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Puma shoes, also known as Puma Aktiengesellscaft Rudolf Dassler Sport, is a German footwear, apparel, and accessories manufacturer. Puma has retailers, department stores, and boutiques in over 80 countries and has opened several Concept stores in metropolitan cities. The roots of Puma brand stretch back to the mid 1920’s when Adi and Rudolph registered their family shoe enterprise in Herzogenaurach, Germany, but after World War II, during which Rudi Dassler had spent time in a POW camp, the Dassler brothers began a legendary feud, causing Rudolph to leave the company and found a rival company across town. Rudi Dassler named his company Puma Aktiengesellscaft Rudolf Sport (Puma) while brother Adi incorporated as Adidas.

In 1948, Puma released their first shoe, the PUMA Atom to the market and to the West German football team. By 1950 Puma had established export ties to the United States, and in 1958 PUMA’s signature formstripe was introduced. This would begin the intense battle between Puma and Adidas to get their shoes onto the feet of world-class athletes that would span the next several decades. This intense race to market new technologies spawned copyright and infringement lawsuits until 1960 when Puma, behind in sales by a nine to one ratio, paid West German track star Armin Hary to defect from Adidas and wear Puma shoes. In 1962 Pele becomes the World Cup champion for a second time while wearing Puma shoes. Six years later, the Puma leaping cat logo as we know it today was launched. The same year Puma had a number of successful models, including the “King” soccer shoe worn by Eusebio at the 1968 World Cup and the “Suede” (later called the Clyde) worn by the Black Power runners Thomas Smith and Lee Evans at the Mexico City Olympics. In total, four athletes bring home gold medals while wearing Puma; Tommie Smith in the 200m, Lee Evans in the 400m, Willie Davenport in 110m high hurdles, and Bob Seagren in pole vaulting.