In PUMA's small Ostuni Factory, we saw our GV Special come to life.
Every so often a collaboration goes above and beyond the development of ideas and the trade of creative processes, snowballing into a cultural exchange with the potential to reverberate long after the product is gone. An invitation to look behind the curtains of what makes the DNA of a brand what it is, and the opportunity to play a role in crafting its future.
Although serving more as a proof of concept and an exercise in small batch manufacturing rather than a full production run, the recent GV Experience with PUMA is a perfect example. Given the chance to travel to Southern Italy to visit PUMA’s small Ostuni factory, not only were we able to design a limited GV Special through the Bodega lens, pulling inspiration from the local culture we experienced along the way, we got to watch the sneaker come to life right before our eyes. Made from start to finish on the factory floor by expert cobblers and artisans, we know every stitch that went into our Made In Italy GV Special, a unique perspective that we won't forget as we think about future projects.
Starting with a premium suede upper chosen for its smooth hand feel and reliable durability, our GV Special sits atop new and improved PU foam cushioning for added comfort. Featuring a wider vamp & forefoot, the slight adjustment makes sure the toe-box isn't cramped while fleshing out the rounded shape that helped put this sneaker on the map.
Outfitted with custom gold-foil debossed detailing on the tongue, mid-foot, and heel, a Cosmo mesh liner, rounded rubber outsole, and perforated toe help close out the signature look. Dipped in a combination of olive oil and wheat field, the upper’s agricultural colorway harmonizes perfectly with the split color formstrip - because you know we had to stray from the cobblestone path somehow.
Purely serving as an exercise in R&D, small batch manufacturing, and community building, the Bodega GV Special may not be hitting the shelves anytime soon but the reimagined inline GV Special they were made to help reintroduce are, and can be copped on our site now.
