If you were on Fifth Avenue Thursday night, chances are you saw the packed line outside Puma’s New York City flagship, and yes, it was all for ASAP Rocky. The Harlem-born rapper and style icon transformed the store into a high-octane hotspot, filled with fans, exclusive DJ sets from ASAP Lou and SS4K, and a surprise performance of his track “HIGHJACK,” which turned the third floor into an impromptu private concert.
The electrifying evening celebrated the latest drop in Rocky’s motorsport-inspired capsule collection with Puma. This time, the collection pulled its vibe from the neon lights and midnight adrenaline of street racing. Think vintage-style tees with faded car graphics, sleek sweatsuits reminiscent of racer jumpsuits, and a reversible bomber jacket that Rocky’s been spotted in all year (already sold out, of course). The capsule doesn’t just look fast; it’s Rocky’s latest blend of automotive flair with streetwear swagger.
Rocky explained his vision behind the collab to Complex: “I want to show that there’s way more people interested in F1 from all sorts of backgrounds and lifestyles. I want to be the catalyst to bridging that gap.” And with pieces like these, he’s doing exactly that.
Fans were also hyped to get their hands on new Puma footwear, including a slick new colourway of the jagged Mostro 3D slip-on in black and slime green, and pre-distressed Inhale sneakers that sport a motor-oil-splashed look. For Rocky, the grunge vibe is more than a design choice. “Buy stuff you can wear with anything, for as long as you want,” he says. “It doesn’t matter if it looks dirty. That’s the whole purpose of us making stuff that looks distressed. It’s to take out the concept of fresh and new, of always spending money.”
Rocky’s reimagined PUMA Inhale, complete with mesh uppers, heat-cut flames surrounding the signature Formstrip, and a translucent gradient sole. Reflective details, a FLACKO logo on the tongue, and a custom footbed make this track-to-street sneaker a statement.
For those waiting on a signature “Flacko” sneaker, you’ll need a bit more patience. Rather than creating a brand-new silhouette, Rocky has been delving into Puma’s 76-year-old archive, remixing and bringing fresh life to its underrated designs. And according to Rocky, the Inhale is just the beginning.
Main Image: Footwear News
