Here’s Why Speedcats Are Set To Be The Shoes Of The Season

If you’ve been on the sneaker circuit lately, you might have noticed a seismic shift in the footwear landscape. Yes, the Adidas Samba has been the darling of the sneaker world, but recent events have left it stumbling. Bella Hadid’s critique and Rishi Sunak’s misguided attempt to rock Sambas with a suit have left the iconic shoe looking less than iconic. Throw in a jaw-dropping 2.45% drop in Adidas’s stock price — equating to a cool 1.03 billion euros — and you can practically hear the Samba fatigue setting in. 

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The OG Puma Speedcat in red / Instagram @custodynsale

Cue the entrance of the PUMA Speedcat, the sleek contender ready to take the crown. Originally designed in 1998 for Formula One drivers, these shoes are more ballet slipper than sneaker, with a low-profile rubber sole perfect for both high-speed chases and city strolls. The Speedcat slipped into the public's closet in 1999, quickly becoming a street style staple and spawning offshoots like the PUMA Drift Cat and Race Cat. Despite the evolution, the original Speedcat remains PUMA's best-seller, beloved for its streamlined design and timeless appeal.

ASICS X Kiko Kostadinov X Marc Jacobs / Instagram @sneakerpunktde

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Fast forward to today, and the Speedcat is riding the wave of the great low-profile sneaker renaissance of the 2020s. Fashion enthusiasts are embracing the Y2K aesthetic, and the Speedcat is poised to satisfy those cravings with a design that’s sleek enough for the track and chic enough for the street. It’s the perfect hybrid of ballet flat elegance and sneaker versatility, a style first sparked by Simone Rocha’s "ballet trackers" in 2020 and later elevated by Marc Jacobs’ collaboration with Kiko Kostadinov and Asics in 2024. Now, PUMA’s OG design is back in the spotlight.

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OPEN YY X PUMA @thesolewomens

And let’s talk collaborations — because who doesn’t love a good team-up? Coperni's recent partnership with PUMA has breathed new life into the Speedcat, offering designs inspired by movement and brutalist architecture. Think subdued monochrome palettes, with a standout all-white version that’s ready to pair with anything from a satin midi skirt to a casual denim jacket. This isn’t just another collaboration; Coperni is only the second fashion brand to craft its signature PUMA shoe, right on the heels of PUMA’s sold-out partnership with Korean fashion label Open YY.

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Of course, it’s not just Coperni bringing the Speedcat back into the limelight. A$AP Rocky’s ongoing PUMA F1 collections have turbocharged the appeal of motorsport-inspired fashion, with the Speedcat revving up to become the must-have shoe of the season. Even trendsetter and PUMA enthusiast Emily Ratajkowski has been spotted flaunting different Speedcat colorways, cementing their place in the fashion hall of fame.

With PUMA reporting soaring sales in its latest quarter and the streets awash with Sambas, the Speedcat is here to remind us all that sometimes, less is more. As these sleek sneakers continue to captivate the fashion-forward crowd, it seems the Speedcat is not just on the rise — it’s lapping the competition and leaving them in the dust.