FIGC X The Football Gal Jerseys
HERZOGENAURACH, GERMANY, 17 SEPTEMBER, 2020
PUMA PARTNERS WITH THE FOOTBALL GAL TO CREATE ONE-OFF FASHION INSPIRED FIGC JERSEYS IN TRIBUTE TO ITALIAN CULTURE

Sports company PUMA has today unveiled three customized FIGC football jerseys in tribute to Italian renaissance art and fashion culture. The project is a collaboration with custom football jersey designer The Football Gal who has created three bespoke jersey designs to compliment the iconic renaissance patterns used for each of the jerseys.

The special one-off jerseys are designed to celebrate Italy’s history, culture and personality as PUMA merge football with art and fashion. All three jerseys take inspiration from Italian renaissance, high-end fashion, art deco and art nouveau merging elements of nature, geometry and symmetry.

The Football Gal said: “My main aim of the project was to focus on elements of Italian renaissance in terms of its emphasis on symmetry, natural forms and creating eye movement through the floral designs. I love the concept of wearable art from different elements and incorporating them on football jerseys. This trend is giving fans (as well as non-fans) a chance to be creative and free to incorporate football into their style.” 

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AWAY KIT HISTORICAL
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HERZOGENAURACH, GERMANY, 12 OCOTBER, 2020
PUMA AND HYPERCAR MAKER RIMAC CREATE THE WORLD’S FASTEST FOOTBALL BOOT

Sports company PUMA has teamed up with electric hypercar maker Rimac Automobili to develop the PUMA ULTRA SL FG, the world’s fastest football boot.

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The limited-edition PUMA ULTRA SL, of which only 412 pairs will be launched, weighs a gravity defying 90 grams, combining elite-level stability, traction and lightweight properties with PUMA exclusive innovation.

“The objective of the ULTRA SL was to create the fastest, most extreme football boot possible, to give an insight into how football boots could be engineered in the future,” said Dominique Gathier, Head of Product Line Management Teamsport. “We looked at how hypercars are built and transferred these key learnings into the creation of ULTRA SL, with particular focus on how to reduce the weight of the boot whilst maintaining elite-level performance properties.”

Rimac is a Croatian based company and was founded with the vision to create sportscars for the 21st century, striving to unleash the full potential of the alternating current electric motor. The 412 pairs that PUMA will launch of the most electric ULTRA ever, reflect the 412 km/h top speed of the Rimac C_Two hypercar.

The ULTRA SL FG’s upper is constructed of a super-light woven mesh, coated in a thin layer of TPU skin to give added durability and touch on the ball. The aerodynamic silhouette features two ‘windows’ on the heel, which are directly inspired by the body work of the Rimac C_Two. The UTLRA SL also features a PEBAX outsole and integrates a custom-made, extremely lightweight tooling engineered to boost your speed with ULTRA acceleration.


The PUMA ULTRA SL will make its debut when Antoine Griezmann takes to the pitch in the UEFA Nations League fixture between France and Croatia in Rimac’s home city, Zagreb, on October 14th.

The new PUMA ULTRA SL is available from October 12th at PUMA.com, PUMA stores and at select retailers worldwide.

Neymar Jr.
HERZOGENAURACH, GERMANY, OCTOBER 28, 2020
PUMA’S SALES AND PROFITABILITY REBOUND IN THE THIRD QUARTER PUMA REMAINS CAUTIOUS FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER BECAUSE OF COVID-19

2020 THIRD QUARTER FACTS

  • Sales increase by 13.3% currency adjusted to € 1,583 million (+7.2% reported)
  • Gross profit margin declines to 47.0% mainly caused by negative currency impacts, more promotional activities and an unfavorable regional mix
  • Operating expenses (OPEX) decrease by 3.3% due to various cost saving measures
  • Operating result (EBIT) up by 16.8% to € 190 million
  • PUMA signs long-term partnership with Brazilian football star Neymar Jr.
  • PUMA successfully launches the football boot ULTRA and the basketball shoe RS DREAMER
  • PUMA basketball athletes Danny Green and Kyle Kuzma win the 2020 NBA Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers
  • PUMA partners with top NBA 2020 draft prospect LaMelo Ball
  • PUMA and Cobra golf athlete Bryson DeChambeau wins the 2020 U.S. Open Championship
  • Free float of PUMA shares increases after Kering sells 5.9% stake

