Even though adidas is based in Germany, The Brand With Three Stripes consistently looks to Japanese-based collaborators to bring their unique style and motifs to iconic adidas silhouettes. While the likes of Y-3 get high fashion looks to the sportswear giant, anime and manga help bring pop culture to life, like when Dragonball Z made its way to a plethora of Three Stripes models. Once again adidas is looking to another iconic anime series, Yu-Gi-Oh!, for a collection that includes silhouettes from the early oughts, the Reptossage, and a brand new model, the ADI2000.
Starting with the ADI2000, this bulky skate shoe-inspired sneaker brings the “Dark Magician” and “Blue Eyes White Dragon” cards to life with each getting a graphic on the lateral and medial sides atop an all-white leather construction. Perforated leather lands on the toebox while the vamp and tongue get a combo of mesh and leather with a two-tone black and white lace set on the “Dark Magician” pair and teal on the “Blue Eyes White Dragon” pair popping off the white that surrounds it. Atop the tongue, the moves each card can perform are written in a cream shade with the uppermost eyestays hosting a golden Yu-Gi-Oh! card that makes up a part of Exodia The Forbidden. More motifs nodding to the series comes via the insole’s Yu-Gi-Oh! graphic that comes in the iconic font the series uses in its title card. Rounding out the look is a white midsole paired with a white and semi-translucent rubber outsole.
On the Reptossage, the same two themes are represented through the graphics atop the forefoot strap with the “Blue Eyes White Dragon” pair featuring its namesake and Seto Kaiba, one of the main protagonists of the series. The “Dark Magician” pair hosts a graphic of Yugi Mutou and the namesake card in the same spot while the TPR footbed gets a purple makeover on this colorway and an icy blue look on the previously mentioned pair. Just like the ADI2000, a golden hangtag featuring the foot of Exodia The Forbidden is included in the special co-branded packaging. Finishing the design is the EVA cushioned sole unit with an outdoor-ready traction pattern.
The Yu-Gi-Oh! x adidas Collection is set to release on October 7th, 2022 through adidas and select retailers online and in-store. Coming in men’s sizing, the retail price for both silhouettes is TBA. Keep it locked to our Twitter and the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on release info for this collaborative effort and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
Yu-Gi-Oh! x adidas ADI2000 “Dark Magician”
Yu-Gi-Oh! x adidas ADI2000 “Blue Eyes White Dragon”
Yu-Gi-Oh! x adidas Reptossage “Dark Magician”
Yu-Gi-Oh! x adidas Reptossage “Blue Eyes White Dragon”
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Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. Concerts, music, trying new restaurants, and catching the latest movies are some of the things I enjoy when not writing for Sole Retriever. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
