A$AP Rocky Stops Traffic as He Celebrates Latest Puma Collection Drop in NYC
A$AP Rocky took to the streets of New York on Thursday night to celebrate his latest motorsport-inspired collection of Puma footwear, apparel and accessories.
For the launch, the rapper hosted an intimate group of friends of the brand for a private collection preview, after which, Rocky led the crowd through the streets of New York to The Blond for celebratory cocktails. Along his Thursday night stroll, Rocky stopped traffic on Canal Street to snap some photos for fans and to pose in front of an ad for his latest collab.
Since Rocky joined Puma late last year as the creative director for the brand’s F1 partnership, the rapper has incorporated motorsport design elements across all of his offerings. And this drop is no different.
“[With Puma] we are going to take motorcross and motorsport and blend it all into one,” Rocky said at Thursday’s private preview. “I think I am the catalyst for that. So, this origin story starts like that. Right now, you are seeing a collection that looks like it has been worn by a man that has been working on his car all day. You can see the oil stains and the details, especially in the new Inhales.”
The rapper went on to call out other sports brands (without naming names) for their over-reliance on celebrity collaborations. “What they’re doing is over-saturating the market with unnecessary sh*t, y’all. That don’t excite anyone. And it doesn’t feed my soul or my spirit. Right now, I am just trying to do things that feel true to me, and I hope that y’all get it and that it manifests with y’all, too, and that you get my vision,” he said.
Rocky said his intention is to push the boundaries of footwear design, and he does so with the Mostro 3D, which originally debuted on Puma’s NYFW runway in February. To create the silhouette, the new A$AP Rocky x Puma Mostro 3D utilizes Carbon Digital Light Synthesis (Carbon DLS), a resin-based 3D printing process that uses digital light projection, oxygen-permeable optics, and engineering-grade materials.
Puma and Carbon’s 3D-printing process reimagines the recently revived archival sneaker as an alien slip-on. Spikes of varying sizes protrude throughout the perforated shoe, with a wider honey-comb pattern used around the ankle. The thicker spiked sole leaves a cavern at midfoot, and a spray paint-like finish gives the Mostro 3D its black and red look.
In addition to this highly anticipated 3D printed style, Rocky also debuted his take on the Puma Inhale sneaker, which has been re-engineered with custom embroidery inspired by car mechanics in the garage finishing their days with grease stains and dirt all over their clothes. Both the Inhale and full collection pieces feature a distressed treatment, authentic racing design details, and A$AP Rocky x Puma branding.
The collection is now available on Puma.com while supplies last, as well as select retailers globally including Kith, Dover Street Market, Maxfield, Sneakersnstuff, SlamJam, Nubian and more.