 

2020 NINE MONTHS FACTS 

  • Sales decrease by 5.1% currency adjusted to € 3,714 million (-7.7% reported)
  • Gross profit margin declines to 46.5% (last year: 49.4%), mainly caused by negative currency impacts, more promotional activities and higher inventory provisions
  • Operating expenses (OPEX) decrease by 1.5% to € 1,596 million due to various cost savings in the second and third quarter
  • Operating result (EBIT) at a profit of € 146 million (last year: € 385 million)
  • Net earnings amounted to € 54.2 million and earnings per share to € 0.36
  • To be prepared for a potentially longer-lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, PUMA secures additional € 900 million revolving credit facility in May, which has not been utilized
  • PUMA announces new sustainability targets 10FOR25, underlining its sustainability ambitions until 2025

     

BJØRN GULDEN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF PUMA SE:
 

“The third quarter developed much better than I expected. Retail stores reopened, sports events resumed, consumer confidence improved and our sales increased week by week. I feel this strong performance confirms the strength of both PUMA as a brand and the sporting goods industry in general.
Despite a very promotional market environment and currency developments that put pressure on our margins, we were even able to improve our EBIT compared to last year. This was achieved by continued strong cost control that we initiated in the extremely weak second quarter and through less but more efficient marketing activities.
October started well, but the recent development of COVID-19 and the number of infections we are seeing globally make us cautious for the rest of year.
We will continue to maneuver through this pandemic in the short-term without hindering PUMA´s mid-term momentum. Investments in new partnerships with Neymar Jr and LaMelo Ball underline our belief in the strong future of our brand.”

THIRD QUARTER 2020

PUMA's sales rebounded in the third quarter of 2020 and increased by 13.3% currency adjusted to € 1,583.4 million (+7.2% reported). Supported by additional demand following a weak second quarter (-30.7% currency adjusted), sales accelerated throughout the third quarter and were better than expected. This development was led by a strong sales increase in the Americas (+20.7%) and EMEA (+17.7%). Sales in Asia/Pacific declined by 1.9%, caused by slower growth in Greater China and a sales decline in India, Korea and South East Asia. Footwear, Apparel and Accessories all showed strong growth in the third quarter, improving by 13.9%, 8.8% and 23.0% respectively. Performance categories such as Basketball, Motorsport, Golf and Teamsport showed the highest growth rates.

The Wholesale business increased by 12.3% currency adjusted to € 1,202.5 million. PUMA's Direct to Consumer business (DTC), which includes owned and operated retail stores as well as e-commerce, increased by 16.7% currency adjusted to € 380.9 million, driven by a strong growth in e-commerce of 60.9%.

The gross profit margin declined by 270 basis points to 47.0% mainly caused by negative currency impacts, more promotional activities and an unfavorable regional mix effect.

Operating expenses (OPEX) decreased by 3.3% to € 559.6 million. The continuation of various cost saving measures initiated at the end of the first and during the second quarter resulted in operating leverage in the third quarter.

The operating result (EBIT) increased by 16.8% from € 162.2 million last year to € 189.5 million due to strong sales growth combined with operating leverage and despite a lower gross profit margin. This corresponds to an improvement of the EBIT margin from 11.0% last year to 12.0% in the third quarter of 2020.

Net earnings increased by 13.0% from € 100.5 million to € 113.6 million and earnings per share were up from € 0.67 in the third quarter last year to € 0.76 correspondingly.

