Puma Sets Its Sights on Dutch Fashion

After getting Japanese designer Yasuhiro Mihara to do a collection for them, Puma set their sights on another designer with a reputation for bringing Dutch fashion to the fore.

Dutch fashion? Well, he got the world to sit up and take notice.

Alexander van Slobbe introduced his first contemporary women's wear collection, Orsan and Bodil, in 1989.

Three years later he started the men's collection called So.

It became an instant hit because of its marriage of sports and tailoring design.

Van Slobbe's contribution to Dutch fashion has resulted in many awards including the Emmy Van Leersum Award in 1996 for stimulating Dutch fashion.

So when he started designing for Puma in 2002 he was already an established player.

It was a distinction of sorts that he was asked to design for the Rudolph Dassler collection. Dassler after all was the founder of Puma.

So Van Slobbe was assigned the task of using vintage fashion influences but giving them a modern twist. For this year, inspiration comes from a combination of sports including running, tennis, handball and gymnastics.

The shoes are given an authentic vintage feel with updates in soft nappa leather, suede and canvases using original sports shoe features from the 1930s, 40s and 50s.

more: thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2005/7/21 (1,502)

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