As well as having their shoes worn in major competitions, PUMA also began releasing signature shoes for their athletes. The PUMA Clyde was released in 1971 and quickly became one of the label’s most popular designs. Inspired by basketball’s Walt “Clyde” Frazier, the sneakers offered simple yet effective design with the instantly-recognisable Formstrip running down the lateral and medial sides. While this logo would go on to become synonymous with the brand's logo, the original design was actually used to improve the stability of PUMA football boots.
Elsewhere in the world of sport, Guillermo Vilas won the French, the US and the Australian open as part of an epic winning streak in 1977. Throughout each competition he rocked none other than PUMA tennis sneakers, cementing the label as a key player in the Tennis scene also.
Throughout the 1980s, tennis continued to be popular worldwide, with Boris Becker winning Wimbledon in 1985 aged just 17 wearing, you guessed it, PUMA sneakers. He also used a PUMA racket throughout the entire competition. While all of this is happening, none other than Diego Armando Maradona is also making waves in the world of football, scoring the “Goal of the Century” and being awarded the Golden Ball in the 1986 World Cup. He played every minute of the tournament sporting his PUMA KINGs on foot.
All of these endorsements and successes in the world of sport translated to success in sales for PUMA. PUMA became one of the most recognisable brands in the world and they had no intent of slowing down anytime soon.