 

NINE MONTHS 2020

PUMA started the year with a very positive order book for 2020, with strong and balanced growth in all regions. In China, after a good start to the year with double-digit growth in wholesale, e-commerce and owned and operated stores, the Chinese market shut down in the last week of January. Over the following six weeks, the whole business in China, except for e-commerce, basically disappeared. As China started to recover in mid-March, COVID-19 spread globally and by the end of the month, around 80% of PUMA’s owned and operated retail stores and those of our retail partners were closed. As a result, sales in April declined sharply by 55% compared to last year. With an increasing number of stores reopening over the course of May, first in EMEA and later in North America, sales improved in May, but remained 38% below the previous year. More store openings in June and a generally more positive sentiment led to a substantial improvement and a monthly sales decline of only 6%. At the end of June, 85% of PUMA’s owned and operated stores were open.

In the third quarter, the business environment continued to improve. Sales grew by 13.3% currency adjusted and developed better than expected, led by a very strong recovery in the Americas and EMEA. Most of the brick and mortar stores - owned and operated as well as those of our retail partners - were open throughout the quarter, but were still limited by many local restrictions. While store traffic remained below last year’s levels, conversion rates continued to be high.

Our Direct to Consumer business continued to improve throughout the quarter, again led by a strong e-commerce business that grew by 60.9% currency adjusted. Our Wholesale business developed very positively during the third quarter, with sales growth of 12.3% currency adjusted. Good sell-through and successful new launches of PUMA products, combined with increased confidence among our retail partners, caused this positive development.

Overall, sales in the first nine months of 2020 decreased by 5.1% currency adjusted to
€ 3,714.3 million (-7.7% reported). Despite the sales growth in the third quarter, all regions showed a decline in sales on a nine month basis, with EMEA being down 1.0% currency adjusted, Americas 6.5% and Asia/Pacific 9.1%. Sales in Footwear declined by 5.4% currency adjusted and in Apparel by 8.0%, while sales in Accessories grew by 2.2%.

The Wholesale business decreased by 6.8% currency adjusted to € 2,791.8 million. PUMA's Direct to Consumer business (DTC), which includes owned and operated retail stores as well as e-commerce, increased by 0.4% currency adjusted to € 922.5 million. This represented a share of 24.8% of total sales for the first nine months of 2020 (share of 23.5% in the previous year). Supported by an intensified shift into performance marketing and successful promotions, our e-commerce business increased strongly by 66.5% currency adjusted.

The gross profit margin declined by 280 basis points from 49.4% to 46.5% in the first nine months of 2020, mainly caused by negative currency impacts but also due to more promotional activities as well as higher inventory provisions due to the impact of COVID-19.

As a result of the cost savings in the second and the third quarter, operating expenses (OPEX) decreased by 1.5% on a nine months basis and amounted to € 1,596.4 million.

The operating result (EBIT) decreased from € 385.0 million last year to € 145.9 million in the first nine months of 2020 due to the negative result in the first half of 2020, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Therefore, net earnings declined to € 54.2 million (last year: € 244.6 million). This translated into earnings per share of € 0.36 compared to € 1.64 in the first nine months of 2019.

 

WORKING CAPITAL


We were able to decrease our working capital by 23.2% to € 703.2 million (last year: € 915.7 million). Despite the negative impact of COVID-19 on our sales, our inventories only increased by 7.1% to € 1,222.4 million, while trade receivables declined by 4.2% to € 761.5 million. On the liabilities side, trade payables increased by 29.8% to € 937.0 million due to extended payment terms with our suppliers.

 

OUTLOOK 2020
 

The year 2020 has been, and will continue to be, a very difficult year for the sporting goods industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic. PUMA‘s mantra is to manage this crisis short-term without hindering our positive mid-term momentum. Following a weak second quarter, we saw a very strong development in sales and EBIT in the third quarter. We feel this confirms the strength of the PUMA brand and are optimistic about our mid- and long-term perspective. Even though the business in the third quarter developed better than we had expected, the uncertainty for the fourth quarter remains very high. Globally, the number of COVID-19 infections is at the highest level since the outbreak of the pandemic, many regions are re-implementing restrictions and the consumer sentiment is again turning negative. As the development for the coming weeks continues to be unpredictable, we cannot provide a reliable financial outlook for the full year 2020.

