PUMA ZDC82

• MODEL: PUMA ZDC82
• SERIES: PUMA SHADOW SOCIETY
• PACK: PUMA SHADOW SOCIETY PACK 2
• MADE IN: CHINA
• MADE ON: --/12
• ART.NO: 354885 01

Also known as the Zoditrack82, the ZDC82′s history isn’t all that clear. Leave it to the Shadow Society to dig up old silhouettes from PUMA’s archive, retool them to look brand new while staying true to the ways of their ancient German ancestors, yet not drop a single sentence of explanation along the way. Full and utter secrecy.

But that’s the way to work when your branding iconography is a pyramid with a giant eyeball upon it. The Illuminati may be even more contained, but their wares aren’t nearly as coveted as that of the Shadow Society. Secrets and treasures aside, the truth of this “tango” red and “drizzle” design begins in the stars. No, seriously, the original name of the model from the 1980s was the Zodiac, which most commonly refers to a celestial coordinate system.

Later, renamed the Zoditrack for it’s ’82 release – most likely for the sheer fun of the running pun invoked by the silly name – the model took on quite well thanks to its slightly thicker and well cushioned midsole. Though a long-winded name doesn’t help anyone to be (or feel) faster, and so PUMA played further until the ZDC82 was born.

Drops since its original ’82 birthday haven’t been wildly publicized though, and among others, a natural, grey-toned, “moonrock”, “nine iron”, and “birch” pair was produced earlier this year (August 2012). Other than that, if one were to search the usual corners of the web they’d be most likely to find only simple, one tone colorways with white accents; a classic, yet unoriginal look for the ZDC82. So once again, our thanks goes out to the unnamed members of the PUMA Shadow Society for reviving another PUMA archive classic and twisting it up with something new for a change.

written by Dylan Cromwell

photography by errol

special thanks to Lucy