The PUMA Clyde reaches 50 this year, and it still lives up to the bold statement made in its original advert – ‘The essence of cool’. Following the same trajectory as many sneaker classics, the Clyde first landed on the basketball courts in ’73, eventually venturing off-court conquer city streets with defining style.

Named after the player who made the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame ’87 – Walter ‘Clyde’ Frazier Jr. – the player was also renowned as a style icon. The player had 825 NBA games and a total of 15,581 career points, while he also gained a reputation for sharp suits, expensive footwear and designer Italian hats – the PUMA Clyde was always destined for stardom.

Landing after the Suede, the shoe showed clear progression, offering a lighter and wider build cut for on-court comfort and performance. This was enhanced with spongy arch support, while the endless colourways really channelled Walter’s style-centric personality – he actually wore over 400 fresh pairs throughout his tenor.

Nowadays, the shoe’s beloved bold style is still highly in-demand. Often representing premium suede or leather uppers, this shoe has the legendary Formstrip sidewalls and foil branding to the lateral side with the player’s signature proudly etched underneath. Not many do the simple things as well as PUMA, nor do many have the same rich sporting heritage. All are the necessary details for decades worth of success.

Shop PUMA Clyde today.