Puma
HERZOGENAURACH, GERMANY, OCTOBER 31, 2020
YOUR FOOTBALL TRICKS WILL BE A TREAT WITH PUMA’S HALLOWEEN-INSPIRED FEAR PACK

Global sports company PUMA has today unleashed the Fear Pack in honor of the scariest day of the year. The Fear Pack is here to enhance your tricks and scare the competition, featuring neon green and spooky purple color updates to the FUTURE 6.1 and ULTRA 1.1. The pack combines the creepy eyes of the FUTURE with the monstrous side of the ULTRA - defenders beware!

Halloween Boot

Providing elite level touch and control benefits at explosive speeds, the UTLRA 1.1 is the ultimate combination of speed, touch and comfort. The extremely lightweight MATRYXEVO® upper is built on a lightweight PEBA SpeedUnit outsole, featuring a split sole design inspired by PUMA running spike DNA for rapid bursts of speed. The sole plate combines subtle ‘spikes’ in the forefront and V-shaped studs configured to provide uncatchable speed.

The FUTURE 6.1 places agility at the core of the design, featuring a fully knitted one-piece upper with the latest in NETFIT technology. The upper is developed from a specially crafted textile yarn mix that adapts to the movement of the foot, providing greater freedom of movement when making explosive turns and quick changes of direction. The NETFIT technology offers players a variety of customizable lacing options to enhance both fit and stability

The Fear Pack is available to frighten defences from October 31st at PUMA.com, PUMA stores and select retailers worldwide.

PUMA
HERZOGENAURACH, AUGUST 10, 2023
PUMA’S CALI COURT IS TREATED TO AN ACE-WORTHY COLLECTION

Old-school cool is back, as Winnie Harlow presents a full collectionof the tennis-inspired Cali Court sneaker.

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Always street-style ready, the quintessential Cali Court fuses tennis heritage with modern streetwear sensibilities. The stacked sole adds flair to the Cali Court’s otherwise simplistic but stylish après-court aesthetic. A special graphic insignia featuring PUMA’s Jumping Cat logo sits on the tongue, while PUMA’s Formstrip accentuates the upper.

Styled on Winnie Harlow, the PUMA Cali Court is slated to arrive in a suite of six ultra-clean colorways, split across two installments. First up with three color schemes, the Cali Court Leather pack is punctuated by understated blue, purple, and pink hues. The second Cali Court Patent depicts the silhouette with tonal colorways and patent leather wrapping the toe box.

The new PUMA Cali Court Leather collection will be available starting August 10, 2023, from PUMA.com, PUMA flagship stores, and selected retailers, while the Cali Court Patent collection is set to arrive later in the year.

PUMA
HERZOGENAURACH, AUGUST 8, 2023
PUMA AND NANAMICA’S NEW COLLABORATION MARKS A NEW HORIZON FOR WORKWEAR

In 2022, PUMA kicked off a new collaboration with nanamica, elevating the Suede with a technical concept featuring GORE-TEX waterproofing, and wrapping the low-top silhouette with timeless colorways.

Now, PUMA and nanamica reprise their partnership to unveil a new conceptual collection centered around neo-workwear. The capsule reimagines workwear with a clean aesthetic, rooted in functionality and comfort. Injected with subtle military and nautical references, in keeping with the meaning of nanamica which translates to “House of the Seven Seas,” the collection features premium footwear and apparel that is set apart by thoughtful details and smart construction.

The PUMA Clyde is reimagined by nanamica, featuring a shroud design that conceals the eye stays, lending the shoe a functional and clean aesthetic. A staple technology in nanamica’s collections, GORE-TEX waterproof membrane is once again used across both colorways, in addition to premium leather on the upper. The PUMA Formstrip is denoted by a stitch-and-turn construction, while a co-branded satin tag is fastened to the tongue.

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Steeped in Japanese sensibilities, the accompanying apparel features a Woven Coat, which boasts Cordura fabric, a two-way zipper, an array of utilitarian pockets, and a rubber PUMA x nanamica badge. Two PUMA x nanamica Hoodies are included in the collection as well, fitted with quarter-zip closures and crafted from 450-gram French terry fabric. The capsule is rounded out by cotton twill Pants and essential striped T-shirts.

