ASAP Rocky had Puma’s New York City flagship looking like the hottest party in the city on Thursday night.
Fans snaked down the block in front of the store on Fifth Avenue to get into the special event, which included DJ sets from ASAP Lou and SS4K, product customization stations, and even an impromptu performance of “HIGHJACK” from Rocky himself that had the third floor of the retail store feeling like a private concert.
It was all in celebration of the latest motorsport-inspired capsule collection from Rocky and Puma. This time around, the range took inspiration from the neon cityscape during night time racing. Faded black T-shirts with vintage-esque car graphics, sweatsuits that resemble the jumpsuits worn by racers, and a reversible bomber jacket frequently worn by Rocky over the past year (and has already sold out) were the standout offerings from the extensive assortment. The impressive lineup is Rocky’s latest effort to unify the automotive world and street culture.
“I want to show that there’s way more people interested in F1 from all sorts of backgrounds and lifestyles,” Rocky tells Complex. “I want to be the catalyst to bridging that gap.”
On the footwear side, fans were treated to another colorway of the jagged Mostro 3D slip-on in black and slime green, as well as pre-distressed versions of the Inhale running sneaker designed to look like they were splashed with motor oil. For Rocky, the aged look is more than just a design choice.
“Buy shit that you can wear with anything for as long as you want,” says Rocky. “It doesn’t matter if it looks dirty. That’s the whole purpose of us making shit that looks distressed. It’s to take out the concept of fresh and new, of always spending money.”
If you’re expecting the Flacko 1s to debut next, you may have to wait a bit longer. Rather than cook up his own original silhouette, Rocky has enjoyed diving into the 76-year-old Puma archive and remixing some of its more under the radar designs. The Inhale is just the first chapter.
“For me, it’s all about the best pieces in the archive that nobody knows about,” says Rocky. “My favorite aspect of footwear design is the possibilities. I get to explore any kind of idea. I’ve been experimenting a lot with different materials. We got some interesting things in the works.”
Of course, for a style icon like Rocky, designing clothing with a Puma partnership isn’t his only endeavor. It was recently announced that he would be a co-chair for the 2025 Met Gala. His excitement for that is obvious, immediately smiling to reveal his gold set of grills.
“You can expect some crazy shit next year at the Met Gala,” says Rocky. “Expect the unexpected.”
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