IN THIS STORY
The beginning · Finding its feet · Defining moments · Beyond sport · Watch the story
CHAPTER 01 / ORIGIN
It began with the Dassler brothers.
Before there was Puma, there was a shoe factory run by Rudolf Dassler and his younger brother Adolf in Herzogenaurach, Germany.
Their partnership did not last. When the brothers went separate ways, Rudolf started a new company in the same town in 1948. That company became Puma. Its identity was rooted in a simple sporting ambition: make products that help athletes move with the agility and speed of a big cat.
CHAPTER 02 / BREAKTHROUGH
Making a mark on the field.
Puma’s early path ran through football. Its ATOM boot arrived in 1950. The SUPER ATOM followed in 1952, with screw-in studs that gave players a new way to adapt their boots to the pitch. Sporting performance became the brand’s clearest way of showing what it stood for.
That focus on athletes and product design helped Puma build recognition beyond its hometown. The brand kept looking for ways to make footwear lighter, faster and more distinctive.
CHAPTER 03 / MILESTONES
Innovation became part of the story.
1948 — Rudolf Dassler establishes the company that becomes Puma in Herzogenaurach.
1950 — The ATOM football boot marks an early product success.
1952 — The SUPER ATOM introduces screw-in studs to Puma’s football range.
1968 — The brush spike shows Puma’s push into track innovation.
1986 — The RS-Computer Shoe connects running footwear with electronic measurement.
1991 — The DISC introduces a laceless fastening system.
CHAPTER 04 / LEGACY
From performance to culture.
Sport remained Puma’s foundation, but its shoes found another life away from competition. The Puma Suede became part of breakdancing and hip-hop culture in the 1980s. Later collaborations with designers and artists extended the brand into fashion, while football, running, basketball and motorsport kept its sporting identity visible.
The thread connecting its early boots to its broader range is the same fascination with performance, movement and style.
THE DOCUMENTARY
Watch the full story.
Puma: from family split to global name
Documentary coming soon. The YouTube video will appear here when published.