Harlem-based fashion icon Dapper Dan has ventured with the vintage brand PUMA in celebration of fusing streetwear and luxury together.
The PUMA x Dapper Dan collection first debuted during PUMA’s NYFW FUTROGRADE show back in September. According to a press release obtained by VIBE, the line is “a tribute to the Hip-Hop culture that was democratized by Dapper Dan in the ’80s, a time when PUMA also established itself as a staple for the streetwear community.”
The four-piece capsule will include a full range of elevated classics, including the couturier’s take on classics like the T7 tracksuit, PUMA Clyde sneaker and an embellished T-shirt specially made by Dap. When speaking to what attracted Dap to working with PUMA, he exclusively told VIBE, “Walt Clyde Frazier. He is an icon in our community and PUMA has a tendency to spot these people who create timeless legacies. I’m happy to have the ability to expand on athleisure wear at a luxury level. I’m infusing classics with the elevated Dapper Dan touch.”
He added, “There are many pros and exciting opportunities to come when working with legacy brands like PUMA. It allows me the time and space to work on big surprises like the one I have coming after I complete my travels to Africa.”
PUMA x Dapper Dan will also celebrate 40 years of the PUMA Clyde sneaker with their own spin. The capsule will offer a bold take on the iconic sneaker with refined details, including premium leather and jacquard, a molded metal plaque on the heel tab with an embossed co-branded logo. The shoe also has a leather form-stripe embellished with crystal finishings.
With an affinity for honoring culture and celebrating classics, the partnership emphasizes the notoriety and legacy of Dap’s signature style and his fusion of street and luxury. The joint venture will also serve as another platform for the Harlemite to infiltrate his creative expressions through apparel and footwear, as he’s always done.
Adam Petrick, Chief Brand Officer at PUMA stated, “We are so honored to welcome Dapper Dan in the PUMA Family. Being able to count on such a talented visionary as a brand ambassador is an amazing opportunity to collaborate and shape today’s and tomorrow’s street culture together.”
Items from the PUMA x Dapper Dan collection will cost between $70 and $300. The capsule’s first drop was released today (Oct. 29) exclusively through KITH’s official website and in KITH stores across the U.S., Paris, and Tokyo. More information regarding Dap and PUMA’s second drop is slated to be revealed later this year.
Check out images from the collection below.
