Sneaker design has entered a new, hyper-stylized period, where artists, musicians, and others have begun collaborating with athletic companies. The results have been strange, interesting and awesome, making footwear a much more expressive experience. Take this collaboration between Adidas and the musician/artist Pharrell Williams. Inspired by East African patterns and colors, the SolarHU Capsule collection is bold and unique, adding Chinese characters to the mix as well, making this a very diverse offering. If you’re wanting to sport this style, you’d better prepare to pay up – most of the styles are sold out on Adidas’ website, and third party sites like StockX have limited amounts starting at $300.
The adidas SOLARHU Capsule Collection is the epitome of global multiculturalism: a German athletic wear company partnering with an African American musical icon in the exploration of East African design motifs, each flourished with Chinese lettering.