It was only last week we at PAUSE featured the highly limited Kicks Lab x Puma Suede First Round Lo and during that same week, Wednesday 17th April ’13 to be exact, landed the release of The Puma Pigeon Suede by Staple. They really do lavish a “must have” effect to them. It just wouldn’t be right to skip out on this rather special new line.
The kicks feature the visual communications organization, Staple Designs mascot in form of their signature New York Pigeon, one on either side of each foot and on the tongue. Staple Designs concentrates their main energy on their lifestyle men’s clothing collection Staples, creative agency and retail store Reed Space founded by product designer Jeff Staple. Credit to the fine details, it’s the small things that count and what’s cool is how the mascot bird is displayed just like real life city pigeons in the tones of grey and animated with a subtle shade of orange verging on pink. For further detail the sneakers also balance four tones of grey excluding the lettering PUMA PIGEON along the upper construction. Making this collaborative piece took round the world efforts; originating in New York, designed in Germany and hand made in Japan. Directly from Jeff Staples on his Instagram he captioned some thought process under the below picture.
In the original design process of the #PumaPigeon Suede, I wanted the shoes to represent the fact that they were designed in America and Made in Japan. So I spec’d the heels tabs with these icons of Japanese and US flags. I ended up not liking them that much. I thought it was too busy; so I switched it to the classic Pigeon pink…’
Know that it was of great sentimental importance to Jeff Staple to insist, undoubtedly, this is one product to be made in his second home Japan and all hand made but only limiting the entire edition to the quantity of 500 pairs! Then exclusively making them available in Reed Space store, NYC sold on first come bases to in-store purchases from the day of release.
Not to worry, come May 3rd ’13 they will be distributed worldwide. The Puma Pigeon Suede is the first of several upcoming projects to celebrate Puma Suede 45th anniversary.
Words by Abisola
