Matt Varga Though his eponymous label is only a shade over five years old, Fumito Ganryu boasts an imposing resume all the same. Working under both Junya Watanabe and the CDG label, the Japanese designer has seen his footwear work begin to take hold, notching a reliable partnership with Salomon and some one-off work with Converse. PUMA is the next to seek his talents, bringing in Fumito Ganryu to reimagine their GV Special.
Ganryu’s design philosophy has been described as merging “innovation with traditional methods,” a suitable descriptor for his transformation of the GV Special here. In broad strokes, the shape that made the silhouette a tennis classic in its heyday remains, including the dimpled PU sole unit underfoot that set it apart from competitors in the 1980s. The most significant change is the swap from a traditional lacing system to auto DISC BLAZE technology, which is famously utilized on the model of the same name. To close the shoe, it switches from its typical leather to lush suede on the upper, an homage to the PUMA Suede.
The PUMA x Fumito Ganryu GV Special is available now via Ganryu’s online store, retailing at 24,200 yen (~160 USD.) A wider launch via PUMA channels is set for November 2nd.
