Balenciaga and PUMA Refuel the Speedcat

High fashion meets high velocity as and team up to reimagine the iconic for Fall/Winter 2025. Originally crafted for motorsport circuits in the late 1990s, the Speedcat now finds itself reborn on the runway – and it’s barely recognisable.

Balenciaga's trio of Speedcats includes a deliberately ‘Destroyed’ version, complete with a raw-cut, sock-like upper and ghosted Formstrip. There’s also a luxurious leather slip-on that strips things back to minimalism, and a surprise twist in the form of the Speedcat Ballerina – a dainty satin hybrid that fuses motorsport attitude with ballet grace. It lands in soft pastel tones, black, and classic monochrome, straddling the line between couture and pit-lane heat.

The accompanying apparel follows a similar theme. Tracksuits in crisp and faded nylon riff on vintage PUMA kits, while heavyweight sweats feature a throwback lion crest. A faux-shearling ‘tracksuit’ coat and a suede bathrobe-style jacket add layers of eccentricity and elegance. It’s all signature Balenciaga – oversized, off-kilter, and ready for both the club and the autobahn.

The campaign, shot by Ari Versluis, captures high-octane gabber energy paired with moody French pop, reflecting the collection’s mix of nostalgia and futurism.

For its part, the PUMA Speedcat has been making a roaring comeback over the past few years, reclaiming its place as a motorsport-meets-streetwear staple. Originally introduced in 1999 for Formula 1 pit crews and drivers, the sleek, low-profile sneaker found new life in 2024 thanks to a wave of Y2K nostalgia and the rise of motorsport culture in fashion.

The full Balenciaga x PUMA collection is available now via Balenciaga boutiques and online.

PUMA have been very busy recently – check out our coverage of , at which the OG H-Street was resurrected for a new era.