When PUMA and LAAMS sneaker collaboration, a limited-edition take on the German sportswear company’s classic suede model, first arrives in the box, it looks like a relatively simple sneaker design.
The off-white model has a plain canvas fabric upper and few embellishments beyond its thick, fuzzy laces with silver lace jewels spelling out each brand’s name. However, dig a little deeper and you’ll discover that this sneaker is hiding a beautiful textured secret.
The sneaker, which goes by the name Suede LAAMS Blank Canvas, is being dubbed by LAAMS as “part artwork, part sneaker.”
The Lower East Side creative outpost has created the shoe to be customized by its wearer, hiding a fuzzy green suede finish beneath its blank canvas upper.
“We designed our rendition of the PUMA Suede to give people the ability to wear them three ways. First as clean canvas that will distress naturally, second to make them your own in whatever medium you prefer (paint, marker, stitch work, embellishment) and lastly, if you make a mistake or you’re tired of that look you’re able to remove the panels to reveal a classic fuzzy green suede rendition similar to our first release with PUMA,” says LAAMS CEO Scott Selvin in a statement.
“Our box top was made specially from uncoated paper, made to be painted and with a single nail, hung on the wall. Stay tuned for a future exhibition of box tops from around the world. Instructions come inside the box…” Selvin continues. Not only is this sneaker art but so is the box it comes in!
For the chance to buy these sneakers and, potentially, be part of an exhibition of box tops, the PUMA x LAAMS Suede is available starting August 3 via LAAMS.NYC and select PUMA retailers.
Out of the many wild sneakers PUMA has released of late, its Suede model is normally one of the brand’s more low-key options. However, this pair created by LAAMS is anything but low-key.