Puma x Tracksmith Release Speed City Collaboration

August 17, 2022

Boston, Massachusetts /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Global sports brand PUMA and independent running brand Tracksmith today announce the launch of their Speed City Collection. The collaboration celebrates the legacy of Speed City, the dominant California men’s collegiate running program of the mid-20th century, whose athletes not only set global standards for performance, but also fought for social justice through the Olympic Project for Human Rights and the 1968 Mexico City protest. They established a culture of courage that lives on today.The PUMA x Tracksmith collection features performance styles for men and women inspired by archival images of the athletes in their Speed City uniforms and warm-up kits. These classic looks were reimagined for modern performance in technical fabrics and modern silhouettes. Key styles include the:

• Speed City Singlet $45 – A lightweight racing style featuring a signature sash, as worn by Speed City athletes like Tommie Smith.
• Speed City Shorts $55 – Classic 3” split shorts are delivered in a performance mesh and cut for speed.
• Speed City Crew $65 – A crew neck short sleeve with adorned with a Speed City crest and Puma x Tracksmith logo.
• Speed City Jacket $80 and Pants $75 – Inspired by the team’s iconic warm-up suits, these fleece pieces are statement making styles for pre- and post-workout.
• Speed City Deviate Nitro Elite $200 – Designed for explosive, race day propulsion, this sleek two-tone shoe features a carbon fiber INNOPLATE that acts as a lever for maximum energy transfer at toe-off. NITRO Elite foam offers supreme cushioning that won’t weigh you down, making this lightweight monomesh style a running go-to, while Durable PUMAGRIP LT rubber provides multi-surface traction.

To support the collection, PUMA and Tracksmith worked with Pushkin Industries to produce a six episode podcast series exploring the unknown stories of Speed City. Acclaimed writer and podcaster Malcolm Gladwell hosts “Legacy of Speed,” an in-depth look at the history of Speed City and its impact on today’s culture, from Usain Bolt to the continued fight for social justice through sport. The series can be listened to in full, here.

“This collaboration is about celebrating the impact Speed City had on our culture both on and off the track,” said Tracksmith founder and CEO, Matt Taylor. “It’s frankly rare for two sporting brands to work together in this way, but we were both so inspired by this story and the possibility of presenting it through a unique approach to both product and storytelling. It’s no understatement to say that the Speed City program changed both running and the world. We’re proud to celebrate the legacy of these athletes who were at the forefront of both human performance and using their platform to drive social change.”

“There hasn’t been a more perfect time than now to revisit the storied history we share with Speed City and we’re excited for the world to experience this once again,” said Erin Longin, PUMA’s GM of Running & Training. “We’re very proud to be a part of the Speed City legacy and felt that Tracksmith would be the perfect partner to help bring this story back. Our roots run deep on and off the track and while we’re proud of our athletes competitive accomplishments, we’re just as proud today as we were in 1968 of their positive and lasting impact on society.”

The PUMA x Tracksmith Collection retails for $45 – $200 and will be available starting August 18 at PUMA.com and Tracksmith.com. Five percent of all Speed City Collection sales from Tracksmith.com will go to benefit the work of the Tracksmith Foundation to protect and create opportunities for youth and college athletes in track and field.

Shaniqwa Jarvis captured the Speed City Collection on track and field athletes in Los Angeles : https://fastcat.puma.com/share/76F9214A-FE47-468D-AA30C894E9A96026/Explore the lookbook, here.

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PUMA Media Contact
Melissa Garbayo
PUMA North America PR
melissa.garbayo@puma.com

Tracksmth Contact
Massimo Alpian
Director of Communications
massimo.alpian@tracksmith.com

PUMA
PUMA is one of the world’s leading sports brands, designing, developing, selling and marketing footwear, apparel and accessories. For more than 70 years, PUMA has relentlessly pushed sport and culture forward by creating fast products for the world’s fastest athletes. PUMA offers performance and sport-inspired lifestyle products in categories such as Football, Running and Training, Basketball, Golf, and Motorsports. It collaborates with renowned designers and brands to bring sport influences into street culture and fashion. The PUMA Group owns the brands PUMA, Cobra Golf and stichd. The company distributes its products in more than 120 countries, employs about 16,000 people worldwide, and is headquartered in Herzogenaurach/Germany.

TRACKSMITH
Tracksmith is a brand for committed runners. We honor the Amateur Spirit upon which the sport was founded and champion the Running Class — those non-professional yet competitive runners who dedicate themselves to the pursuit of personal excellence. We offer considered and original products for training, racing and rest days, and we create experiences that make running more rewarding, more connected, and more meaningful. Run with us at the Trackhouse: 285 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02130.