At PUMA, A$AP Rocky’s purpose has all the time been to disrupt the established order. When he introduced his appointment because the artistic director of the German sportswear large’s Formulation 1 partnership on the tail finish of 2023, he advised Hypebeast that he needed to “press the reset button.” Since then, he’s led the cost on a number of racewear, fanwear, and streetwear-colliding collections, every the best cocktail of his “eclectic type” (Flacko’s phrases) and PUMA’s storied archive. The outcomes are well-received — he actually shook the foundations of PUMA’s three-story NYC flagship on the raucous launch occasion for his most up-to-date and largest collaboration with the model in November — and he’s solely selecting up velocity with an all-new footwear providing: the Mostro Disccord (sure, that’s spelled appropriately!).
Rocky’s latest signature shoe has a triple-black design, archival tech, and a contemporary “Bio Grotesk” end. Designed in collaboration with Jon Tang, PUMA’s lead Sportstyle Footwear designer for Rocky and Fenty, the sneaker is a recent remake of the artist’s favourite archival type from the early 2000s, the PUMA Mostro, with the model’s much-loved signature Disc System.
Launched in 1991, the Disc design made PUMA’s first laceless sports activities footwear attainable with a system of inside wires that tighten the higher to a desired match. The unit, which was first launched for PUMA’s trainers and later turned central to the model’s basketball lineup, options three fundamental parts: the Facet Unit, which incorporates connecting sleeves and stabilizing parts inside and outdoors the shoe; the Compression Unit, which is pre-molded to switch the tongue, and the Closure Unit, which wearers can flip and click on to regulate the system’s match.
The Mostro Disccord joins Rocky’s ever-expanding footwear output at PUMA, which presently contains recent takes on heritage silhouettes just like the Mostro 3.D, the Inhale Mesh, and the Inhale Distressed. “I’m studying find out how to feed my interior designer and to place out issues that I imagine are cool,” Rocky mentioned of the collab on the aforementioned retailer bash late final yr. “I all the time consider doing issues from a subversive viewpoint.”
Working example: Rocky’s Mostro Disccord is the first-ever silhouette within the Mostro lineup to make the most of PUMA’s Disc System. “Coming off the final drops with the Mostro 3.D, Rocky needed innovation to drive its subsequent evolution,” Tang defined. “The Mostro all the time had the vector strap and different lacing, so after we considered a brand new take, the Disc system got here to thoughts.” It wouldn’t be a Rocky collab with out such disruption.
Right here’s Tang with extra on how the progressive sneaker got here to life.
Puma
Puma
When A$AP Rocky signed on to work with PUMA again in 2023, he mentioned he needed to “shake the room up.” With that purpose in thoughts, what does your collaboration course of seem like?
We’re simply trend nerds who love creating. All of it flows — he sparks an thought, and I construct a world round it. We bounce forwards and backwards, shaping the idea by sketches, archives, and inspiration. It’s a pure, enjoyable course of.
It’s very thrilling to see the Disc System return. Why do you assume the design withstands the take a look at of time?
We stay in a time that celebrates each heritage and innovation. In footwear, we’re all the time pushing the normal, laces included. They’re so useful but endlessly reinterpretable. The Disc system was forward of its time; turning a wheel to tighten simply is sensible. It’s fantastically easy but technically advanced. There’s additionally one thing satisfying concerning the clicking sound, like a haptic and sensory high quality — it offers the shoe a lifetime of its personal. The Disc additionally shapes the higher each in vitality and execution. Strains morph round it, forming home windows and underlays, whereas fused and molded supplies transfer seamlessly with the absolutely engineered woven base nonetheless protecting the essence of the unique Mostro. It’s a stability of technical precision and natural stream.
Puma
Puma
Puma
What made you need to put the Disc system on the Mostro silhouette?
Coming off the final drops with the Mostro 3.D, Rocky needed innovation to drive its subsequent evolution. The Mostro all the time had the vector strap and different lacing, so after we considered a brand new take, the Disc system got here to thoughts. It had by no means been achieved on the Mostro earlier than, and as quickly as we realized that, we knew it was the right match.
Are there any archival Disc silhouettes that you just hope to return to the market sometime?
I labored for PUMA greater than 10 years in the past [In between his stints at PUMA, Tang also worked at KITH, Vans, and K-Swiss] and introduced again the unique Disc Blaze — I’ve all the time had a factor for it. In 2011, I reworked the toe with Ronnie Fieg for the Disc Blaze Cove, simplifying it. I’d like to see that return sooner or later. PUMA additionally did a singular Disc on the Mihara Yasuhiro MY-6 Disc from the “LATERAL” line that simply regarded so completely different. I’ve all the time been a giant fan of the Disc, so I’m blissful to see any model make a comeback.
How do you strike the proper stability in creating designs that mix Rocky’s contact with PUMA’s DNA?
Rocky loves digging into the archives, and so do I— after I labored for PUMA the primary time, I used to be targeted on archive bring-backs and collaborations, so it’s enjoyable to discover and discover issues we like. He’ll ask about one thing, I’ll share the historical past, and we’ll discover new methods to reinterpret it. He desires to push PUMA into new areas, mixing heritage with progress. With my intensive background in PUMA and footwear, I assist present him what’s been achieved and what’s nonetheless attainable.
The PUMA Mostro Disccord will turn into accessible to buy on-line and in shops on March 27 at 10 a.m. ET. Check out the design within the galleries above.
