"Where am I?" and "Why am I here?" are questions that probably didn't cross the minds of the attendees at the launch event for the new Puma store in SoHo. Produced by Christine Courtney Communications and Puma's ad agency, Gyro Worldwide, the brightly colored, heavily branded event made sure the Puma name was constantly on the minds of partygoers.
Past the security and the doorman attired in a vintage 70's Puma sweatsuit, the long, narrow store unfolded with a swirl of bright lights and dancing gobos by MX Works and a pack of guests crowded at the bar. Four women dressed as Puma roller girls (to show off the brand's new 80's-styled Roller Kitty roller skates) carefully navigated around the store with trays of sushi and edamame from Fletcher Morgan Catering.
MX Works also projected Puma-branded videos and logos mixed in with some cool urban images--like skateboarders, dancers and street performers--onto the store's white brick walls. Two "media jockeys" (or "Me-js") from MX Works manipulated and synchronized the images to DJ Rich Medina's music using laptops.
Other decor touches included bowls of goldfish set atop the clothing and shoe racks and knit Puma caps filled with Chupa Chups lollipops near the bar and registers. Even the coat check girl's tip receptacle was a Puma sneaker filled with bills.
Although guests were promised a live acoustic performance from Phantom Planet (headed by Rushmore film star Jason Schwartzman), the party was too packed--and too loud--to simmer down for a quiet acoustic set. Schwartzman and Christy Turlington, whose Nuala line of yoga gear is distributed by Puma, both made quick appearances that went largely unnoticed by the guests--an ethnically diverse group that spanned older men in suits with younger attendees in tank tops and wind pants--who happily chatted, drank, and browsed the store's offering of high-tech and retro styled athletic goods.
--Suzanne Ito
Past the security and the doorman attired in a vintage 70's Puma sweatsuit, the long, narrow store unfolded with a swirl of bright lights and dancing gobos by MX Works and a pack of guests crowded at the bar. Four women dressed as Puma roller girls (to show off the brand's new 80's-styled Roller Kitty roller skates) carefully navigated around the store with trays of sushi and edamame from Fletcher Morgan Catering.
MX Works also projected Puma-branded videos and logos mixed in with some cool urban images--like skateboarders, dancers and street performers--onto the store's white brick walls. Two "media jockeys" (or "Me-js") from MX Works manipulated and synchronized the images to DJ Rich Medina's music using laptops.
Other decor touches included bowls of goldfish set atop the clothing and shoe racks and knit Puma caps filled with Chupa Chups lollipops near the bar and registers. Even the coat check girl's tip receptacle was a Puma sneaker filled with bills.
Although guests were promised a live acoustic performance from Phantom Planet (headed by Rushmore film star Jason Schwartzman), the party was too packed--and too loud--to simmer down for a quiet acoustic set. Schwartzman and Christy Turlington, whose Nuala line of yoga gear is distributed by Puma, both made quick appearances that went largely unnoticed by the guests--an ethnically diverse group that spanned older men in suits with younger attendees in tank tops and wind pants--who happily chatted, drank, and browsed the store's offering of high-tech and retro styled athletic goods.
--Suzanne Ito
For the launch party of the new Puma store in SoHo, Sheryl Murakami (left) and Emily Jaffe served sushi and edamame in Puma roller girl costumes.
Visual entertainment company MX Works projected Puma-branded videos, logos and other images against the store's white brick walls.
Knit Puma caps held lollipops at the party.
The rear of the store featured the backlit Puma logo and one of MX Works' projection screens.
