After releasing three basketball sneakers for hoops enthusiasts, Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball is finally ready to show off his style off the court. On May 17th, Ball and Puma unleash LaFrance. Ball's first lifestyle His shoes share the same name as his lifestyle his fashion brand, but what he and Puma say about who he is and what inspires him co-created.
The LaFrancé features chunky outlines, thick laces, and exaggerated proportions, drawing inspiration from skate footwear from the 1990s and 2000s. The oval at the top features a butterfly design that symbolizes the ball's motto, “1 of 1.” The shoe also includes many of the ball tattoos such as “Heem” and a flame embroidered on the toe box. The sole and tongue feature the LF logo.
The lifestyle section of a shoe store may be new territory for Ball, but LaFrance, especially the “Amour” colorway, is nothing new for the Charlotte security guard. From the MB .01 to his MB .03, all of his previous court shoes incorporate Ball's personality. New Lifestyle For his shoes, Ball and Brand used color in the same way as his basketball kicks and incorporated his personality.
“Anyone who knows Melo knows he does everything big. From his chains to his logo to his cars, the guy lives big! So we've created a silhouette that fits that profile. “We had to come up with a new idea,” Noah Biss, the PUMA Hoop designer behind LaFrance, said in a news release.
In a way, that made him and Puma a perfect match. This renowned brand once operated a hardwood forest. Athletes such as Walt “Clyde” Frazier and Isiah Thomas wore PUMA to great success. The company subsequently withdrew, but returned in 2018. Puma signed Ball as a rookie in 2020, making him the first athlete to receive an autographed sneaker since the hiatus. Their history demands something big, and the former Rookie of the Year accomplished it from his first game in the NBA. “Melo definitely helped us out a lot,” Jeremy Salley, Puma's head of basketball design, said in 2022. “And his personality is perfect as a leader for the brand. It was truly a godsend.”
“Amour” fits the pattern of people who believe they are from another world. Covered in fire red, you can't miss it. More importantly, it seems impossible to mistake it for another shoe. “Amour” is the first of many colorways to be released.
“Uncool. Crazy. Colorful. Rare.” That's how the former All-Star described his latest shoe. The LaFrancé sneakers are part of a collection that includes apparel such as graphic tees, mesh tanks, shorts and track pants.
The first release of the PUMA LaFrancais is available at Puma.com, PUMA NYC Flagship Store, Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champs, and select retailers worldwide.