Sneakers designed by Philippe Starck for Puma are to be marketed in the largest European markets in the second half of this year. Puma has struck a cooperation agreement with the famous French designer, which will start with the release of just one model in 3 different heights. This model will initially be sold in France, Italy, Germany, the UK, Scandinavia, Japan, the USA and Australia. Meanwhile, a Japanese designer who is already designing shoes for Puma, Yasuhiro Mihara, has agreed to extend to apparel his collaboration with the hot German sports brand at a yet undetermined future date. At the same time, Puma is intensifying its collaboration in the clothing sector with Neil Barrett, the UK designer, who will come up with a full apparel line for the Italian national soccer team, from classic replica shirts to dinner suits, that will also be launched this Fall (more on Puma in Sporting Goods Intelligence Europe, including its preliminary 2003 results this Friday).