PUMA AG has appointed Neil Barrett as Creative Director for a new series of PUMA Collections that are expected to debut with delivery in late Spring 2004. The collection ranges from technical and lifestyle sportswear to high-end men's and women's wear, including accessories and shoes. Highlights from the collection will be unveiled during Milan Fashion Week in January 2004.
“We are excited to unveil a full PUMA collection with Neil Barrett as the creative force behind it. The partnership includes many exciting elements that will be revealed as we get closer to the consumer release,” said Neil Beeson, General Manager of the PUMA Black Station.
Barrett's first collaboration with PUMA began in 2001 when he turned out PUMA's innovative 96 hours collection. The new collections will evolve with the common theme derived from a different sport each season building to cover the most influential PUMA sponsored sports.
“By combining fashion and sport technology, sport lines will be more refined and the fashion more sport influenced,” said Neil Barrett. “These collections will be a natural evolution of the sportlifestyle direction of menswear.”
Of British descent, Barrett's professional history is thoroughly Italian including five years as Senior Menswear Designer at Gucci, four years as Design Director of Prada Menswear and launching his own brand name collection in 1999 produced by among others, the Prada Group and Allegri.
