# Immersive eSports Footwear Puma's Active Gaming Footwear Helps to Enhance AR & VR Environments By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2019-12-18 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/active-gaming-footwear References: [engadget](https://www.engadget.com/2019/12/18/puma-s-first-active-gaming-footwear-is-a-sock/) & [about.puma](https://about.puma.com/en/innovation/innovation-landmarks) With the rise of eSports, [fashion and gaming are coming together](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nike-x-martine-rose-campaign) like never before, especially as [Puma](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/puma-5) recently shared its Active Gaming Footwear. The breathable performance design boasts a sock-like fit thanks to its 3D knit construction and offers enhanced support, comfort and grip. Although not designed for athletic performance, the footwear style boasts a split bottom component for flexibility and a grippable rubber sole. The footwear design has the potential to add value to games where players are standing up or moving around in a physical space, especially when [virtual and augmented reality](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tootsie-augmented-reality) is involved. As it stands, the gamer-targeted footwear design from Puma is exclusively available in Australian and UK markets. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.5/10 - Popularity: 22% | Activity: 74% | Freshness: 9% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/shoes) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Immersive Esports Apparel:** Innovative companies can design apparel with breathable performance that offers comfortable and flexible wear for gamers in virtual and augmented reality environments. - **3D Knit Construction:** Companies can utilize 3D knit construction in apparel design to create footwear that provides a sock-like fit, enhanced support, and grip for gamers in motion. - **AR and VR Integration:** Designing apparel that pairs with AR and VR technology can provide gamers with an immersive, interactive experience and open up opportunities for innovative designs. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Sports and Gaming Apparel:** Sports and gaming apparel companies can leverage innovative designs and technologies to create immersive, functional, and flexible apparel for virtual and augmented reality environments. - **Augmented and Virtual Reality:** AR and VR companies can explore partnerships with apparel companies to integrate designs and functionalities that enhance user experience in gaming and other applications. - **Esports and Gaming:** eSports and gaming companies can partner with apparel companies to develop functional and immersive designs that enhance gameplay and provide a competitive edge in virtual and augmented reality environments. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Holographic Game-Inspired Apparel](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/puma-5.md) - [Digital Footwear Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/reebok-impact.md) - [Gaming Style Capsules](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nike-x-martine-rose-campaign.md) - [Haptic VR Walking Boots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ekto-one-boots.md) - [Haptic Workout Gaming Gear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/elecsuit.md) - [Esports Wearable Sponsorships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oxygen-esports.md) - [AI-Generated Footwear Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/puma-inverse.md) - [Game Console Sneaker Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/playstationinspired-sneaker.md) - [Metaverse Retail Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-sneakerheadz-society.md)