New hip hop and basketball inspired Dapper Dan collection
PUMA is releasing its third PUMA x Dapper Dan collection. Bringing sophistication to sportswear through the lens of basketball and hip-hop, the collection, which features classics such as the T7 and the Clyde, mixes PUMA’s heritage in the game with Dapper Dan’s iconic flavour and unique take on luxury.
Back in the day, those basketball players connected to hip-hop culture would bring their off-court swagger to the game, giving rise to the popularity of the pre-game walk. The modern pre-game walk has become an iconic runway for ballers to showcase their latest fits, and this idea informs the inspiration for the collection.
A velour take on the T7 elevates the classic PUMA staple to Dapper Dan levels and comes complete with gold detailing and embroidery. The apparel side of the collection is given a lux touch with a versatile sweater vest, Mac-style jacket, and accompanying short-sleeve shirt, all designed with Dapper Dan’s unique cultural interpretation of mainstream fashion that early hip-hop brought to the world. The women’s collection also features a corset, cropped hoodie, and shorts.
As an ode to hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, a unique monogram has been created. The monogram was an essential style code in the fabric of hip-hop, and for this reason, it forms the graphic foundation of the collection. Influenced by early designs from Dapper Dan’s boutique, the PUMA x Dapper Dan monogram has been paired with rare house codes from the PUMA archive.
PUMA x Dapper Dan have also collaborated on two new versions of the Clyde, one of the culture’s all-time greats. They both feature the PUMA x Dapper Dan monogram and diamond print on the suede upper, with subtle stitching, embroidery, and zip detailing added as an ode to Dapper Dan‘s tailoring background.
Since the beginning of hip-hop 50 years ago, PUMA has been integral to the culture. Throughout this golden anniversary of hip-hop, PUMA will continue championing its participation in the culture across several drops and activations.
The PUMA x Dapper Dan collection is available from 15 July from PUMA.com, Shelflife, Al Capone, and Archive.