Digital Cover: Jon Tang
Talent: Jon Tang
Photos: Decatur Dan
Photo Assist: Mike Morales
Retoucher: Feather Creative
Words: Chrissy Wang
Managing Editor: Chrissy Wang
Creative: Juri Watanabe
EIC: Anthony Vu Cao
Digital Layout: KMG Studio
Jon Tang’s story is one of defiant creativity, cultural duality, and visionary design. A Houston-born son of Chinese immigrants, Tang was sketching superheroes and anime characters on napkins before most kids his age had figured out what they wanted to be. That early artistic obsession—nurtured by a love for comics, cinema, sport, and rebellion—laid the groundwork for a design career that now sees him shaping global footwear culture at Puma, following a celebrated run with the cult label Fronteer.
As kid, Tang wasn’t chasing trends—he was chasing truths. Whether studying the gravity-defying grace of Michael Jordan or drawing inspiration from manga antiheroes and cinematic icons like Wong Kar Wai’s dreamlike narratives, his design DNA has always been fueled by storytelling. “I was always rooting for the villain,” he says, reflecting on his childhood with a grin that suggests he still is. This affinity for complexity—paired with a design ethos rooted in modernizing heritage—makes Tang’s work feel both deeply personal and culturally resonant.
Now at Puma, we caught up with JON TANG as he works on collaborating with A$AP Rocky on a collection blending hip-hop, high fashion, and Tim Burton-esque surrealism...
Can you tell us a bit about your childhood? Where did you grow up, and what were you like as a kid?
I grew up in Houston, Texas, where my favorite things were trips to NASA and the Rodeo—so in a way, I was a space cowboy. As a kid, my world revolved around drawing, reading comics, and playing soccer. But drawing was everything to me. I filled sketchbooks, scribbled on homework, napkins, even the plastic table covers at Chinese restaurants—anything I could get my hands on.
I was the black sheep in my family, always challenging authority and pushing boundaries. I questioned everything and had a deep need to carve my own path, to do things differently—especially if they hadn’t been done before. I was drawn to rebels, misfits, and antiheroes. While others cheered for the hero, I was always rooting for the villain.
Who or what were your biggest influences as a child—whether in fashion, art, or life in general?
My childhood influences came from everywhere. It started with fashion at the performance level with basketball shoes and soccer cleats, then rises through heritage with the denim of Levi’s and the edge of motorcycle jackets, wrapped in the attitude of Stussy and Bape. The icons that shaped me? Michael Jordan’s gravity-defying moves, Hidetoshi Nakata’s quiet elegance, Beckham and Cindy Crawford’s style presence. Kojima’s worlds cracked open my imagination, while, Todd McFarlane, Jim Lee, Frank Miller taught different ways to draw. Jackie Chan, and Bruce Lee was my cultural submersion of how to connect a Chinese background for the American audience. My art diet has always been eclectic—Warhol’s pop, Basquiat’s chaos, da Vinci’s genius, the cinematic poetry of Wong Kar Wai, the motion of art from Zhang Yimou, the surreal and grotesque visions of Tim Burton, and the charisma and aura of Andy Lai, Aaron Kwok, Tony Leung, and Takeshi Kaneshiro. I lost hours in Dragonball, Spawn, Evangelion, and Batman—drawn to Magneto’s complexity, Venom’s gruesome and alien appeal. The pages of Art of War and Journey to the West, and shaped my mythos. Godzilla roared in the background as Power Rangers morphed and Pokemon evolved. Stormriders blended that Chinese fantasy with beautiful storytelling.
Cars? I’ve always had a soft spot for sport cars high and low—Acura NSX, Toyota MR2 and Supra, the Ford GT40, Lamborghini Countach, Ferrari Testarossa, and the timeless Nissan 300ZX. Music, though—that’s the soul of it all. From the robotic romance of Daft Punk to the smooth grooves of Temptations, Marvin Gaye and Al Green, to the mind-bending soundscapes of N.E.R.D, Pink Floyd. Nirvana, Bush, Incubus brought the grudge and alternative attitude. Blood Orange bleeds into Frank Ocean, into Rhye, into Sampa, Toro y Moi, Joji for that softer touch to a beat. Then there’s those on the mic with MF Doom, Yasiin Bey, Wu-Tang, A Tribe Called Quest, Madlib, The Roots, and Common—they were a new voice for me.
Cinema is where all my influences collide—Nightmare Before Christmas to Terminator 2, Coming to America to In the Mood for Love. I fell in love through Chungking Express, lived fast with Fast and Furious, lived in cyberpunk future of The Fifth Element. I felt the quiet intensity of Leon: The Professional, the stylish heartbreak of Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet, and lost myself in the neon-soaked futures of Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Bladerunner. I’ve always been drawn to the shadows—House of Daggers, Young and Dangerous, Infernal Affairs. All of it’s still with me, like a mixtape from back in the day—each piece reminding me of a time, a feeling, something that mattered. It’s beauty, motion, and memory, all rolled into one.
Did your family support your creative interests early on? How did they respond to your decision to pursue design professionally?
