Few sneaker silhouettes have navigated as many cultural crossovers as the PUMA Suede. Born in 1968 and immortalized by Tommie Smith and John Carlos in Mexico City that same year – before Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier turned it into a courtside staple with his ever-rotating colorways – the Suede built its legacy with quiet conviction. Adopted by breakdancers, skaters, and anyone partial to statements that move with understated confidence, it consistently claimed its place at the intersection of sport and culture.
For the release of the PUMA Suede Charles F. Stead IV, BSTN stepped into the studio with Munich-based rapper zola: Known for his melancholic German-language sound that drifts between introspection and stream-of-consciousness moments, our ‘In the Lab’ editorial follows zola scribbling verses, laying down takes, and letting new songs slowly take shape – with the Suede quietly grounding the scene.
Boasting a full suede upper from the eponymous Charles F. Stead tannery – one of England’s most storied leather makers – and SOFTFOAM+ cushioning for all-day comfort, the new PUMA Suede Charles F. Stead IV is available at BSTN in three colorways now. Pick up your pair via the button below!
