Rihanna’s Fenty brand has teamed up with Puma to unveil their first sneaker collaboration, as RiRi puts her own spin on the classic Avanti model.
The reimagined King Avanti was announced on Thursday (September 7) through a series of photos and teaser clips with the sneaker set to arrive at Puma retailers on September 15 with a retail price of $160.
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“Digging into Puma’s archives is always incredible,” Rihanna told Vogue. “There is so much history and legacy here, and I wanted to honor that by paying tribute to the Avanti.
“[The King is] the shoe [Brazilian football player] Pelé played in and made very famous, and I know people are looking forward to their return.”
She added that her baby boys will be laced with the collection inspired by the legendary soccer star who passed away in December: “This time around, we expanded our creations to kids, ’cause I selfishly want my boys in everything their dad and I wear or design.”
Pre-school sizes of the sneakers will be going for $95 while infants retail for $80. There reportedly will be a second drop in the fall for those who miss out next week.
The legendary King football boot was originally launched in 1968 and Rihanna is making it cool once again over 50 years later.
The Avanti will be available in black, white and metallic silver colorway options. Fans can expect a vintage upper-leather with a foldable tongue emblazoned with the “FENTY” logo along with the gum sole.
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Rihanna joined Puma as a creative director in 2014 before designing her first sneaker with the Puma Creeper in 2016.
“She almost rejuvenated the whole classic platform sneaker trend with the Creeper,” Puma global creative director Heiko Desens said in a statement to Footwear News. “This is probably one of our most successful franchises.”
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Earlier this summer, Rihanna officially stepped down from her role as CEO of her lingerie brand, Savage X Fenty, appointing a successor to the position moving forward.
RiRi and A$AP Rocky are now parents of two after Rihanna gave birth to another baby boy on August 3 in Los Angeles and has revealed that his name will also start with an “R” like older brother RZA.