At first, my parents weren’t exactly supportive of my creative interests. Like many classic Asian parents, they wanted me to become a doctor, lawyer, or accountant. I’ll never forget my dad once saying, “Artists are only famous after they’re dead.” It was harsh—but I didn’t let it stop me. I knew I had talent, and the art awards I won gave me the validation I needed to believe in myself.
My brothers had my back, though. They really supported my creative side and gave me the confidence to keep going, even when my parents were completely against it.
Ironically, my dad was also my soccer coach. I played D1 league soccer and was seriously considering going pro—until it came time to make a choice. My dad told me I had to decide: school for soccer or school for design. He wasn’t thrilled when I chose design, especially since I’d been playing soccer my whole life and the pathway to a career in it was real.
To prove design was a viable career, he actually made me put together a PowerPoint presentation when I was 16. It had to include salary growth, job titles, and how I could build a long-term future in the field. Yep, had to pitch my own career like it was a startup.
How do your cultural or personal experiences inform your aesthetic and design process?
Being Asian American has always meant living in the space between two worlds. It’s a constant dance between dual identities—rooted in the traditions, values, and quiet strength of my Asian heritage, while also navigating the bold individualism and modern thinking of Western culture.
I grew up balancing chopsticks and cheeseburgers, ancestral wisdom and contemporary ambition, family expectations and personal dreams. That push and pull shaped the way I see everything—how I move through the world, how I create, and how I tell stories.
This blending of cultures taught me to see beauty in contrast, to honor the past while reimagining it through a modern lens. It’s why so much of my work centers on modernizing heritage—not to erase where I come from, but to carry it forward in a way that speaks to both my roots and my future.
To me, heritage isn’t static—it’s alive, evolving, and worthy of being reinterpreted with each new generation.
Where do you usually find inspiration for your designs? Are there certain places, moments, or people that spark ideas?
I find inspiration in everything—both grand and minute. From the timeless beauty of museums and art through the ages, to the quiet poetry of the everyday. Nature speaks in subtle ways, and sometimes, even the smallest detail—a shadow on a wall, the texture of peeling paint, or a simple crack in the ground—can spark an idea and stir something deep within me.
Do you ever find inspiration in unexpected places—like music, architecture, or nature?
Absolutely—it’s all around us. Inspiration doesn’t just come from what something is, but from how it came to be. I find beauty not only in the final form, but in the journey that led there—the hands that shaped it, the ideas that sparked it, the materials chosen with care. There’s always a story woven into the process, a quiet rhythm behind the making. Sometimes, understanding the why and how can be even more inspiring than the what. Creation, after all, is its own kind of poetry.
When you’re creatively stuck, what helps you reset or reignite your imagination?
Anime and cartoons have always been my way to reset and recharge. They pull me into different worlds with unique stories and perspectives, helping me step outside of my own head for a while. There’s something comforting in their creativity—it brings me back to that original spark, that mindset where my imagination feels the most alive and open.
How do you balance staying on trend with staying true to your personal creative voice?
At its core, it’s about fully committing to the message you want to share. When your intention is clear, balance follows naturally. Everything begins to align when you truly understand what you’re trying to say—like the pieces of a puzzle falling into place around a central truth.
Did you face any challenges breaking into the design world—either as a young creative or someone from a diverse background and how did you overcome it?
One of the biggest challenges for me is remembering to always stay a student. No matter how much success you find, there’s always more to learn, more ways to evolve. Growth doesn’t end—it shifts, adapts, deepens. The moment you let ego take the wheel and stop reaching forward, you risk losing that spark, that fresh perspective that makes your voice unique. Staying tapped in means staying open—curious, humble, and always willing to grow.
Can you share the inspiration behind your latest collection with PUMA x A$AP Rocky? And are you experimenting with any new materials or technologies in your current designs?
A$AP Rocky and I are nerds. We just geek out on fashion and things we grew up with. We’re similar in age so we both have a similar reference to things. He’s really inspired by Tim Burton and German expressionism right now so we’ve been trying to mix in a bit of that.
How does your work as a footwear designer intersect with your desire to give back to the community?
Sneakers have a universal language—especially among younger generations. They’re more than just style; they carry stories, identity, culture. Connecting through them creates a bridge, a way in. And through that shared love, there’s an opportunity to open deeper conversations—to offer guidance, share experience, and pass on wisdom in a way that feels natural and real.
Have you collaborated with any non-profits, youth programs, or sustainability initiatives through your design work?
Yes, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with The Fresh Air Fund, delivering career talks to high school students. Additionally, I participate in the mentorship program with the Asian American Collective.
As someone who’s built a successful creative career as you, what advice would you give to a kid growing up today who dreams of designing shoes one day?
Don’t merely dream of the shoes—draw them. Draw them endlessly, until your strokes breathe life into them and they step into reality.
Is there a particular message or value you hope people associate with your name five years from now?
The greatest reward in my career is seeing people wear my shoes out into the world. My designs are an extension of who I am—woven with my thoughts, my essence. I love knowing that someone chose to spend their hard-earned money on a pair, to style them with their outfit, and wear them proudly. All the blood, sweat, and tears that went into bringing these shoes to life have now become a part of theirs. In that moment, I’m woven into their lives, even when I’m not there. GR8T
Follow JON TANG Instagram: @jonttang
