Rosé from BlackPink and Dua Lipa have been photographed wearing Puma’s famous Speedcat sneakers, which have lately gained popularity. This sneaker might replace the Adidas Samba as the next major fad.
Following the massive success of the Adidas Samba, Puma’s Speedcat is emerging as a serious challenger for the limelight. This antique shoe has been spotted all over Copenhagen Fashion Week and on the streets of Paris, most notably by top IT Girl Emily Ratajkowski. The Speedcat, inspired by Formula 1 racing shoes from the 1980s and 1990s, made its debut in 1999, greatly influenced by motorsport.
The original design includes soft suede and the trademark Puma cat logo. Over two decades after its first introduction, the Speedcat has undergone several revisions, capturing the attention of sneakerheads worldwide. Christina Mirabelli, Puma’s Director of Marketing for Sportstyle, says the latest design keeps its vintage appeal while introducing modern characteristics like as a softer sole and an updated cat logo. “Speedcat still embraces its racing roots but now comes with a lightweight structure, grippy soles, and eye-catching color combinations, balancing aesthetics with performance,” Mirabelli told me.
The return of Y2K fashion means that apparel and accessories from the 2000s are making a comeback, and the Speedcat, with its motorsport pedigree, is re-establishing itself as a fashion symbol of the era. Its resurrection demonstrates the cyclical nature of fashion trends.
Recently, the Speedcat has become a favorite among celebrities. Supermodel Emily Ratajkowski has been spotted wearing the sneakers several times while strolling around New York. In June, K-pop star Rosé (BlackPink) wore a pair of brown and white Speedcats with a sporty zip-up jacket and a little skirt. Pop singer Dua Lipa is another early user, sporting a red Speedcat with ensembles ranging from casual and edgy to elegant and nostalgic.
For decades, racing shoes (also known as “Sarco”) have been adored by a small number of sneakerheads. This year, stylist Sierra Rena reintroduced the Speedcat to Paris Fashion Week, where influencers such Emili Sindlev and Baya Gorbunova wore it with pleated skirts, high stockings, and oversized T-shirts. The passionate response of fashion influencers has proven to be one of the most successful marketing strategies in today’s social media-driven world.
In addition to its marketing success, Speedcat’s sales data demonstrate its expanding popularity. Re-released colors like as black, red, and tan have sold out rapidly, making it impossible to purchase the sneakers straight from Puma. These highly sought-after shoes are frequently only accessible through stores like KITH and Farfetch.
The Speedcat’s sleek shape and basic color palette make it extremely adaptable, looking well with both dresses and pants. According to InStyle, the trick to keeping the sneaker’s vintage flavor is to pair it with streetwear rather than exclusively sports ensembles. This approach is consistent with Puma’s strategy for collaborations with celebrities and influencers, which aims to expand the product’s reach beyond the racetrack and sports grounds.
