Originally getting its roots back in 1919 in their parents’ basement, brothers Rudolf and Adolf Dassler started their bare bones shoe factory. At the time, their company was known as Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory, and after just a few short years, their name got noticed. Their big break: the world saw Dassler spikes racing across the finish line by legendary sprinter, Jesse Owens, to take home four gold medals. Their shoes continued to finish in the front of the pack, and the publicity soon catapulted the Dassler name into the ring with the best of them.
Just Like a PUMA
The brothers eventually went their separate ways, and Rudolf was left with only a handful of employees to continue innovating, but first – the company needed a new name. Rudolf knew he needed a name that encompassed the feeling he wanted his athletes to have while wearing his products – so he landed on PUMA.
Why PUMA? Dassler wanted his athletes to feel as smooth and agile as the cat when they laced up, and it didn’t take long for the name to stick. The new brand went on to create many firsts in the shoe industry, like the screw in spikes used in soccer cleats to this day.
Women in PUMA
PUMA has been a large player in women’s sports for decades, signing legendary tennis champ, Serena Williams, in 1998. In more recent years, the German company has struck up a league-wide deal with the WNBA, and also innovates off the court in casual streetwear, securing pop icons like Selena Gomez to head up a recent collab for the PUMA Defy X Mid Selena Gomez. PUMA and its highly exalted line of sneakers and apparel for women can be found all in one place, right here at Foot Locker.
