I was surfing around some websites for indoor soccer shoes for the upcoming Zog Winter League, and I came across this new partnership on the PUMA website. I understand and appreciate McQueen’s long history of success and inspirational work in fashion, but I just don’t get this new ‘Crane vs. Tiger’ thing.

The underlying concept of the line is ‘Power’, or physical and mental strength as the core of all sports….obviously. It’s represented with the “iconic brand image” of the Crane vs. Tiger shown above. The website has all these photos of athletic looking people in poses somehow reminiscent of either a crane or a tiger, and a video to the same effect. I just don’t get the animal thing; why are they against each other? Why are both animals anthropomorphized with human legs? I’m not usually negative about people’s creative work, as it’s totally subjective and creative people work hard both to realize their creative vision and appease their clients, but this really doesn’t do it for me.

As for the actual line, there are some stylish pieces, like this decent bomber jacket and stylish gym bag.

Both some of the other things are just too over done, with the whole flapping wing, crane feather deal. Reminds me of the weird drug induced hallucinogenic thing that happened to Markie Mark in Max Payne.

I’ll stick to the old school PUMA soccer shoes, thanks.