Time leaves it’s mark on everything, from the clothes we wear to the objects we carry. Korean designer JiyongKim has built much of his creative identity around this idea, exploring how sunlight, exposure and natural ageing can transform materials. Now, that approach meets PUMA’s performance heritage through a new interpretation of the CELL Geo, a futuristic sneaker reshaped by the effects of time.
The PUMA x JiyongKim CELL Geo the silhouette’s sculptural construction and gives it a weathered appearance. Aged fabrics and distressed finishes replace the clean surfaces typically associated with technical footwear. The collaborationmakes those signs of wear central to the design, treating imperfections as part of the sneaker’s character.
JiyongKim’s Approach to Material and Time
JiyongKim is known for an experimental approach to menswear that places material transformation at the centre of its design language. Sun-faded colours, irregular stains and weather-shaped textures have become recurring elements of the label’s work, often giving garments the appearance of having lived through years of use before reaching the wearer.
That process informs the new CELL Geo. The collaboration translates JiyongKim’s interest in natural ageing into a footwear collection, using surface treatments and distressed construction to create a sense of history within a silhouette. Aged fsbrics bring variation across the upper, whule frayed laces and worn finishes add extra details.
A Technical PUMA Silhouette With a Weathered Finish
At the foundation of the collaboration sits the CELL Geo’s distinctive construction. Its decoupled CELL heel unit remains a key feature, bringing a bold geometric shape together with PUMA’s cushioning technology. The visible structure gives the sneakee a recognisable profile and provides a strong contrast to the softer, more irregular materials used across the upper.
Fluid cut lines preserve the silhouette’s streamlined appearance, while semi-shrouded laces contribute to its technical construction. These details prevenr the distressed trestment from overwhelming the original design, allowing the CELL Geo to keep its futuristic proportions.
The PUMA x JiyongKim CELL Geo launches on November 7, 2026, from puma.com, PUMA flagship stores, selected PUMA stockists, and JiyongKim’s online store and flagship store in Seoul. The Black colorway is exclusive to JiyongKim in limited quantities. In Japan, the collaboration will be released exclusively at GR8 on November 14, 2026, celebrated with a dedicated pop-up.
