Salehe Bembury Teases Debut PUMA Sneaker

In July 2024, PUMA unveiled their Hoops partnership with creative polymath Salehe Bembury, entrusting him with the creation of a signature basketball shoe and the selection of their next marquee athlete. Expressing his enthusiasm at the time, Bembury shared, ‘My designs are a platform for storytelling and cultivating community; an opportunity to breathe new meaning into a product... 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'.

It was a bold move from the Big Cat, and today we caught our first glimpse of Salehe’s debut design with PUMA via his Instagram. Replete with Salehe’s signature aesthetics, the upcoming silhouette actually looks more like a running shoe than a basketball shoe. Featuring a swell of organic design principles ostensibly taken directly from nature, the model features rippling blue midsoles, pebble-like Formstrips and green, pond scum-esque uppers. The uppers look like they’re constructed with breathable mesh, while membrane style overlays add structural reinforcement. On the medial side, we’re seeing some unique PUMA x Salehe Bembury branding, again rendered in natural textures seen in Bembury’s wider oeuvre.

It’s set to be another huge year for PUMA, who dragged in an eye-watering number of collaborators in 2024. Currently, PUMA’s hoops roster includes the likes of LaMelo Ball, Scoot Henderson, Flau’Jae Johnson, and Breanna Stewart. To get up to scratch on the Big Cat, make sure to check out their action-packed highlight reel from 2024. Stay locked to Sneaker Freaker for updates.