Meet the PUMA Mostro Disccord, A$AP Rocky's New Signature Shoe
Designer Jon Tang shares how he and Flacko find synergy, why PUMA’s Disc System landed on the Mostro for the first time, and more.
At PUMA, A$AP Rocky’s goal has always been to disrupt the status quo. When he announced his appointment as the creative director of the German sportswear giant’s Formula 1 partnership at the tail end of 2023, he told Hypebeast that he wanted to “press the reset button.” Since then, he’s led the charge on several racewear, fanwear, and streetwear-colliding collections, each the ideal cocktail of his “eclectic style” (Flacko’s words) and PUMA’s storied archive. The results are well-received — he literally shook the foundations of PUMA’s three-story NYC flagship at the raucous launch event for his most recent and largest collaboration with the brand in November — and he’s only picking up speed with an all-new footwear offering: the Mostro Disccord (yes, that’s spelled correctly!).
Rocky’s newest signature shoe has a triple-black design, archival tech, and a modern “Bio Grotesk” finish. Designed in collaboration with Jon Tang, PUMA’s lead Sportstyle Footwear designer for Rocky and Fenty, the sneaker is a contemporary remake of the artist’s favorite archival style from the early 2000s, the PUMA Mostro, with the brand’s much-loved signature Disc System.
Launched in 1991, the Disc design made PUMA’s first laceless sports shoes possible with a system of internal wires that tighten the upper to a desired fit. The unit, which was first introduced for PUMA’s running shoes and later became central to the brand’s basketball lineup, features three main components: the Side Unit, which includes connecting sleeves and stabilizing elements inside and outside the shoe; the Compression Unit, which is pre-molded to replace the tongue, and the Closure Unit, which wearers can turn and click to adjust the system’s fit.
The Mostro Disccord joins Rocky’s ever-expanding footwear output at PUMA, which presently includes fresh takes on heritage silhouettes like the Mostro 3.D, the Inhale Mesh, and the Inhale Distressed. “I’m learning how to feed my inner designer and to put out things that I believe are cool,” Rocky said of the collab at the aforementioned store bash late last year. “I always think of doing things from a subversive point of view.”
Case in point: Rocky’s Mostro Disccord is the first-ever silhouette in the Mostro lineup to utilize PUMA’s Disc System. “Coming off the last drops with the Mostro 3.D, Rocky wanted innovation to drive its next evolution,” Tang explained. “The Mostro always had the vector strap and alternative lacing, so when we thought about a new take, the Disc system came to mind.” It wouldn’t be a Rocky collab without such disruption.
Here’s Tang with more on how the innovative sneaker came to life.
Puma
Puma
When A$AP Rocky signed on to work with PUMA back in 2023, he said he wanted to “shake the room up.” With that goal in mind, what does your collaboration process look like?
We’re just fashion nerds who love creating. It all flows — he sparks an idea, and I build a world around it. We bounce back and forth, shaping the concept through sketches, archives, and inspiration. It’s a natural, fun process.
It’s very exciting to see the Disc System return. Why do you think the design withstands the test of time?
We live in a time that celebrates both heritage and innovation. In footwear, we’re always pushing the traditional, laces included. They’re so functional yet endlessly reinterpretable. The Disc system was ahead of its time; turning a wheel to tighten just makes sense. It’s beautifully simple yet technically complex. There’s also something satisfying about the clicking sound, like a haptic and sensory quality — it gives the shoe a life of its own. The Disc also shapes the upper both in energy and execution. Lines morph around it, forming windows and underlays, while fused and molded materials move seamlessly with the fully engineered woven base still keeping the essence of the original Mostro. It’s a balance of technical precision and organic flow.
Puma
Puma
Puma
What made you want to put the Disc system on the Mostro silhouette?
Coming off the last drops with the Mostro 3.D, Rocky wanted innovation to drive its next evolution. The Mostro always had the vector strap and alternative lacing, so when we thought about a new take, the Disc system came to mind. It had never been done on the Mostro before, and as soon as we realized that, we knew it was the perfect fit.
Are there any archival Disc silhouettes that you hope to return to the market someday?
I worked for PUMA more than 10 years ago [In between his stints at PUMA, Tang also worked at KITH, Vans, and K-Swiss] and brought back the original Disc Blaze — I’ve always had a thing for it. In 2011, I reworked the toe with Ronnie Fieg for the Disc Blaze Cove, simplifying it. I’d love to see that return one day. PUMA also did a unique Disc on the Mihara Yasuhiro MY-6 Disc from the “LATERAL” line that just looked so different. I’ve always been a big fan of the Disc, so I’m happy to see any version make a comeback.
How do you strike the right balance in creating designs that blend Rocky’s touch with PUMA’s DNA?
Rocky loves digging into the archives, and so do I— when I worked for PUMA the first time, I was focused on archive bring-backs and collaborations, so it’s fun to explore and find things we like. He’ll ask about something, I’ll share the history, and we’ll find new ways to reinterpret it. He wants to push PUMA into new spaces, blending heritage with progress. With my extensive background in PUMA and footwear, I help show him what’s been done and what’s still possible.
The PUMA Mostro Disccord will become available to shop online and in stores on March 27 at 10 a.m. ET. Take a look at the design in the galleries above.