The latest from PUMA x nanamica will be available starting August 19, 2023, from PUMA.com, PUMA flagship stores, and selected accounts worldwide.

PUMA
HERZOGENAURACH, GERMANY, AUGUST 4, 2023
PUMA AND SCUDERIA FERRARI PRESENT A CAMOUFLAGE INSPIRED COLLECTION

Global Sports Company PUMA is proud to introduce the Masters of Camouflage Collection, an unique and innovative collaboration between PUMA and Scuderia Ferrari. This collection pays homage to the world of automotive design, drawing inspiration from the intriguing world of car prototypes. With signature black and white camo patterns and exclusive detailing, this collection celebrates the fusion of fashion, technology, and car culture.


This collection stands out through the camouflage-inspired prints: it showcases prototype-inspired camo prints throughout its range of apparel, footwear and accessories. These distinctive patterns emulate the secretive nature of car prototypes and add an element of mystery and intrigue to the collection.

The Masters of Camouflage collection pays a loving tribute to car culture, embracing the spirit of innovation, speed, and cutting-edge design. The collection's details and designs are meticulously crafted to reflect the passion and excitement associated with the automotive world.

With its striking camo patterns, PUMA for Scuderia Ferrari co-branding, and meticulous attention to detail, the Masters of Camouflage collection is the ultimate fusion of fashion and automotive design.

Embrace the spirit of automotive innovation and style with this exclusive collaboration between PUMA and Scuderia Ferrari. Available august 1 st only on puma.com

 

BVB PUMA
HERZOGENAURACH, GERMANY, JULY 31, 2023
PUMA AND BORUSSIA DORTMUND LAUNCH BRAND NEW CUP KITFOR THE 2023/24 SEASON IN LAS VEGAS

Global sports company PUMA has today launched the 2023/24 BVB Cup kit, inspired by a city that blends tradition and innovation. The stylish new kit was officially unveiled in Las Vegas during BVB’s pre-season tour of the United States.

Dortmund, once known as the city of steel, has evolved into a symbol of enduring strength and resilience. The 2023/24 Cup kit pays homage to this legacy while embracing the future. Its striking retro-futuristic design, featuring an eye-catching all-over print in the iconic Black and Yellow colors, reflects the spirit of the next-generation Borussen.

"Every year, we eagerly anticipate crafting a Cup kit for the BVB team, and this year is no exception. The concept of a Cup kit is unique, just like the design of this year's kit”, said Marco Mueller, PUMA Senior Head of Product Line Management Teamsport Apparel. “We're proud to 2 have collaborated with BVB on a kit that draws inspiration from the Club's beloved home city, with the famous Black and Yellow colors and can't wait to witness it on pitch.”

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"We're especially glad for the opportunity to reveal and launch our new Cup kit during our preseason US tour,” said Carsten Cramer, Borussia Dortmund Managing Director. “To us this is a sign of appreciation towards our international fan base, and we hope they enjoy this new fantastic kit as much as our players do.”

The new Authentic jersey features cutting-edge technology to provide optimal performance and comfort on the pitch. Engineered with ULTRAWEAVE fabric, the kit boasts a structured, 4-way stretch design that reduces weight and friction, allowing players to move freely and comfortably. The dryCELL technology integrated into the fabric is designed to keep your body free from sweat.

The Replica version is similarly equipped with dryCELL sweat-wicking technology to keep you dry and comfortable throughout the 90 minutes and beyond – no matter the time, pitch, or place. Both jerseys are made with 100% recycled materials, excluding the trims and decorations as a step toward a better future.

The new BVB Cup kit was revealed for the first time during an exclusive launch event in Las Vegas, where select guests experienced a first look at the kit’s exceptional design, celebrating the fusion of football and fashion. The event also featured stunning BVB branding of The Las Vegas High Roller lighting up the famous Las Vegas’ strip.

The new BVB Cup kit was worn in the preseason game against Manchester United on July 30th at the Allegiant Stadium during BVB’s pre-season tour of the United States.

