Puma

   Adi and Rudolf Dassler began making sports shoes in Herzogenaurach, Germany, in the 1920s. They tapped the advice of coaches, trainers, athletes, and doctors to create shoes for running, football, and tennis. Throughout the years their shoes were worn by many prominent athletes but, in 1948, the brothers severed their partnership. Adi went on to form Adidas while Rudolf started Puma. Today, Puma is one of the top ten sport shoe manufacturers and in the rush to keep up with the competitive sneaker industry, has hired top designer Philippe Starck to create a line of high-end sneakers.

   See also Footwear.