Rudolf and Adi Dassler found the Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory in Herzogenaurach, Germany and begin producing sports and athletic footwear.
Rudolf Dassler splits from his brother to found Puma, beginning a bitter rivalry between the brothers. Adi went on to found Adidas a year later.
Puma launches the Super Atom, the first football boot that uses screw-in studs.
The now iconic Puma formstrip logo is first introduced, originally used to provide extra stability to shoes.
Puma's famous jumping cat logo is created by German cartoonist Lutz Backes. The logo starts to appear on Puma's clothing and equipment ranges.
The legendary Puma King football boot is launched, in honour of Portuguese striker Eusebio, who was the top scorer at the 1966 world cup.
The Puma Suede is first released; a shoe that will become one of the brand’s most iconic, popularised by the B-Boy subculture of the late ‘70s and ‘80s.
With Puma and bitter rival Adidas having both agreed not to sign Pele to prevent a bidding war, the so called ‘Pele-Pact’ was broken at the 1970 World Cup when Pele asked the ref to pause kick off of a match so he could tie his boot. When the camera zoomed in, millions of TV viewers saw that he was wearing Puma King boots.
The Puma Clyde is first launched as a signature shoe for basketball player Walt “Clyde” Frazier, after he asks the company to make him a custom pair of shoes, and will go on to become one of the brand’s most iconic sneaker designs.
Johan Cruyff plays for Holland in the world cup wearing Puma boots. However, he refuses to wear the national shirt which is produced by Adidas, and so has a special version created featuring only two stripes instead of three.
Puma debuts its Duoflex technology with the Torero football boot, worn by Argentinian footballer Maradona at the 1982 World Cup.
A teenage Boris Becker wins Wimbledon wearing Puma sneakers. Working with Puma, Becker develops a signature model, the Puma Boris Becker, that introduces high tops to the tennis world as a way of reducing injuries.
Puma becomes a public company, Puma AG, and begins trading on the German stock exchanges.
The Puma Disc running shoe is launched, featuring an innovative fastening system which uses internal wires controlled by a rotating disc over the tongue of the shoe to adjust tightness.
Puma sponsored Linford Christie wins 100m gold at the Olympics in Barcelona. At the next Olympics 4 years later, Christie and Puma caused media frenzy when the athlete wears custom contact lenses with the brands jumping cat logo covering his pupils.
The Blaze of Glory is released, which uses an exclusive Trinomic running sole. The Blaze of Glory has been re-released many times since including a number of collaborations models, including a version created when Puma teamed up with the Alife brand in 2016.
Puma collaborates with designer Jil Sander to release premium lifestyle versions of the King and Easy Rider models, paving the way for sportswear and designer collaborations.
The Puma Mostro launches and becomes massively popular, combining sports and lifestyle designs in a slim silhouette with Velcro fastening.
F1 inspired model the Speedcat is launched to the public after fireproof versions have been used by drivers in previous years. The shoe quickly becomes popular with fashion conscious consumers.
Puma sponsors Jamaican teenage sprinter, Usain Bolt, who will go on to become the world’s fastest man and highest paid track star, remaining with Puma throughout his career.
A collaboration with Japanese denim brand Evisu sees the release of a limited edition, co-branded footwear collection. The collaboration would grow and see denim and clothing ranges released over the coming years.
Puma becomes official supplier to the Scuderia Ferrari F1 team and releases a range of Ferrari co-branded footwear, equipment and clothing to the public.
A collaboration with designer Philippe Starck sees the launch of a minimalist inspired footwear range for men and women.
Puma announces it is to collaborate with fashion brand Alexander McQueen to produce a range of men’s and women’s footwear. The collection blends fashion and sportswear and is the first in a line of collaborations between the two brands.
Puma is the largest kit supplier at the World Cup in Germany, with 12 of the participating teams sporting Puma strips, including eventual winners Italy.
The Pinault-Printemps-Redoute group (owner of the Gucci brand) buys a controlling stake in Puma, acquiring over 60% ownership of Puma stock.
Wearing Puma track spikes, Usain Bolt sets a new 100m world record by breaking the record he set in the previous year’s Olympics, cementing his position as the fastest man in the world.
Puma buys golf brand Cobra Golf and changes the name to Cobra Puma Golf. The acquisition enables Puma to enter the global golf equipment and apparel market for the first time.
Puma collaborate with streetwear brand Undefeated to release the ‘Gametime’ pack of special edition Clydes inspired by iconic basketball teams, including the limited 24K Gold Edition created in a metallic gold colourway.
Singer Rihanna becomes a Creative Director at Puma and Global Ambassador for Women's Training. The following year she oversees the release of the Fenty line including the Creeper Sneakers, popular with many celebrities, and helps to attract a new audience to the brand.
Mario Balotelli collaborates with Puma to create mohawk-themed football boots, inspired by the Italian footballer’s hairstyles.
Puma teams up with streetwear brand Diamond Supply Co. to release limited edition Clyde and Suede models.
50th Anniversary special editions of the Suede begin release, including models paying tribute to Puma’s founder Rudolf Dassler and B-Boy culture.
