Retrofuturism has been the sneaker sphere’s biggest obsession since trends like wearable technology, and vintage revival crossed paths last year. After announcing the reboot of their 80s halo pair, the RS-Computer shoe, Puma has now dug deeper into its archives and once more reinvented sn old-school futuristic aesthetic, but this time, with a twist. In collaboration with Appupen aka George Mathen, a globally-renowned cartoonist and author, the new Puma RS 9.8 Sci-fi is inspired by intergalactic frontiers and those who defy societal rules.
The name RS 9.8 speaks to 9.8 m/s2 – the approximate speed of gravitational acceleration near the Earth’s surface. This spec is important to the brand as it helped run the tech’s R&D, which later led them to design the lightweight running shoes.
In terms of visuals, it takes a few design cues from the classic RS silhouette; a monochromatic base with a duet of bright colours. This iteration of the RS is purely cosmic in style, influenced by Appupen’s artistic trademarks and his Puma exclusive comic book character. Fortunately, cosmic art in comic books has always inclined towards purple and orange, and the RS 9.8 keeps up with that code.
The Puma RS 9.8 boasts a textile upper deck in suede with leather overlays. The black material mix on the upper pairs with the lightweight PU midsole reinvented to create unique and space-inspired spheres in purple glimmer and neon orange. This running pair can also be sported as athleisure and casual wear. The limited-edition has been dubbed as ‘Get Grounded’, and will be available at their online stores and select retail outlets at Rs 6,999.
All images: Courtesy Puma
Mikhail Gomes
Features Editor, Lifestyle Asia India & Contributor - Augustman
A watch aficionado, Mikhail also enjoys learning about fine whiskies, and one day hopes to establish his own menswear label. At Lifestyle Asia India, he writes on watches, menswear, auto and tech.
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