The PUMA GV Special Returns to its Spiritual Home
If there's one sport that dominated the top tier of trainers of the 1980s it's got to be tennis with OG silhouettes like the PUMA GV Special leading the "ace race".
Thanks to huge endorsement deals and a new breed of tennis player that demanded more than a flimsy pair of plimsoles, the 80s "ace race" was all about one-upmanship, performance & who could create the most advanced tennis trainer. Bjorn Borg had the Borg Elite from Diadora with its iconic gold branding. John McEnroe had the Nike Wimbledon & Ivan Lendl had the Lendl Supreme & Lendl Pro from adidas. When it came to the Argentinian tennis legend, Guillermo Vilas, it was all about the GV Special from PUMA. Designed for traction & speed for the new generation of powerful players like Vilas who was famed for his iron-man stamina and stocky build. The good news is the celebrated "casual" crep is back at its spiritual home in some OG inspired colourways.
Above: The PUMA GV Special Trainers in white now available from 80s Casual Classics.
Coming off the back of the PUMA California trainer from 1982, the PUMA GV Special trainer marked a new era of PUMA court shoes. Technically advanced, the exclusive Vilas silhouette packed a punch with its chunky PU sole unit and perforated toe box, something like the PUMA equivalent of the Forest Hills to adidas. First released in 1983 at the height of 80s tennis fever and although Vilas' glory days were now some years behind him, his name on the elite tennis circuit still struck fear into his competition. It was this one-upmanship mentality, exclusivity and the fact it probably didn't cost much less than a weeks wages that put the GV Special in an elite world of its own when it came to "casual" tennis trainers.
Above: The PUMA GV Special trainers in white/black now available from 80s Casual Classics.
Now back by popular demand the PUMA GV Special returns in true OG form. We've got various versions of the classic leather version with some super clean white uppers. Reviving the legendary Vilas silhouette highlights of the classic 80s tennis trainer includes the signature chunky midsole & perforations to the toe box. PUMA's iconic formstrip dons the sidewalls with 'GV Special' branding in gold foiling to the lateral sides. Finished off with an EVA midsole for all day comfort and an extra grippy outsole if you suddenly decide you want to smash out some serves down your local tennis court, the GV Special is the ultimate 80s Casual trainer. Shop the very latest PUMA trainer arrivals now at 80s Casual Classics via the links above.