Celebrate the past and look to the future with the new 2023/24 BVB Cup kit available from July 31st at PUMA stores, PUMA.com, the BVB store at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK, bvbonlineshop.com and at select retailers worldwide.

PUMA
HERZOGENAURACH, JULY 31, 2023
THE PUMA PALERMO COLORWAYS PRESENTS A TASTY TWIST ON A CLASSIC

The Palermo is back in fresh, fruity colors. As a tribute to the shoe’s Sicilian namesake, the upcoming August drop includes two colorways, featuring vibrant schemes inspired by Palermo’s iconic scenery.

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The Palermo was originally part of a special series of sneakers created by PUMA that paid homage to some of Europe’s most famous capitals, including London, Oslo, and many more. Part of PUMA’s storied history, to this day, the Palermo’s unmistakable DNA evokes a deep sense of football nostalgia.

Two new PUMA Palermo colorways will be available starting August 5, from PUMA.com, PUMA flagship stores, and selected PUMA stockists.

PUMA
SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, JULY 31ST, 2023
INTRODUCING THE ALL-PRO NITRO FEATURING NITRO SQD TECHNOLOGY

PUMA Hoops is releasing its latest basketball silhouette, the All-Pro NITRO. The next generation of PUMA Hoops shoes are designed to maximize all aspects of your game. Available in a Lime Squeeze colorway, the All-Pro NITRO is a direct descendant of the original Clyde All Pro NITRO, which was released in 2021.


The All-Pro NITRO is the first PUMA Hoops shoe to feature NITRO™ SQD foam: a soft inner layer of NITRO™ foam for cushioning combined with a firm outer layer of NITRO™ foam for multi-directional movements. The silhouette also includes a specially engineered knit upper made with multi-zoned materials for targeted support, a supportive but breathable fit as well as cord lock-down lacing system in the forefoot for lateral stability which extends down through the shoe.

Meant for explosive energy on the court and will be available starting on August 1st at PUMA.com, the PUMA mobile app, the PUMA NYC Flagship store and at Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker and Champs Sports. 

PUMA
HERZOGENAURACH, JULY 28, 2023
“STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM” COLORWAY ADORNS THE COURT INSPIRED PUMA STAR SNEAKER

PUMA’s tournament-inspired Star silhouette makes another appearance in a new “Strawberries and Cream” color scheme, in reference to the desert snack served in England since the very first tennis tournaments in 1877.

PUMA

The Star was initially re-introduced by PUMA in a blue edition as the centerpiece of the PUMA x Noah collection, which followed the friends-and-family exclusive green edition. Now, the timelesssneaker lands in a third, classic colorway.

The Star is a re-issue of the 1970 PUMA Wimbledon, a classic court style that evokes PUMA’s influence and credibility in the world of tennis. This particular edition of the Star sees its first-ever re-issue, as the silhouette has been treated to a trio of clean, heritage colorways. The low-top sneaker features PUMA Star branding on the upper and midsole, plus contrasting red hits on the outsole, while perforations on the upper create PUMA’s signature Formstrip.

The PUMA Star “Strawberries and Cream” is available starting July 28, 2023, from PUMA.com, PUMA flagship stores, and selected accounts worldwide.

PUMA
HERZOGENAURACH, GERMANY, JULY 26, 2023
PUSHING THE GAME FORWARD: PUMA UNVEILS SPECIAL PITCH IN SYDNEY AND ANNOUNCES ITS INVESTMENT INTO AN ACL RESEARCH STUDY

PUMA is celebrating this summer’s Women’s World Cup™ by accelerating its commitment to the future of women’s football, investing in the next generation of athletes, pioneering innovative women-centric product design, and committing to crucial health and safety research.

At the heart of this commitment, PUMA launched an immersive experience on Cockatoo Island in Sydney, Australia. A select group of next generation players participated in a four-day program that served as a special edition of PUMA's unique Accelerator Program. With the guidance from experts such as former national team players Baraba Cox (NZ) and Trixie Tagg (AUS), the initiative aimed to build on the legacy of ground-breaking players from the 1975 AsianCup and accelerate the careers of the next generation of female athletes. The event also gavethe trailblazing OG women, who paved the way for women’s football in Oceania the fanfare and recognition they deserved – to learn more visit here.

