Puma Hoops x LaMelo Ball will drop their first collaborative lifestyle shoe, LaFrancé, taking its inspiration and name from Ball’s lifestyle brand specializing in designer streetwear. The inspiration for the style comes from the chunky silhouettes of the 90s and early 2000s skate footwear.
Features include exaggerated proportions, a chunky zig-zag lace closure, ultra-wide laces, and an enhanced padded tongue. “LF” and “La France” are inscribed on the mega tongue and imprinted into the sole. The classic cup sole has floating ovals throughout, decorated with iconic graphics. Upper ovals on the midsole “encapsulate design aspects of a butterfly, symbolizing Melo’s 1 of 1 lifestyle,” said Puma.
“If you know Melo, you know he does everything large. From the chain to the logos to the car, the dude’s living large! So, we had to come through with a silhouette to fit that profile. The skate-inspired, chunky upper and cup sole felt like the obvious sweet spot for Melos first lifestyle shoe,” said Pma Hoops Noah Bice.
The “Amour” colorway boasts a fiery red upper, a “nod to the overstated aesthetics of Y2K skate culture,” with additional colorways to come.
The LaFrancé will launch on May 17 with several apparel pieces, including graphic tees, a mesh tank, shorts, and track pants.
Images courtesy Puma
