UPDATE (March 24, 2021): Back in December 2020, adidas Originals announced its collaboration with The Muppets. Now, the Kermit the Frog Stan Smith silhouette is set to drop later this month along with other Disney-inspired designs.
Featuring two iterations, the first style arrives in a minimal design, while the second pair is dressed with graphics of the iconic character. Both of the sneakers‘ uppers are crafted out of the brand’s sustainablePrimegreen material, while the outsoles are made from recycled rubber. Elsewhere, the archetypal green heel tab sports the muppet’s signature catchphrase: “It’s not easy being green.” Take a closer look at the offerings above.
The Kermit the Frog x adidas Originals Stan Smiths will be available on March 29 exclusively at adidas’ website and its physical stores worldwide, while select retailers will receive a later launch date of April 1.
ORIGINAL STORY (December 20, 2020): Following the announcement of its sustainable 2021 Stan Smith, adidas Originals has unveiled the silhouette in a new design in collaboration with The Muppets. The sneaker features Kermit the Frog, one of puppeteer Jim Henson’s early creations from back in the ’50s.
Crafted from recycled materials, the shoe boasts a clean white leather upper with hits of lime green throughout. The iconic character’s name, “Kermit,” can be found on the lateral, replacing the original “Stan Smith” branding. Rounding out the style is the Kermit illustration placed towards the rear and part of the muppet’s signature catchphrase, “It’s not easy being green,” on the heel tabs. Take a closer look at adidas’ latest offering in the gallery above.
Reportedly priced at $90 USD, the Kermit the Frog x adidas Originals Stan Smith will be available in the coming months at adidas’ web store and select retailers.
Following their cream-colored iteration, Pharrell Williams and adidas Originals have returned with a brand new colorway for the Hu NMD sneaker. The silhouette arrives in a monochromatic pink shade with hits of black for added contrast.
Previous designs feature the phrase “Human Race” in Korean and Vietnamese. For this rework, the footwear style’s upper is embroidered with Chinese writing that also translates to the same meaning. The upper is constructed out of Primeknit material, while the BOOST-equipped midsole and rubber outsole provide comfort and durability. Rounding out the pair are the co-branded sock liners and extra lace options.
Take a closer look above. Pharrell Williams x adidas Originals’ pink Hu NMD will release on March 27 online and at select retailers for $220 USD.
A standout piece of Jordan Brand‘s forthcoming Summer 2021 retro lineup, the Air Jordan 4 “Tech Grey” was first revealed at the top of the year — and ahead of its summer debut, we’ve now been given an on-foot look. Though it was first thought that the seminal Air Jordan 4 “White Cement” may have been returning as part of the Summer 2021 Air Jordan collection, the “Tech Grey” is a suitable stand-in, no small task when it’s compared to one of the most iconic AJ4s of all time.
Built from smooth white leather and boasting white mesh netting plus white “wings,” the uppers kick things off with a crisp look. A small touch of “Fire Red” appears on the tongue tag’s outer Jumpman and inner badge while a gray Jumpman graces the heels. Familiar cement print appears on both the top and bottom eyestays.
Midsoles are done up almost entirely in this gray and black cement print (save for the white rubber toe bumper) and surround a gray heel Air Max cushioning unit. Two-tone white and gray outsoles with a final “Fire Red” jumpman serve up a dash of classic style on the bottom to round off the look.
Early reports have the Air Jordan 4 “Tech Grey” releasing in both men’s and grade school sizes come May 29, though this has yet to be confirmed by Jordan Brand. The MSRP for men’s pairs will likely be set at $190 USD, and grade school at $140 USD.
Reebok has released a wide-reaching array of Question Mids over the last few months, colorways with inspirations divergent as the 2001 NBA All-Star Game and “bike life.” However, the Question‘s latest makeup may be its most unique — and is definitely its sweetest — yet: a collaboration with beloved children’s board game Candy Land.
As you might expect from a Candy Land sneaker, the shoe is covered in game-inspired patterns, prints and textures. The salmon-colored toebox features purple dots for a nod to the game board’s “dot spots” and the throat is covered in a fuzzy, grass-like green material that acknowledges the board’s background color. Both of these pieces appear in stark contrast to the upper’s white leather base.
Moving to the midfoot, each quarter panel replaces its standard Vector logo with an iridescent piece. On the lateral side this is branded “Rainbow Trail” to salute one of the game’s two shortcuts. Under the medial eyelets, there’s a partially-hidden text graphic that reads “An Allen Iverson Shoe,” and signature Candy Land branding graces each tongue.
The shoe’s rear wraps things up with a neopolitan ice cream-like assemblage on the heel, special branding on the inside of the tongue and Iverson’s #3 in candy cane fashion on the back of the outsole. A white midsole with uncolored DMX cushioning units and a sparkling green outsole finalize the look. The shoe is also accompanied by a gingerbread man hangtag, a nod to Candy Land‘s character pieces.
Candy Land‘s Reebok Question Mid will release via the Reebok Japan webstore on March 25 and is priced at ¥19,800 JPY (approximately $182 USD). A US release will likely follow in the coming weeks.
Coca-Cola and ASICS (TOKYO:7936.T +3.62%) have joined forces for a richly-colored iteration of the GEL-Quantum 90. Swathed in Coca-Cola’s signature red shade and boasting special branded details, this co-created sneaker is a sweet homage to a beloved soft drink and a possible nod to the Tokyo Olympic Games all rolled into one.
Mesh uppers are done up entirely in red, as is the raised Tiger Stripe midfoot cage, which features cut-off Coca-Cola logos slapped on its lateral and medial side alike. More subtle Coke logos can be seen on the heel and the lace keeper: the former is a tonal spellout, the latter a white Coke bottle. There’s also a white ASICS hit on the tongue and a white Coca-Cola spellout on the red insole.
Down below, sharply-shaped foam midsoles are done up in white, with green GEL cushioning wrapping around the heel for a clever nod to glass Coke bottles. Simple white outsoles round off the look. It’s also interesting to note that this shoe’s official title is the “Tokyo,” alluding to the fact that it may be a collaborative product for the forthcoming Tokyo Olympic Games — a fitting collaboration, as ASICS is a Japanese company and Coca-Cola is the longest-running sponsor of the International Olympic Committee.
Look for the Coca-Cola x ASICS GEL-Quantum 90 to release via retailers like NAKEDon April 9. The MSRP is set at $140 USD.
