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Puma Unveils JiyongKim Sneaker Inspired by Weathered Paper

Korean designer JiyongKim has channeled his signature aesthetic of temporal decay and material patina into a new Puma silhouette. Rather than treating deterioration as loss, the designer mines the beauty of aging materials—in this case, stained and weathered paper—as a conceptual foundation for the shoe's visual language.

By Marcus Chen|June 16, 2026

Puma JiyongKim sneaker collaboration inspired by weathered paper textures and natural material decay

JiyongKim's design philosophy rests on a fundamental reframing of time's mark on objects. Where most would discard mold-stained ephemera, the Seoul-based designer sees a palette. His archive spans decades of vintage garments, found objects, and discarded paper—each piece catalogued not as ruin but as reference. This methodology has crystallized into his signature approach: sun-bleaching, oxidation, and surface degradation treated as intentional aesthetic tools rather than manufacturing flaws.

The new Puma collaboration extends this sensibility into footwear. The sneaker carries forward JiyongKim's obsession with natural transformation, translating the visual grammar of decaying paper—discoloration, surface texture, organic wear patterns—into the shoe's construction. The result feels less like a literal replication and more like a meditation on how time reshapes material presence.

Design Details

The silhouette draws from Puma's contemporary athletic lineage while maintaining JiyongKim's unmistakable restraint. Colorways favor muted, earthy tones—ochres, grays, and bleached neutrals that echo aged paper stocks. Materials likely incorporate treated textiles and synthetic overlays engineered to suggest weathering without compromising structural integrity. This balance between conceptual narrative and wearable durability defines the collaboration.

Puma JiyongKim sneaker collaboration inspired by weathered paper textures and natural material decay - detail view 2

Puma JiyongKim sneaker collaboration inspired by weathered paper textures and natural material decay - detail view 3

Kim's rise as a designer has been marked by a consistent refusal of novelty for its own sake. His work circulates within fashion's most discerning circles—those who understand that restraint and specificity carry more cultural weight than saturation. A Puma partnership signals the brand's commitment to amplifying voices that operate beyond trend cycles.