PUMA AND SALEHE BEMBURY DROP THE VELUM SNEAKER

Summary:

• PUMA and Salehe Bembury launch the Velum, the designer's first lifestyle sneaker with the brand
• The shoe features a sculptural printed cage over engineered mesh and NITROFOAM cushioning technology
• Available from February 7, 2026 at PUMA.com, flagship stores, and select retailers in the Rhubarb colorway

PUMA and Salehe Bembury have released the Velum, marking the first lifestyle sneaker the designer has created with the sportswear brand. The shoe arrives after its initial presentation at an exclusive Paris Fashion Week event in June 2025.

Bembury built the Velum around biomorphic design principles. The upper uses lightweight engineered mesh wrapped in what the designer calls a 5D-printed sculptural cage. This outer structure creates a textured surface that pulls from organic forms while maintaining a technical edge. The result sits somewhere between natural shapes and constructed geometry.

The shoe's foundation relies on PUMA's NITROFOAM cushioning system. This foam technology handles impact while keeping the overall weight down. The combination of the mesh upper and the NITROFOAM midsole delivers a balance between structure and flexibility.

The first colorway, named Rhubarb, reflects Bembury's approach to color selection and texture. His work often emphasizes distinctive color choices paired with tactile surfaces. The Velum follows this pattern, using the cage structure to create visual depth across the shoe's profile.

Bembury has worked with PUMA on performance footwear before, but the Velum represents a shift into lifestyle-focused design. The collaboration maintains technical elements from his previous work while adapting them for everyday wear. The printed cage serves both aesthetic and functional purposes, reinforcing the mesh upper while creating the shoe's visual identity.

The construction process involves layering the sculptural cage over the mesh base. This method produces a three-dimensional effect that changes depending on viewing angle and lighting. The cage pattern wraps around the foot in a way that mimics organic growth patterns rather than following traditional shoe paneling.

NITROFOAM first appeared in PUMA's running category before expanding into other footwear lines. The material compresses under pressure and returns to its original shape quickly. This responsiveness works for both athletic movement and casual wear. PUMA positions the technology as a core component across multiple product categories.

The Velum's design language connects to Bembury's broader body of work, which frequently explores the intersection of natural forms and footwear construction. His previous collaborations have featured fingerprint-inspired patterns and terrain-based textures. The Velum takes a different direction, focusing on the cage structure as the primary design element.

Paris Fashion Week provided the setting for the shoe's first appearance. The June 2025 event gave select attendees an early look at the design before the wider release. This preview period allowed the brand to generate interest ahead of the official launch date.

PUMA has maintained a presence in the lifestyle footwear market through various collaborations with designers and cultural figures. The Velum adds to this roster while introducing Bembury's perspective on everyday sneakers. His background in footwear design brings a specific point of view to the project.

The Rhubarb colorway uses pink and red tones across the upper and cage structure. The color extends through the NITROFOAM midsole, creating a cohesive look from top to bottom. Bembury has used similar tonal approaches in previous work, building entire shoes around single color families.

The shoe goes on sale February 7, 2026 through PUMA.com, the brand's flagship retail locations, and selected stockists. Pricing details have not been disclosed in the announcement. The release follows a standard distribution model for PUMA's collaborative projects.

The sculptural cage element differentiates the Velum from other lifestyle sneakers currently on the market. While many shoes use overlays and support structures, the 5D-printed cage creates a more pronounced three-dimensional effect. The technology behind this printing process allows for patterns and shapes that traditional manufacturing methods would struggle to replicate.

Bembury's transition from performance to lifestyle footwear with PUMA shows the designer's range across different sneaker categories. The Velum takes technical knowledge from athletic shoe development and applies those principles to a shoe designed for regular wear. This crossover between performance innovation and lifestyle aesthetics has become a common thread in contemporary sneaker design.

The collaboration continues a relationship between PUMA and Bembury that has already produced multiple releases. Each project has explored different aspects of footwear design, from trail-running shoes to basketball silhouettes. The Velum represents another direction within this ongoing partnership.

The biomorphic approach in the Velum's design refers to forms found in living organisms. This design philosophy has gained traction in architecture, product design, and fashion. Translating these principles to footwear means working with curves, asymmetrical patterns, and structures that reference natural growth rather than geometric precision.

The February release date places the Velum in the early part of 2026's sneaker calendar. Spring releases often introduce new colorways and silhouettes as brands prepare for the year ahead. The timing gives the shoe visibility at a point when consumers start looking at new footwear options for the warmer months.

PUMA's background spans 75 years in sportswear and athletic footwear. The company operates across multiple categories, including running, basketball, football, and motorsports. The lifestyle division has grown alongside these core sports categories, creating space for projects like the Velum that prioritize design and everyday wearability over pure performance metrics.

The Velum arrives as part of a broader trend in sneaker culture where designers bring fine art and architectural concepts into footwear. The cage structure, the biomorphic design approach, and the emphasis on texture all reflect this movement. Whether the shoe finds an audience beyond early adopters and Bembury's existing followers will depend on how the market receives these design choices.