly any sneaker has\u00a0shaped\u00a0everyday life,\u00a0sport\u00a0and style over the decades\u00a0like\u00a0the PUMA SUEDE.\u00a0From\u00a0street\u00a0and\u00a0court\u00a0to\u00a0skate parks and daily routines, it\u00a0keeps adapting\u00a0while\u00a0staying\u00a0true to itself. In 2026, PUMA brings this story back into focus\u00a0\u2013\u00a0starting\u00a0at\u00a0Paris Fashion Week.\u00a0<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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It pairs with jeans as easily as with tailored trousers, with a hoodie as naturally as with a sharply cut shirt \u2013 or a chic blouse. It works in motion, in everyday life, at rest. For almost six decades, the PUMA SUEDE\u00a0has been part of pop and everyday culture. Few sneakers have endured this long without changing their basic form. Its lines are clear, it is instantly\u00a0recognisable, both fashionable and timeless.\u00a0\u00a0

Its story begins in 1968. The shoe is launched under the name CRACK. The term comes from sports jargon of the time: then as now, \u201ccrack\u201d stands for exceptional talent and outstanding performance. That is exactly what the shoe is meant to\u00a0represent. Designed as a training and leisure shoe, it is functional and robust, made from suede leather and equipped with a sole developed specifically for it. It does not seek attention; it is built to\u00a0perform.\u00a0<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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PUMA CRACK from 1969<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A silent gesture for human rights\u00a0
<\/h2>1968 is also a year in which the\u00a0perception\u00a0of sport begins to change. Sports arenas are no longer seen solely as places of competition, but increasingly as public spaces where social tensions become visible. In the United States, the struggle for civil rights intensifies. In April, Martin Luther King\u00a0is\u00a0assassinated in Memphis. Racism,\u00a0discrimination\u00a0and social inequality dominate public discourse.\u00a0<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A historic move: Tommie Smith and John Carlos during the medal ceremony at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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On\u00a016 October 1968, Tommie Smith wins the 200-metre race at the Olympic Games in Mexico City, setting a new world record of 19.83 seconds \u2013 the first human being to break the 20-second barrier.\u00a0At the medal ceremony, he\u00a0makes\u00a0a historical move,\u00a0protesting\u00a0against\u00a0racism and social inequality together with third-placed John Carlos.\u00a0Both lower their heads and raise a clenched fist, wearing a black glove, as the US national anthem is played. Smith and Carlos appear without shoes, wearing only black socks.\u00a0<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Still present on the victory podium: the PUMA CRACK, placed beside them. Black, with the distinctive white\u00a0Formstrip\u00a0on the side, the shoe does not stand at the\u00a0centre\u00a0of the protest \u2013 but it becomes part of the image of that moment, an image that travels around the world.\u00a0

The protest is\u00a0judged\u00a0a political act by the International Olympic Committee. Smith and Carlos are expelled from the Games. PUMA is also sanctioned, as the visibility of the shoes is\u00a0deemed\u00a0unauthorised\u00a0advertising. Rather than distancing itself, PUMA continues to stand by Smith, who in turn\u00a0remains\u00a0connected to the brand for decades.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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From CRACK to CLYDE to SUEDE\u00a0
<\/h2>In the early 1970s, the shoe moves further into the public spotlight. Walt \u201cClyde\u201d Frazier, basketball star of the New York Knicks and a style icon of his era, signs with PUMA. Frazier wants low-cut shoes. And a different\u00a0coloured\u00a0pair for\u00a0almost every\u00a0game. For basketball players at the time, this approach is highly unusual and clearly ahead of its era. PUMA\u2019s willingness to think beyond convention proves to be a perfect fit.\u00a0In\u00a0inspiration of the CRACK, the CLYDE\u00a0is\u00a0created.\u00a0\u00a0The shoe becomes more visible, more\u00a0personal\u00a0and more individual \u2013 on the court and\u00a0beyond.\u00a0<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
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Walt \u201eClyde\u201c Frazier PUMA ads<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Walt \u201eClyde\u201c Frazier PUMA ads<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Initially,\u00a0the CLYDE\u00a0remains\u00a0limited to the US market. When Walt Frazier ended his career in 1980, the name CLYDE \u2014 tied to his persona \u2014 was faded out, while the shoe began to conquer the world. The silhouette became extremely popular worldwide and continued to be produced. Decades later, it was finally given a new name based on its defining material: SUEDE. The shape remained, as did its character.\u00a0

