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The PUMA Suede has been reinterpreted countless times over the past five decades, but A$AP Rocky is looking backward rather than forward for his latest take. As part of his ongoing role as PUMA’s Creative Director, the Harlem native is reviving the long-forgotten Suede ’94, bringing one of the model’s most distinctive archival shapes back for the first time.
For Rocky, the choice wasn’t just about nostalgia. The Suede ’94 reflects the version of the shoe that existed during one of New York City’s most influential cultural moments. Hip-hop, skateboarding, and streetwear were all evolving simultaneously, and the Suede was a familiar sight across each scene. Rather than modernizing the silhouette, Rocky opted to preserve what made it unique.
The result stays remarkably faithful to the original. A slimmer profile, raw-edge padded tongue, retro woven label, and full vintage PUMA logo across the quarter panel recreate the look of the 1994 release, while a gold PUMA lace keeper and custom co-branded shoebox provide subtle updates. According to PUMA, no previous Suede has featured the oversized vintage logo treatment on the side panel, making the Suede ’94 immediately recognizable from other versions of the classic.
The return also reflects Rocky’s growing influence at PUMA, where he’s spent the past three years balancing archival storytelling with his own perspective on contemporary streetwear. Rather than reinventing an icon, the Suede ’94 focuses on preserving a specific moment in the model’s history through details that longtime fans will immediately recognize.
“I remember when my mom bought me my first pair of Suedes,” says A$AP Rocky. “Growing up in New York and seeing Walt Clyde Frazier with his style and his PUMA Suedes, they were the shoes. And now to be able to tap into that ’90s nostalgia and bring them back with my own creative lens and special details, it’s great. PUMA hasn’t brought the ’94 back since it dropped and reviving it stitch-for-stitch from the archive just felt right.”
The A$AP Rocky x PUMA Suede ’94 drops globally on July 16th via PUMA.com (10am ET) and select retailers. New Yorkers will be able to purchase the shoe a day early at a pop-up hosted by A$AP Rocky at Joe’s Ginger (25 Pell Street) in Chinatown on July 15th from 4-8pm. Check them out below.
A$AP Rocky x PUMA Suede ’94
Color: PUMA Black-PUMA White
Style Code: 408735_01
Release Date: July 16, 2026
Price: $120 USD
