While Puma has had significant success reviving archival sneakers like the Mostro and launching new models in its basketball line, it has been some time since the brand introduced a new lifestyle model. Enter the Puma Inverse, which will debut before the end of 2024. This newly designed sneaker draws from archival designs and marks a first for the brand—design help from artificial intelligence.
Lead Product Line Manager at Puma, Scottie Gurwitz, revealed some details about the design process. “Inverse is a deep dive into a new design mindset. Our goal was to bridge the human experience with experimental technology. AI doesn’t abide by the same rules as human designers, and that can help us see things in new ways and be a good experimental tool for us as we move through the design process.”
Adding to this, Puma’s Global VP of Creative Direction and Innovation, Heiko Desens, stated, “In our design process, AI is very new in terms of our creative exploration and in terms of communicating ideas. At first there was a feeling of uncertainty about the impact of it to our community, but the fascination and new possibilities have taken over. I am stunned by the granular level of the output, and as creatives, we have a new precision tool to level up our design work”.
The design draws some inspiration from the Puma Inhale, an archival running sneaker that has gotten new life thanks to help from A$AP Rocky, with the influence seen via the general shape of the model. The mesh acts as the base while a free-flowing TPU cage wraps around the midfoot for reinforcement. Cushioning is provided via the ProFoam midsole, which also gets a TPU cage for added stability, and the outsole draws some parallels to the Inhale’s traction pattern.
The debut colorway for the Puma Inverse Rev, seen here in this non-official Spider-Man makeup, will debut on December 7, 2024, through Puma and select retailers online and in-store. Available in men’s and gradeschool sizing, retail is $120 and $90, respectively. Download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
Images via Puma
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. Concerts, music, trying new restaurants, and catching the latest movies are some of the things I enjoy when not writing for Sole Retriever. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
