Adidas kicks off global trainer design tournament
Round one of sports group adidas’ inaugural athletic shoe design competition commences on February 16.
Sixteen of the most popular trainer retailers from around the world will go head-to-head over four weeks in a knockout-style tournament to be known as the Consortium Cup.
The round of 16 will first ask participants to respond to some of the adidas brand’s most well-known shoe styles, followed by a basketball-inspired quarter-final, a semi-final dedicated to running silhouettes and a yet-to-be-revealed final creative challenge. A different design theme based on various aspects of the Germany-based company’s heritage will add an extra layer of complexity to each week's brief.
Users of adidas’ Confirmed smartphone application, which typically gives customers access to first-run footwear models and exclusive collaborations, will have a 48-hour window to vote for their favourite designs, beginning every Thursday. Limited quantities of the winning trainers, one for each separate round, totalling 15 different design concepts, will be sold as part of a future collection.
The list of competing stores includes Overkill (Germany), Nice Kicks (US), End (UK), Xhibition (US), Commonwealth (Philippines), Hanon (UK), Kasina (South Korea), Footpatrol (UK), Mita Sneakers (Japan), Extra Butter (US), HAL Studios (Australia), Bait (US), Bstn (Germany), Politics (US), Carnival (Thailand) and Offspring (UK).
Earlier this month, adidas announced a new partnership with fitness platform Les Mills and launched its first new sub-brand in half a century, adidas Sportswear.
Image: adidas.
