A man who has loved sneakers more than anyone else, he opened his eyes to "PUMA.

First of all, could you tell us when and how you first met "Puma Clyde"?

More than 20 years ago , when I was in junior high school . I saw "Puma Clyde" being sold at a sporting goods store in my hometown (Fujieda City, Shizuoka Prefecture). Looking back, this was my very first encounter with Puma Clyde. However, I did not wear the Puma Clyde at that time.

At the time, I had friends around me who wore Puma Clyde skateboards. I played soccer, and Puma spikes didn't fit my feet well, so I naturally avoided the Puma Clyde as well.

When did you first wear the Puma Clyde?

It was around 2001 when I started working in a shoe store. . I found a pair of vintage royal blue "Puma Clyde" at a vintage clothing store in Koenji. The price was 19,800 yen . . I thought it was a bit expensive, but I was excited and bought it.

What attracted you to the vintage "Puma Clyde"?

The shoes themselves are naturally appealing, but in my case, there was a slightly different situation that led me to ....... I was in my early twenties at the time, and I had a strange confidence that I was second to none in sneaker knowledge, and I also had ambitions to make my mark in this world and become famous. Looking back on it now, it was completely youthful indiscretion (laughs).

So I thought, "How can I get a head start in the sneaker industry? . There were already a lot of people in the industry who owned a tremendous number of sneakers and were unusually knowledgeable about sneakers. There were already a lot of collectors in the industry who owned a tremendous number of sneakers and who were unusually knowledgeable about sneakers, but I felt that there was still a lot to be discovered about PUMA.

I started out like that, but then I picked up a vintage royal blue Puma Clyde at a vintage clothing store in Koenji, and the more I learned about Puma, the cooler I thought it was, and I gradually bought more and more of them at vintage stores and online auctions. I started to buy and collect them little by little at vintage shops and online auctions.

Puma sneakers were more affordable than other brands of vintage sneakers, so they were relatively easy to buy. However, there were not that many of them, so I had a hard time finding them.

The beauty of the shapes and the high quality of the materials are the most attractive features.

How did you come by your knowledge of Puma's vintage?

. I am almost self-taught. I looked up vintage items one by one, comparing them with each other. In the process, I came to be able to tell the difference in details by the country of production and the age of manufacture by looking at the tags.

What is the appeal of "Puma Clyde" to you, Mr. Yamada?

There are many things, but first of all, I like the shape. The vintage "Puma Clyde" has a small heel, a slightly pointy toe, and a small toe box. . They are really beautiful when you wear them.

. also, I like the texture of the suede material. Compared to other brands of the same period, I think the quality of the "Puma Clyde" material is outstanding.

The "Puma Clyde" was born in 1973, and except for the initial period, the entire upper back was covered with a lining. At the time, Puma was the only company that did this. The suede material tends to stretch easily, but by applying the fabric, it is made less likely to stretch. Puma was one of the first companies to use such a device.

How did a genuine Puma fanatic view the reissue of the "Puma Clyde"?

The reissue of the "Puma Clyde" is being released for the first time in many years , what are your impressions after seeing it in person?

. My honest impression is that they are definitely better than the previous reissues. The previous reissues had a more rounded toe and a more narrow shape. However, the last of this reissue was newly made, and I felt that it was closer to the form of the original "Puma Clyde".

I like the texture of the suede. The old "Puma Clyde" suede was not so shaggy, and the fur was well matched. The texture of this reissue is also very smooth, and I think it beautifully recreates the atmosphere of the past.

Finally, what are the key points and colors you recommend for wearing this reissue of the "Puma Clyde"?

All three colors are shades that I think enthusiasts will appreciate. They are all attractive, but I personally like the black and purple. In any case, I think all the colors are easy to adopt, even for those who are not interested in vintage.

Originally, the Puma Clyde itself is a sneaker that goes well with fashion. They can be worn with any style, so if you have a pair, they will surely come in handy. If you have never worn them before, I hope you will take this opportunity to give them a try.