With summer just around the corner, the official season for the cleanest, or rather, the white sneakers—here’s to your ultimate summer staple—the PUMA Slipstream.
The PUMA Slipstream was originally launched as a high-top court shoe back in 1987 and has now been reinvented as a simple, sleek, classic low-top.
The first model of the SLIPSTREAM was a basketball shoe, which dates back to 1987 as a successor to the SKY LX. It became an iconic sneaker silhouette, favoured by basketball players on the court for its performance, stability, and cushioning. Off-court, it made its way to the streets, finding a following among sneaker connoisseurs and the subculture generation of hip-hop dance crews for its unique design.
SLIPSTREAM DEBUT – 1987
The simple basketball shoe with a white base and charcoal gray color scheme was equipped with the “ANTI SHOCK SYSTEM”. It was sold as a college basketball shoe to match the school’s program colors. Given its growing popularity, in 1988, the Slipstream was available in multiple colors. Since basketball shoes were becoming more fashionable at this time, lifestyle models such as THE BEAST and SLIPSTREAM SNAKE were also released. PUMA pioneered the lifestyle space with the two styles, using material embellishments like faux snakeskin, leather, and faux fur.
SLIPSTREAM REVIVAL – 2002
After a long hiatus, the Slipstream was re-issued in 2002 with a return of THE BEAST and SLIPSTREAM SNAKE. It was particularly successful in the Japanese market, later leading to a Made in Japan version of the style.
THE BEAST JAPAN 2002
Fast forward to 2021, the shoe was re-issued for today’s consumers, staying true to its 1980s basketball heritage. The silhouette has seen collaboration from One of the first to debut for the launch, THE BEAUTY, AND THE BEAST pack is a reference to the Japanese iterations of THE BEAST in the past. And was followed by the collab release with skate label Butter Goods.
So far, it’s fair to say we’re more than a bit excited about the latest offerings of the PUMA Slipstream and also keen to see more colourways.
This summer, the Slipstream is definitely a perfect addition to your rotation. The clean and modern aesthetic, makes it fit among the sleek sneakers that come in handy for most of your outfits because they are easy to style and endlessly versatile.
Be sure to stay tuned for our next guide on how people are styling the PUMA Slipstream.
In the meantime, here are the best PUMA Slipstream sneakers that you can buy right now — available for Men’s, Ladies, and Kids.
Available through PUMA.com and select PUMA Stores.
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