The PUMA Suede to Hip Hop culture is probably something like the Dr Martens boot to Punk, the Clarks Wallabee to Britpop or the Converse Chuck Taylor to Grunge.
As Hip Hop officially celebrates its 50th anniversary since DJ Kool Herc unveiled his breakbeats at a party in the Bronx way back in 1973, it's a good time to reflect on just how much impact the urban subculture as had on footwear & fashion. New York City has now even declared August 9th as RUN-DMC Day, and having an annual day named after you doesn't come all that easy. Even though Hip Hop culture might have started in the Bronx it would eventually land in places like Birmingham, Bermondsey & Bradford, bringing with it electro beats & a new found sportswear craze. If there was one shoe that was the daddy of Hip Hop culture on both sides of the Atlantic it was the PUMA Suede. Thanks to classic Hip Hop films like Stan Lathan's 'Beat Street' from 1984, the film not only introduced B-Boy culture to the UK, it also paved the way for classic silhouettes like the Suede on the UK's very own homegrown Hip Hop scene.
Above: The PUMA Suede trainer in icy blue/white now available from 80s Casual Classics.
The legacy of the Suede goes back to 1968 when the Crack (as the Suede was previously known) was launched for the Mexico Olympics in 1968. The same year that Adi Dassler released the adidas Gazelle & the adidas Perfekt, Rudolph looked to 'one up' his brother with the introduction of what would eventually become PUMA's most iconic trainer of all time. At the height of the Civil Rights movement in the USA, two American African athletes Tommie Smith & John Carlos raised their fists whilst holding their PUMA trainers on the winners podium. Moving into 1972 the Crack then became the Clyde courtesy of the New York Knicks legend, Walt 'Clyde' Frazier. Thanks to the basketball & street connection, the Suede became the go-to choice of the original B-Boys of the early 1980s. Breakdancing crews would even match up colourways with full tracksuits. The Suede's speedy court function made it a great shoe to bust out moves like head-spins and windmills when the ghetto blaster was in full swing. When all said and done the PUMA Suede is the most honourable Hip Hop shoe. 
Above: The PUMA Suede trainer in olive/white now available from 80s Casual Classics. The classic Suede silhouette is now re-introduced to 80s Casual Classics in some fresh new colourways such as 'olive' & 'icy white'. Featuring the signature' street ready suede uppers and crisp white midsole, the classic B-Boy shoe just seems to get better & better with age. Other highlights include PUMA stripe branding to the sidewalls as well as the classic cat logo to the tongue. Finished off with 'PUMA SUEDE' in gold foiling to the lateral sides this latest PUMA Suede celebrates all things Hip Hop with what is probably one of the most iconic silhouettes ever associated with street culture.