In the 1980s, the SUEDE finds its place in the emerging hip-hop culture. In particular,\u00a0breakdance\u00a0groups \u2013 so-called B-boy crews \u2013 adopt the shoe. They are looking for footwear that allows freedom of movement, provides\u00a0grip\u00a0and withstands heavy stress. The SUEDE meets these demands. The training shoe becomes a street shoe. Skateboarding culture also embraces the SUEDE, interpreting it in its own way.\u00a0\u00a0<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Over the following decades, the SUEDE\u00a0remains\u00a0present. Materials are varied,\u00a0colours\u00a0expanded and collaborations created. In 2018, PUMA celebrates the 50th anniversary of the model. In 2020, a special tribute follows: a\u00a0strictly limited\u00a0edition in\u00a0honour\u00a0of Tommie Smith. Just 307 pairs are produced \u2013 his bib number at the 1968 Olympic\u00a0Games.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A classic that does not stand still\u00a0<\/h2>This year, PUMA retells the story of the SUEDE as part of Paris Fashion Week. From 21 to 24 January, the SUEDE House opens at Galerie Joseph, 7 Rue Froissart, in the Marais district of Paris.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Paris is no coincidence. Few cities embody the intersection of fashion, street culture,\u00a0music\u00a0and style as clearly. At the SUEDE House, the history of the SUEDE is told through archival material and selected perspectives from street,\u00a0skate\u00a0and basketball culture. The focus is on the evolution of the model \u2013 from its sporting origins to its presence in today\u2019s urban context.\u00a0<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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By relying on its iconic roots\u00a0\u2013\u00a0and reimagining them through today\u2019s lens\u00a0\u2013\u00a0PUMA sets the SUEDE up for its next era. Paris is only the beginning. Stay tuned.\u00a0<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nur wenige Sneaker haben die Kultur so gepr\u00e4gt wie der PUMA SUEDE. Er stand in ikonischen Momenten - von Tommie Smiths Protest bis zu Walt \u2018Clyde\u2019 Fraziers Stil - und kehrt nun auf der Pariser Modewoche ins Rampenlicht zur\u00fcck. Treten Sie in sein Erbe ein.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":188202,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"is_top_article":true,"is_featured_article":true,"EasyPostViewCounter":4045,"meta-headline":"A SHOE THAT OUTLASTS TRENDS ","footnotes":""},"categories":[1091,3],"class_list":["post-188201","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-our-legacy","category-sportstyle"],"fullData":{"ID":188201,"post_author":"3","post_date":"2026-01-22 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2026-01-22 06:00:00","post_content":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","post_title":"SUEDE: a shoe that outlasts trends","post_excerpt":"Few sneakers have shaped culture like the PUMA SUEDE. It stood in iconic moments\u2014from Tommie Smith\u2019s protest to Walt \u2018Clyde\u2019 Frazier\u2019s style\u2014and now returns to the spotlight at Paris Fashion Week. Step into its legacy.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"a-shoe-that-outlasts-trends","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-03-23 15:58:18","post_modified_gmt":"2026-03-23 14:58:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/?p=188201","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw","ancestors":[],"page_template":"","post_category":[1091,3],"tags_input":[],"id":188201,"author":"3","date":"2026-01-22 07:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-22 06:00:00","content":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","title":"SUEDE: a shoe that outlasts trends","excerpt":"Nur wenige Sneaker haben die Kultur so gepr\u00e4gt wie der PUMA SUEDE. Er stand in ikonischen Momenten - von Tommie Smiths Protest bis zu Walt \u2018Clyde\u2019 Fraziers Stil - und kehrt nun auf der Pariser Modewoche ins Rampenlicht zur\u00fcck. Treten Sie in sein Erbe ein.","status":"publish","password":"","name":"a-shoe-that-outlasts-trends","modified":"2026-03-23 15:58:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23 14:58:18","content_filtered":"","parent":0,"type":"post","mime_type":"","template":"","category":[1091,3],"datetime_local":"22. Januar 2026 um 06:00","date_local":"22. Januar 2026","time_local":"06:00","slug":"a-shoe-that-outlasts-trends","url":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/sportstyle\/a-shoe-that-outlasts-trends\/","featured_image":{"width":876,"height":564,"file":"2026\/01\/Helmut-Archiv_040_lateral.jpg","filesize":152113,"sizes":{"medium":{"file":"Helmut-Archiv_040_lateral-300x193.jpg","width":300,"height":193,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","filesize":22064},"thumbnail":{"file":"Helmut-Archiv_040_lateral-150x150.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","filesize":18166},"medium_large":{"file":"Helmut-Archiv_040_lateral-768x494.jpg","width":768,"height":494,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","filesize":65697},"trp-custom-language-flag":{"file":"Helmut-Archiv_040_lateral-18x12.jpg","width":18,"height":12,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","filesize":12152}},"image_meta":{"aperture":"29","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark III","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1473415920","copyright":"","focal_length":"100","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.008","title":"","orientation":"1","keywords":[]},"id":188202,"alt":"","caption":"","description":"","url":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Helmut-Archiv_040_lateral.jpg","title":"Helmut Archiv_040_lateral","aspect_ratio":1.553191489361702,"focalPointLeft":0.56,"focalPointTop":0.18},"headline":"A SHOE THAT OUTLASTS TRENDS\u00a0","categories":[{"term_id":3,"name":"Sportstyle","slug":"sportstyle","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":415,"filter":"raw","url":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/category\/sportstyle\/"},{"term_id":1091,"name":"Unsere Geschichte","slug":"our-legacy","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1091,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":17,"filter":"raw","url":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/category\/our-legacy\/"}],"theCategory":{"term_id":3,"name":"Sportstyle","slug":"sportstyle","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":415,"filter":"raw","url":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/category\/sportstyle\/"},"isFeaturedArticle":true,"isTopArticle":true},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188201","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=188201"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188201\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/188202"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=188201"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=188201"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}