PUMA Münster
- MODEL: PUMA MüNSTER
To our knowledge, Munster is the name of numerous cities in at least nine countries, though it’s no doubt that these were inspired by the quaint German town.
With only one quarter of a million inhabitants currently it certainly is a small place, positioned independently in what is known as the North Rhine-Westphalia of Germany. The name itself comes from the Greek word for monastery, though the city is most known for it’s Anabaptist (aka Protestant Christian) rebellion. On a lighter note it’s said to be the bicycle capitol of Germany.
Etymology aside, these vintage low-cut PUMA Münster’s are quite the mystery. Where were they made, and when? Were they intended to be part of a PUMA City Series or is there another reason behind the name they were given?
Only one thing is certain: the quality of the build. Most notably the dual-color stitching – blue in some places and white in others – is immaculate and the silver printing along their uppers has stood the test of time. The tongue, heel, and overall shape aren’t something so new, as any vintage PUMA head will recognize the favorite moves of the German trainer designers by now, however there is one feature that rebels against the norm…
Talk about a crazy outsole! Absolutely smooth upon the bottom. No tread, no traction, no pattern even. Wild pair, these are, and with the midsole itself heavily textured, they’re a bit reminiscent of the OG Te-Ku actually. Funnily enough, the name, while mostly believed to be inspired by the German town, is also shared with a variety of American cheese (Muenster), which in turn stole its name from the German town. Here’s the catch though, any typical picture of this variety of cheese will show that it’s quite similar to the texture and build of the sole; thick and chunky with a rough and bumpy outer casing that safely contains the creamy smooth center within. Go figure.
written by Dylan Cromwell
photography by errol
