Jil Sander unveiled a new collaboration with Puma during its Fall/Winter 2026 runway show, featuring the first original sneaker design from the partnership in 20 years. The shoe appeared on VIP attendees in the front row, blending Puma's classic elements with Jil Sander's elegant style. This marks the next phase after reviving a 1998 design last season.
The announcement came during Jil Sander's Fall/Winter 2026 presentation, Simone Bellotti's second collection as the brand's creative director. The runway featured sharply tailored outfits paired with patent leather dress shoes and scuffed suede boots, but no sneakers were visible on the models.
Instead, the new Puma x Jil Sander sneaker debuted on select front-row guests. Described as a low-profile design, it incorporates elements from Puma's heritage models: a wavy sole unit reminiscent of the Puma Mostro that extends to the medial side, an all-suede upper evoking the Puma Speedcat, and a toe box drawn from the Puma H-Street.
The colorways in muted brown and cream reflect Jil Sander's signature effortless style, transforming Puma's sporty shapes into a luxurious form.
This collaboration builds on a historic partnership that began in the late 1990s. Last season, at Bellotti's debut show, the brands rekindled their ties by recreating the 1998 Puma King model, often credited as one of the earliest luxury-sneaker crossovers.
Jil Sander, the brand's founder, reflected on the original impact in a 2023 interview: “We were the first to conceive of a luxury sneaker. We opened the door to customization, limited editions, glamour sneakers. It was the logical next step for the sports industry.”
The partnership ended in the mid-2000s, but its influence persists, paving the way for widespread collaborations between fashion houses and sportswear brands. Today, with Bellotti leading a refreshed era at Jil Sander and the luxury sneaker market thriving, the duo combines elegance with classic sneaker aesthetics once more.
