Puma, and musician, creative and designer A$AP Rocky dropped their latest collection of footwear, ready-to-wear and accessories inspired by racing.
In the mix is Mostro 3.D, a spiky futuristic shoe in a bold red, as well as Rocky's take on the Inhale Sneaker, with an all-over distressed treatment and custom embroidery inspired by car mechanics in the garage finishing their days with grease stains and dirt all over their clothes. There's also a distressed tank top, knee pad pants, a racing zip polo, denim shorts, a webbing belt, a leather belt and a padded balaclava.
"In the hood, there's always been a car culture. I wanted to bridge the gap between Formula One culture and streetwear and all of that," Rocky tells PAPER. "And what we're doing at Puma is basically taking what motorsport meant to me and trying to manifest it into a collection."
Below, PAPER chatted with A$AP Rocky all about his Puma collection, his current inspirations and how being a father has influenced his creative expression.
How did this collaboration come about?
The collaboration came about after many years of manifestation. Obviously, my girl has a partnership with Puma, as well, so at this point it feels so natural for me. It started out with an incubation to try to bridge the gap between motorsport and sportswear. What ended up happening is this whirlwind of different ideas, not just motorsport, and it exceeded that.
What memories do you personally have of being a kid around cars?
In the hood, there's always been a car culture. I wanted to bridge the gap between Formula One culture and streetwear and all of that. And what we're doing at Puma is basically taking what motorsport meant to me and trying to manifest it into a collection … thinking about my friends who ride dirt bikes and my friends who are mechanics.
Who are some of your car mechanic friends?
Frank [Ocean] told me that he started out as a mechanic. And I'm like, “Wait, what?” You’d be surprised how the average guy knows how to do an oil change or fix your transmission. Frank Ocean's a fucking mechanic, like I'm doing something wrong. He showed me a picture, and it was a boiler suit. That's something that I would wear, right?
But then how do you make it fashion?
I took the cultures from the urban community, and I took the culture and the habits and the lifestyle from more white collar, upper class communities. And the way that they live is you're not supposed to come to school with new fresh clothes and new fresh kicks. What they would do is, when they get their Chuck Taylors, they would step on them, make them dirty, make them look scuffed. I thought that was ironic because in the hood, people are getting shot over pairs of Jordan sneakers, and people are doing everything they can to keep them looking clean and scuff-less. I thought the irony was in the differences in that, so I took some notes from my brother The BasedGod and wanted to create something that felt like Margiela meets like a Golden Goose distressed shoe.
Who or what are your style and creative influences now, at this point in your life?
All of my style and creative influences are dead. It's just the OGs. I've always been influenced by Pharrell and Kanye and what they've been doing with music and fashion, and that's why I always tip my hat to them and salute them because those are my forefathers who kicked the door down for people like me.
You're that for other people now, too.
Right, like it’s so sick. I love it, and that's why I know that I'm bearing a big responsibility. I want to make sure that I prep the next guys that's up next to carry on tradition and hold down a legacy.
How is your self-expression connected to your music and personal style?
When it comes to fashion, I'm influenced by Lee McQueen, Galliano, Thierry Mugler. These are people that took fashion shows and wanted to elevate that experience. As a musician, you want to take the live show and elevate the experience. As a fashion designer, you want to do the same. All I want to do is elevate motherfuckers’ experiences from a consumerism perspective.
How has becoming a father changed your outlook on life and your creativity?
I’d like to think that a lot hasn't changed, but becoming a father, you want to be more delicate, and you want to be more considerate about the stuff that you’re putting out and how it affects your children and your family and people around you. But I try to stay free while creating. That's the main thing. I try not to make any limitations, and I also try to not create things that I wouldn't be so proud of in the near future. I want to make sure I create stuff that I can stand on and stand by.
Sounds like you’re being very intentional.
I guess so, yeah. Your vernacular is up. Obviously you like vulnerability, I see.
I do like vulnerability. That’s what helps us connect.
Absolutely.
Photos courtesy of Puma
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