PUMA and Magnus Carlsen, the five-time Norwegian World Chess Champion and the highest-ranked chess player in the world, teamed up to create a sneaker inspired by the game of chess called Clyde Chess. This collaborative design was based on PUMA's classic Clyde model and it includes some notable updates to tie it to the game of chess.
With a chessboard-inspired texture, a constructed suede form strip and a heel overlay with a hairy texture, this footwear style stands out as the first chess-inspired sneaker that PUMA has ever made. To enhance the experience for fans of chess and sneakers alike, PUMA included a woven tongue label with PUMA branding and a chess figure.
PUMA is the official sports lifestyle partner of Chess.com’s Champions Chess Tour, and the Magnus Carlsen x PUMA Clyde Chess sneaker will be released during the live event broadcast.
Chess-Inspired Sneakers
PUMA and Magnus Carlsen Created Clyde Chess to Pay Tribute to the Game
Trend Themes
1. Chess-inspired Fashion - Opportunities for fashion designers to explore chess-inspired patterns and themes in their designs.
2. Collaborative Design - Potential for more high-profile collaborations, like that between PUMA and Magnus Carlsen.
3. Sports-fashion Crossovers - Potential for crossover between sports apparel and fashion, as seen in the Magnus Carlsen x PUMA collaboration.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion - Chess-inspired patterns and themes could be a disruptive innovation for fashion designers.
2. Sports Apparel - Potential for more collaborations between sports apparel brands and high-profile sports figures, as seen in the Magnus Carlsen x PUMA partnership.
3. E-commerce - E-commerce platforms can capitalize on the excitement generated by collaborations to create exclusive releases and generate sales.