PUMA is leading the football industry in product innovation, being the first global brand to offer football boots with a women-specific fit and across all three of its collections – FUTURE, ULTRA, and KING. Launched in 2021 the women’s specific fit, adopted by over 95% of all PUMA sponsored professional female players, underlines PUMA’s commitment to providing the best possible equipment for female athletes.

“Research into the anatomy of the female and male foot, combined with cross comparison fit testing, formed the basis of our women-specific football boots,” said Stephanie Vieira, Senior Product Line Manager Teamsport Footwear, PUMA. “Based on our findings we developed the women’s fit boots with a lower instep, along with reduced volume in the midfoot and the forefoot to create a better fitting boot for female athletes, that is tailored to the anatomical shape of the female foot.”

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PUMA is also furthering its commitment to the health and safety of female athletes by announcing their investment in a research study that will further explore ACL injuries in women's football. Female players are known to be between 2-10 times more likely to suffer an ACL injury than their male counterparts. This research aims to delve into these injuries' complex dynamics and develop effective training programs with the aim to reduce the risk for female athletes.

One of the paramount outcomes of this research is to further develop PUMA’s women-specific football boots that were launched two years ago. The ongoing research will help to continuously improve the offering for athletes and will be designed considering the unique risk factors identified in ACL injuries in women's football. PUMA aims to transform these findings into practical solutions, undergoing rigorous testing and validation in collaboration with their partners (clubs and players).

"PUMA's commitment to women's football goes beyond the pitch. We're are investing in a comprehensive research study with our partners into ACL injuries in women's football, aiming to understand the risks, develop training programs, and enhance our women's fit football boots. We're dedicated to nurturing athletes, driving innovation, and ensuring player health and safety. The findings of the research will continue to influence our product moving forward and will support the objective with our PUMA partners in helping to reduce the risk of ACL injuries in the women’s game. As a brand PUMA exists to promote equality, identify challenges and work together with our partners to reduce barriers to women playing sport.” - Maria Valdes, Chief Product Officer, PUMA.

PUMA announced the research study at Cockatoo Island, Sydney, in a special panel talk at the newly opened PUMA pitch that hosted initiatives and programs during the start of the Women’s World Cup™.

At the event PUMA and the Institute of Health and Sport at Victoria University in Australia discussed their published insights into the aspects of sports uniforms that prevent or discourage girls to participate in sport. The research gives insights into girls preferences for sports uniforms with the aim to drive further progress within the entire sports industry by pushing performance apparel towards more insight-driven, inclusive designs and igniting conversation around uniform policies. To read more visit here.

NOTES TO EDITOR:

Background on ACL injuries:

• ACL injuries are considered among the most traumatic and debilitating injuries an athlete can sustain in team sport.

• Statistics indicate that only 63-81% of athletes return to the same level of competition following an ACL injury.

• The probability of an athlete tearing their ACL doubles after the first tear.

• In the long term, the probability of developing knee osteoarthritis within the next 10 to 15 years following an ACL injury increases by 20-50%.

• Women have been disproportionately affected by ACL injuries compared with their male counterparts since data began being recorded in the 1990s.

• Female soccer players have been shown to have between 2-10 times higher risk of ACL injury than their male counterparts.

• Historically, ACL research in sports science has been heavily focused on sex-based biological factors ("intrinsic" influences) at the expense of cultural and environmental ("extrinsic") factors. In reality, these two factors are deeply intertwined.

• Successful training programs aimed at preventing ACL injuries often target reducing knee moments.

• When girls and women participate in dedicated training programs, they experience a significant 67% decrease in non-contact ACL injuries. However, application suffers due to adherence levels.

Source: Parsons JL, Coen SE, Bekker S. Anterior cruciate ligament injury: towards a gendered environmental approach. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2021;55:984-990. 

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