A massive moment in Poland's fashion and cultural history happened last week with the Mata x adidas Campus 00s unveiling. Announced in an old market square in the Polish capital Warsaw, with traditional surroundings and food for the guests, it is the first time a Polish artist and creator has collaborated with adidas.
Mata, real name Michal Matczak, has been a sensation since hitting the music scene in 2018/2019. His rap style and the depth of his lyrics have brought many young Poles to rally behind him, and his 2019 song Patointeligencja put him firmly in the spotlight. The song speaks of a young, affluent student struggling to get through exams and the social issues that they face. The largely biographical song gained over 10 million views on YouTube within a week. It caused a massive controversy in a largely conservative nation, with politicians discussing it on the main news outlet and many debates springing from it. Mata's father, Marcin Matczak, is a lawyer and a respected academic who is vocal in opposition to the ruling political party in Poland. He has supported his son throughout, even releasing his book, How To Raise A Rapper.
Mata z pierwszym w historii marki adidas butem zaprojektowanym wspólnie z polskim twórcą. 🇵🇱 Podbijanie świata idzie coraz mocniej.
The young rapper's following has boomed because of his social messages, and he has even joked that he wants to run for President of Poland in the future. With millions of monthly listeners on Spotify, his songs are streamed so much that he was the first Polish artist to appear on the Billboard chart. Mata speaks several languages, and his star has rocketed, now boasting 1.4 million followers on Instagram. Signing a deal with adidas in 2022, he was highlighted by the brand last year in the Originals rebrand roll-out. Often customary for first-time collabs, the brand has invited him to work on an already established silhouette to infuse with his design, the Campus 00s.
Using the adidas Campus 00s model as his vessel, Mata kept it simple for his first sneaker, utilizing a premium cloud white leather upper. A woven padded tongue is in place, with a mesh overlay and embroidered Trefoil logo. Mesh is used again as an overlay on the Three Stripes branding on the sides. The smiley face Mata logo is found on the back heel tab. A cushioned white midsole sits atop a vivid red rubber outsole, completing the patriotic aesthetic that symbolizes the Polish flag. A metal hangtag also features the rapper's motif <33, and an extra red lace set is included.
The Mata x adidas Campus 00s was released today, October 2, 2024, exclusively through the adidas Confirmed app in Poland. A wider release via select adidas retailers in Poland, in-store and online will follow on October 4. Coming in men's sizing, retail is set at $140. Download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
Images via adidas
Mata x adidas Campus 00s
Images via adidas
Craig Bell happily talks about sneakers or as he calls them "trainers" every day of the year. An avid Bradford City fan, he's also a big supporter of the Philadelphia Eagles. He will forever profess that Cricket is better than Baseball and that Rugby League is better then Rugby Union. Among his many hot takes, he believes the adidas ZX range is the pinnacle of sneaker design.
