PUMA payed tribute to the pleasure-seeking lifestyle of 1977 with an event inspired by Argentinean tennis playboy Guillermo Vilas and a fashion production styled by Craig Native, at the Walter Sisulu Hall in Randburg on Thursday 15 March.

1977 was the year that Elvis Presley died, Star Wars opened in theatres, Pele played the final game of his career and Disco was at the helm. Saturday Night Fever was a box-office hit and New York's legendary disco Studio 54 opened its doors for the first time.

In tennis, 1977 was the year that Latin flavour broke the trend of American, Australian, and Swedish dominance. Argentinean Guillermo Vilas became the number one player in the world during an epic season during which he won 17 of 33 tournaments, with a record of 145 match wins against just 14 losses. Among his souvenirs from 1977 were the French and U.S. Open titles as well as a record streak of 50 matches unbeaten.

As a tribute to the era, PUMA launched French 77, a sports lifestyle collection inspired by the product worn by Vilas during the year when he became world number one, winning both the French and the US Open. Vilas was just as accomplished off the court and was renowned for his individualism, spontaneity and glamorous and international hedonistic lifestyle.

[3 Apr 2007 15:33]

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