Puma has teamed up with the New York sneaker boutique, RISE, for a special collaboration to bring awareness to World AIDS Day on December 1st. The release of the RISE x Puma Blaze Of Glory "New York Is For Lovers" is especially poignant for RISE co-founder Chase Ceparano, who lost his father to AIDS when he was a child.
"Together we are making a $15,000 donation to amfAR(the American Foundation for AIDS Research) that is not tied to sales, proceeds, or percentages," Ceparano said. "For us, it's not a way to flash PR on our shoes or our brand. Instead we're using the social force of footwear collaborations as a tool to lift others up away from the fate that millions have already found, and change the path of those already there."
The shoe dresses the Blaze of Glory silhouette in a mixture of red leather, suede, and mesh with black hardware and a black base with red speckled highlights. Heart shaped perforations adorn the rear side panel, embossed branding on the tongue and heel, and 'NYIFL" and the AIDS ribbon grace the black lace dubraes.
This heartfelt collaboration will be available to purchase in-store and online on Saturday, Dec. 12th for $145.
